Evening star., 1940-05-12

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Guatemala. With her husband, q
student Of Spanish and q linguist
OF ability, she travelled extensively
into the back country Of the re-
public, where many hundreds Of
years ago the Mayan culture -four
ished.
"The influence of the ancient
Mayans Is still evident" said Mrs.
Doyle, "even in their religious prac-
tices. Although they are supposedly
Christian" she continued, "those
who know the people well; say that
the Indians, in their hearts, still
pay homage to the ancient gods"
Having majored in Spanish while
a student at Wellesley College, Mrs
Doyle has been able to converse
fluently during her travels which
have led her from Cuba to Buenos
Aires and from Mexico to Monte
video. She has picked up many
quaint legends as well as interesting
information on political and indus
trial conditions.
War in Europe Hits
Nations Chief Income.
The European war has been seri-
ously felt in Guatemala, Mrs. Doyle
said, as Germany had been the
largest consumer of coffee, one OF
the nations chief exports.
Coffee that sold for $50 a 100
pound bag, can now be bought fol
$780," she said. National feeling
she observed, is strongly anti-Hitler
but many individuals are decidedly
pro-NaZi, she added.
Nearly every hotel and practically
all the shops in the Guatemalan
cities are run by Germans" she re.
marked. Even one Of the Cath.
olc priests, who has done such fine
work among the Indians, is a Ger
man."
Weaving and carved woodwork are
leading handcrafts of the Guatema.
Ian Indians, said Mrs. Doyle, who
brought back many fine examples o1
both.
There are approximately 275 In.
dian villages" she explained" anc
the women of each village have
blouses Of different patterns which
they weave and wear, very much a!
the Scottish clans have differen
plaids."
Dyes for woods were imported from
Germany for many years, the trav.
eler said, but imports have stopped
since the war, and the Indians nov
have returned to primitive method!
Of making vegetable dyes, In which
they excelled.
"The vegetable dyes are reall,
lovely" continued Mrs. Doyle, "ane
a particularly beautiful scarlet 4
made from the cochineal, a tiny ma
tive insect"
Indians Of Guatemala
Indifferent to Money.
Mrs. Doyle said the Indians o
Guatemala are indifferent to none,
and that 1t Is sometimes difncult TO
collectors to buy specimens Of handi
craft they have for personal use
This was true. she explained. In tn
case Of an American woman who ha,
fine collection Of the nativ
"hupile" blouses worn by the 1ndial
women. She noticed a native wear
ing a "hupile" of unusual patterl
and design, which she wished TO
her collection, and although 1t wa
old and worn, she had considerable
difficulty in buying it from the WON
an at good price.
They do not need money" Mrs
Doyle explained. "as they have al
they want. 1t is communistic life il
the true sense, as no one has NOR
than the other. Each Indian ha
his own small piece of land on whicl
he grows enough to eat. The WON
en- weave the wool for clothes, an,
that Is all they desire"
Speaking Of food, Mrs. Doyle OBJ
served she had been served inter
esting dishes in her Guatemala
travels, one an omelette called "flo
de azote," made with the azot
flower.
'T'he azote plant is something lik,