ISTHMUS OF TEHUANTEPEC 



127 



large a variety of goods as any village emporium could boast, and then 

 a two-story building, the lower part of which was the general dining 

 hall, and the upper, the office of general manager and field superinten- 

 dent. On the opposite side of the street was the carpenter's and black- 

 smith's shop, the stables, etc. 



The active head of affairs, Mr. George Mann, caught sight of us 

 almost as soon as we arrived, and not only bade us to supper, but insisted 

 that we stay over night. This we decided to do, rather than to ride the 

 trail after nightfall. He then introduced us to his staff, or such of 

 them as were not absent, and Messrs. Kramer, Hill, Zimmerman, Shu- 

 feldt, Sleister, and Dr. Erwin, all young, active, and friendly, together 

 with their capable chief, will long linger in my memory as types of 



RUBIO. BRICK AND TILE FACTORY. 



Americans that are so effectually conquering the tropical wilderness. 

 Dr. Erwin by the way, is physician and surgeon for the plantation, and 

 Mr. Shufeldt is the son of Commodore Shufeldt of the United States 

 Navy, who surveyed the route for the Tehuantepec ship canal for the 

 United States government, some years ago. Mr. Sleister I had already 

 met, as he was on the train that bore me to Achotal. I did not see 

 much of him, however, as he had a carload of Tennessee negroes in 

 charge to deliver to La Junta ; and as one or two of them were "bad 

 coons," and as liquor was abundant at every stopping place, his hands 

 were full most of the time. By the exercise of much patience and tact, 

 and by wearing a huge Mauser revolver while in their company, he 

 finally got them all safely there. 



