Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-07-15
E
Earthquakes Mar Otherwise Perfect
Climate-Home of Maya-Quiche Indians

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"a condition of upheaval, not necessarily
from political causes. is nothing new to
the republic Of Guatemala This country
has wonderfully rich and fertile soil and
it's climate rarely is equaled." says a
bulletin from the National Geographic
society.
The city of Guatemala, which is now
being gradually rebuilt, was the scene of
one of the most violent earthquakes
known in Central American history. This
earthquake extended over several months
during the latter part of 1917 and the early
months of 1918. 1t began November II,
1917. On Christmas night in the parks Of
the city. beneath a full moon in an I'M
troubled sky, the populace huddled watch
ing in fear and misery their homes, the
trees, and the earth as well. creep, wrtthe
and twist.
ION the night of January "a, the moon
again beamed from a cloudless sky up
on these people as they saw nearly every
remaining edifice in their city tumble in
whirlwinds of dust The tremors seemed
to center under the very city itself. and
spectators have said that they feared that
the earth would give away and a volcano
form in the very heart of the city. Houses
and bell towers crumbled. water mains
were broken. the sewage oozed up in the
streets, and. in the cemeteries. skeletons
were shaken out of their collins.
"One can take a teamer from New
Orleans and in three days reach Puerto
Barrios, on the Gulf of Amatioue. along
the sunny eastern shores of the country,
where stately palms wave in greeting.
Along this seacoast and farther in.
land large panama plantations cover thou
small country raises for its own and the
outside worlds consumption about 10000,
900 lunches of bananas a year. The valley
of the Motagua river is considered one
of the most densely vegetated regions OF
the world.
But the most important crop of the
State is coffee. Upon the SIZES of its
mountains, 800 to 5000 feet above sea
level, these fields of trees in full bloom
with their wealth of fragrant white bios
SONS, are indeed a beautiful sight. AND
equally beautiful are they when the her
ries ave become a bright red. AS soon al
the coffee beans are picked. they are pulp
ed to prevent fermentation in the pulp
which would stain them, after which they
go into great fermenting tanks, where the,
remain "a to IS hours, in order to take of
the sweet gummy substance on the hull
Then they are washed and spread to DIR,
in the sun. After the last fine silvery skin
is taken off, the coffee is ready for tn,
market In 1916 Guatemala produced abou
100000 pounds of coffee.
"A fascinating land Guatemala is TOO
with its dense tropical forests GOVERNS
more thar 1000, 90 acres, whose giant tree.
are linked together by trailing vines abov,
a gorgeous carpet of orchids, waxen be
-
tain. and scarlet poinsettias.
For centuries the country was the hom'
of the Maya-Quiche Indians. whose his
tory reads like a romance. At Quirigui
are located some Of the most remarkably
ruins to be found in the Americas. Man.
queer old monoliths, resembling, to som,
extent. Egyptian obelisks, from the tol
of which gigantic faces stare at the in
truder. still stand in an excellent stat
of preservation. as well as many rock
carved in the shapes of animals, by al
ancient people. Excavations in the vi
cinity rave revealed the ground plan o
what must ave been a remarkable an,
imposing temple.
In the mountains of southwestern Qua
temala live pure-blooded Indians who hav,
won admiration of travellers for thei
physique. cleanliness and %scrupulous hon
esty. One visitor tells of trying to bu!
a ring from an Indian girl who refused Il
sell because the jewel was not pure gold
and she did not wish to sell a strange
an imitation.
These Indians veal beautiful shawls
with no.fringes. dyed in brilliant colors
When brought to this country specimen
have withstod' repeated washing. n tn
%colors ave retained their marvellous lus
ter"