Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-02
GUATEMALA OFTEN
V|S|TEDBY QUAkES.
Fascinating Land, With
Dense Forests, Scene OF
b Frequent Opheavals.

"A condition o. IpheaSHi. not neces-
sarily from political causes. Is nothing
rev 70 the republic Of Guatemala.
This country has wonderfully rich and
fertile soil and It's climate rarely is
eauaIed," says 4 bulletin from the Ma
tionaa Geographic Society.
Tho city cf Guatemala, which 10
now being gradually rebuilt, was the
1880 O< one Of the moss violent earth
auakss known in Central American
niseo.5, TIL. exrthaaake extended
over Se~efNl months during the latter
psrs y isis and the early months mont Of
CNrastnsGs nikAs In the iarks O. the
city, AeaeAth q fa:l lneost sn -. ur-
t.oaAleA sky, the pshalace kaidied,
watcAinz In fear and misery their
hoxsoA the trees and the earth as
well. cfees> wrieA> and twist.
MANAGES kt1srcA te Ruins.
ON the nigh. Of January "A the
moon again beemed 3fesA cloGIiess
sky upon these near'e as they saw
nearly every remaining edifice I'll thets
city tumble In Ghtr.stt.,ds Of c.,s',
The trrmc.s soen,e,i L, cent es under
the very clty Itself. aad spectators
have said that they feared .aaf the
earth would give away snd volcano
form In the verJ heart o. the city
Eouses and bell tewe~3 cran;hsec.
water mains w-se broken. the sewage
oo1ed up IN the streets. and, Ia the
cemeteries. skeletons were shaken cut
OF their coflins.
.ORe can take a steamer from, New
Orleans and In three days reach Fu-
erto Barrios. on the CUR Of Amatique,
aionE the sunny eastern shores Of the
country. where stately palms wave Ia
GRATING
.Along this seacoast and farther in
land large banana plantations cover
thousands Of acres. This ono compara-
lively small country raises for Its own
about ten million punches Of bananas
q year. The valley Of the Motagua
river Is considered ono Of ne most
density vegetated regions Of the world.
CsRee m InportaAt Crop.
But the most important crop Of the
state is coffee. Upon the slopes OF
its mountains, 1900 to 5000 feet above
sea level. there fields OF trees In ful'
bloom. with thei. wealth Of fragrant
white blossoms. are. indeed. a beautiful
sight And equally beautiful are they
when the berries have become a
bright red. AS soon as the coffee
beans are picked they are pulped to
prevent fermentation in the pulp.
which would stain them, after which
IQ0y 20 INTO great leTHeHlluS ldHhS.
whore they remain from twenty-four
to forty eight hours, in order to take
of the sweet. gummy substance On
the hull. Then they are washed and
spread to dry in the sun. After the
laas fine silvery skin is taken or the
1916 Guatemala produced about ninety
million pounds Of coffee.
a fascinating land Guatemala is.
too. with ITS dense tropical forests
covering more than million acres.
whose giant trees are linked together
carpet Of orchids. waxen begonias, the
peculiar blossoms of the planta:n and
scarlet POI nsettias.
Ancient Home Of Indians.
For centuries the country was the
home of the Maya-Quiche Indians.
whose history reads like a romance.
AZ Quirigua are located some Of the
most remarkable ruins to be found in
the Americas. Many queer old mono
Egyptian obelisks. from the top Of
which gigantic faces stare at the in
truder. stiIl stand in an excellent
state Of preservation. as well as many
rocks carved in the shapes Of animals.
By an ancient people. Excavations
greuad plan of what must have been
n remarkable and imposing temple.
Tn the mountains Of southwestern
|0uatemaia live pure-b1ooded Indians
|who have won admiration Of. travellers
for their physique, cleanliness and
|s0upolous honesty. One visitor tells
fof trying to buy ring from an In
dian Girl who refused to sell because
The Jewel was not pure gold. and she
did not wish to sell 4 stranger an
These Indians wear beautiful
shaWls. with no fringes. dyed in brill
Qi1nt colors- When brought to this
country specimens have withstood re-
psAted washing. and the c0lors have
retained their marvellous luster."