112 



RUBBER PLANTING ON THE 



where we had to cross a muddy ravine with steep, clayey banks on either 

 side, or how I sat back as far as possible while the horse slid down to 

 the bottom, and then suddenly reversed my position and got "one hand 

 tight in his mane while he scrambled up the other; nor will I forget 

 how he tried to get out of the mud in the middle of the trail by walking 

 close to the trees, and of my frantic efforts to keep him away from the 

 spiney palms and numerous other bristling projections of the forest. 

 We finally emerged into the open, however, and as we came out my com- 

 panion asked me how I liked it. I had by that time gotten into the spirit 

 of the thing, and was thoroughly enjoying it, so that I could conscien- 

 tiously say, "First rate." 



"Well, that's the worst trail around here," he replied ; "I thought 

 you might as well have that at the beginning/' 



WATER FRONT AT MANITITLAN. 



[Copyrighted Photo by C. B. Waite, Mexico.] 



The rest of the ride was through a magnificent stand of cultivated 

 Castilloa trees, planted on rolling ground, about nine feet apart, showing 

 every evidence of intelligent care. Half an hour later, we drew up at 

 Newmark's plantation, which is known as El Ritero, and is a private 

 venture, embracing some four hundred acres of land, on which are about 

 fifty thousand rubber trees, planted four or five feet apart in the rows. 

 They looked finely, and indeed the whole place, with its coffee, bananas, 

 etc., appeared to be most flourishing. Here I was treated to a small red 

 banana about the size of one's thumb, that was the most delicious bit of 

 fruit one can imagine. I now parted from Mr. Adams, and being taken 



