The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-03-22


the land"
northumberland the word, Incl
dentally, means in Aztec land sown |
with flowers"-is an island Of islands
in the twentieth century
If its inhabitants have lost-per-
haps-some of the grandeur, nobility
and vigor of the Aztecs they are
still among the very few who are
faithful to the customs and language
of their ancestors.
Once upon a time, the lake of
Xochimilco was the playground OF
Aztec mobiles. Here they formed a
settlement on chinampas or small
floating islands which were not, as
many believe, artificial RATS covered
with earth, but sections cut out by
the natives from a peculiar kind of
vegetation whose interviewer roots
supported a certain amount of earth
and made it buoyant.
Noble Aztecs planted with gardens
the rich soil of such man-made is
lands and had themselves propelled
by pole around the lake on these
unusual flower bowers. Eventually
the lakes waters went down, the
abandoned chinampas touched the
shallow bottom, took root and were
held fast.
Today the floating" islands are
just islands, but the Indians still
live on them and raise flowers and
vegetables for the consumption OF
adjoining markets.
The waters of the lake have now
become a network of canals through
which the natives of Xochimilco-
most of them small landowners who
practice agriculture on a family
basis-propel large flat bottomed
boats resembling Venetian gondolas.
These trajineras, piled high with
vegetables, fruit and flowers, float
down quietly in the shadow of tall
cypress trees towards nearby mar
kets, adding a colorful and pictures
que note to the beauty of Xochimilco.
Because this has long been
favorite spot for picnickers and
pleasure-seekers, boats of all sizes
with their names-"Pepita", "Delor-
es", "Consuelo"-done in flowers
await the visitor at Xochimilco.
Many boating parties often carry
their own musicians but minstrels
may be engaged at small price.
They sing and strum on the guitar
songs of old and new Mexico which
go so we'll with this typical Mexican
background.
But let US see what visitor has
to say: CAS- we drifted away in the
gentle current other boats followed
us and surrounded us until for a
few minutes we were in the midst
of a gay fleet. A tinkle of music
| floated across the water.
"People called greetings to one
another or stretched out hands as
the boats swept close, to touch them
in farewell.
"Then the lagoon widened and we
were floating alone. The cypress
trees rose like gray-green plumes
against a blue sky; on the banks
women raised their heads from Their
garden plots; in the distance grouI
of naked brown figures plunged int
the water in a sheet of silver spray
Their shrill young laughter foatet
down the wind.
"We passed narrow inlets wher,
the trees bent over and formed al
arch to shield the water below. From
these inlets shot out canoes, paddles
by Indians, which were filled wit
flowers and fruit to sell. They wer
so filled with flowers that often tn
blossoms trailed in the water. The
, sold for a few cents a bunch an
the punches were so big that the
filled ones lap.
"a boat swept past US with o
board it little marimba band. Tn
steersman hesitated, veered and fol
lowed us while the men played nativ
music. Presently we would come t
the end of the lagoons and, landin,
would lunch at restaurant wher
there would be big orchestra play
ing bright noisy music, and tn
hustle of walters serving man
guests.
"Outside there would be motor
e purring, impatient to take US bac
e to Mexico and a modern world. Bl
for the moment floating on the pa
lagoon time seemed to drop away
Larry Barrette in Bright Mexico"
Yes, time seems to have droppe
v away for the inhabitants of Koch
milco, who lead practically the san
q life that their parents did, and the
: grandparents before them; who spes
n Spanish but use the Aztec tongl
among themselves But tin
certainly could not have chosen
y more beautiful place to stand st
= than the Venice of Mexico
1 XochiniIco