1893 
Cuernavaca 
to 
Yautepec 
about the fields. Midway in the course, we crossed a large lava bed 
which is several miles wide and proceeds from the volcanic cones at 
base of mountains about 6 or 8 miles to the north. The rough, broken 
surface of the lava stream would be quite impossible for animals but 
for a rudely made trail. Its surface is covered with a dense thicket 
of large cacti ( Opuntias and Cereus) with acacias and various other 
desert plants. The crevices of the loose rocks retain moisture much 
bect-ei whan the hard soil of the plain, hence the abundant growth of 
the vegetation that is commonly found in such places. 
midway in the lava bed I was startled for a moment to see 4 men 
with muskets under a tree by tho trail, but a moment later saw they 
were "veclnos" or country guards from some neighboring village. The 
rough surface of lav®, beds are excellent places for robbers to catch 
a victim sines it is Impossible to go faster than a walk and in such 
places once frequented by robbers it is now common to find guards 
posted. 
Leaving the lava bed w© crossed a series of limestone hills that 
form a low north and south range here and are covered with palmetto©s. 
Cn the oast side of this range, we descended abruptly in the valley 
where Yautepec lies at an altitude of about 4,000 feet. This is a 
large village of a few thousand people, mainly Indians or Indian des¬ 
cent, The place is full of orange orchards and surrounded by sugar 
cane fields. It is hotter than Cuernavaca owing to its 1,000 feet less 
altitude. The oranges here are sweet and well-flavored but suffer from 
attacks of a fly which pierces the rind of the ripening orange and de¬ 
posits from one to half a dor,an or more eggs. The eggs hatch and the 
larvae feed on the pulp of the fruit causing it to decay and fall from 
the tree. The oranges of southern Puebla (Attixco, etc.) suffer from 
this same pest. The flies are so numerous in some orchards that the 
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