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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



BEANS PACKED IN A COW-HIDE TO PROTECT THEM PROM GRAIN WEEVILS 



(see page 309) 



and pinnate leaves proved to consist of 

 five different species belonging to at least 

 three genera and two families. 



We found that the cotton mill at 

 Providencia is not located on the shortest 

 road between Jalisco (where we left the 

 railway) and Tuxtla, so that our baggage 

 was sent direct to the latter place by ox- 

 cart, while we with two pack animals 

 took the old road which passes through 

 Providencia (see map, p. 316). 



The rise from Jalisco is very abrupt. 

 In one or two hours We had entirely left 

 the lowland type of vegetation, and oaks 

 and pines put in an appearance. Before 

 night we had left the oaks, the only 

 trees being pines. We spent the first 

 night at Los Pinos, where we secured 

 several varieties of corn. Los Pinos is 

 at an elevation of about 2,600 feet, and 

 although we found verv much higher 

 country farther north we had already 

 crossed the continental divide, which is 

 here close to the Pacific coast. 



The next morning we reached the cot- 

 ton mill at Providencia. This mill, 



though small, is very complete, much of 

 the cotton being received as seed cotton. 

 About 150 pieces of cotton cloth, each 

 &2y 2 feet long, are turned out daily. 

 The entire output is sold locally — that 

 is, in Chiapas — this being the only cot- 

 ton mill in the State. The bulk of the 

 cotton used in this mill is imported from 

 the United States and from Mexico 

 through the port of Acapulco. The 

 local supply averages about 5 tons 

 yearly, but it is the best grade of cotton 

 that they secure. 



We were treated with extreme cour- 

 tesy by the manager of the mill and se- 

 cured a quantity of cotton seed from the 

 picking of Acala and San Bartolome, 

 the centers where most of the cotton in 

 this region is grown. Although at an 

 elevation of over 1,000 feet, sugar-cane 

 is successfully cultivated here, the fac- 

 tory turning out both brown sugar and 

 mm for local consumption. 



Beyond Santa Lucia the country is very 

 barren. There are long level stretches 

 surrounded by high pinnacles of rock 



