The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-05-06

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. d. CO
~ NE of the pleasurable expert
ences among those that delight
~ the traveller in Mexico is d
visit to the home of the Aztec
lake jewellers. Much of the charm OF
the great Valley OF Mexico, where they
live, is due to the stretches of water
among the trees and verdant fields In
a landscape framed in beautiful noun
tains and bathed with clearest air of
heaven.
Their lakes-Texcoco, Xochimilco,
Zumpango and Chalco-do not reveal
themselves except from the high noun
tains encircling the valley. They are
shallow bodies of water in the midst
of extensive marshes, unapproachabie,
and lacking the effect of our lakes
with their definite shore-lines. For
this reason they have never been high
ways of civilized commerce, nor has
navigation fiourished in their shallow
waters; but they were from these very
hindrances destined to be jealous
mothers Of ancient and remarkable
states, whose people, protected in the
fens, dug out canals and developed an
Indigenous commerce and transporta-
ton to the fullest extent.
They were for modern man a con-
slant menace during seasons of flood
and have required enormous engineer
ing works to keep them In bounds. The
first of these, never of great value, was
begun some 800 years ago, and exists
at the present time as a gigantic ditch
over IS miles long, 1877 feet deep, and
361 feet wide, dug by the patient labor
of impressed Indians, and called the
TajO de Nochistongo. The latest I'M
dertaking is a canal connecting the
three lakes and leading their waters
out Of the valley by tunnel through
the eastern mountains This splendid
piece of engineering, completed some
years ago, effectually controls the
heights of the water in the lakes and
prevents foundations.
But long before Cortez came, the
Indians of the valley worked in the
DOGGY lake lands and dug canals
hither and thither-main canals be-
tween the lakes and to the great city
of Tenochtitlan and smaller canals be-
tween their fields. Through this maze
of waterways, then as now, they sent
their boats and in the fens built their
matched houses. Historically, Cortez
was the first European boatbullder in
the New World, when Of an imperious
necessity he launched his brigantines,
of quaint Sixteenth century pattern,
If one may believe the artists, In the
reeking waters of Texcoco at the spot
near Huejutla where there is now a
bridge called Puente de los Bergan-
tines, not far from the capital
Pere Sahagun, the Franciscan, re- |
cords that 1.-The City of Mexico is like |
another Venice, and the people them
selves are comparable to the Vene-
tians in urbanity and savoir." This |
was written in the Sixteenth century,
but in the lapse of several hundred
years the city's wonderful water en-
vironment has become dry ground. and
the seeker for lake dwelers will have
to look farther afield in the enhancing
valley of the sky.
In the Field Of Flowers.
The way to the present Aztec Venice,
which hears the name of Xochimilco,
''in the field of flowers" Is through one
OF these ancient canals-a prehistoric
water road from Tenochtitlan to the
capital and seat of one of the group
of seven Aztec tribes which long ago
came from remote Aztan to the rich
Valley of Mexico.
The life on the canal. vivid and pic
turesque, Is as striking now as II was
then; II may even be suspected that
the change from that time to this has
not been very great. II is hard to get
! start to the land of the fens in more
ways than one-the negotiations for
passage in a barge with boatmen who
display the characteristics OF that tribe 5
Known the world over; and the con- {
letting claims also Of all the costumes. S
Incidents, shipping, and so forth. of ,
he boiling, squirming Kaleidoscope |
anal and shore population on its null c
ifarlous quests bewilder the beholder t
md make him forget that he is on
Quincy to see the lake dwelers In r
heir primitive homes. Tardily, then, r
he barge comes into the clear pool in r
ront Of the medieval toll-gate fort h
ess. where all shipping must go under b
low bridge and there the old-time fl
oil collector, armed with pike, could Y
hremten the recalcitrant without much G
fort ri
Beyond the gateway begin more d,