1893 
•rnm&tmmm 
Huamantla 
(Tlaxeala) 
came back and said they had seen his fresh tracks coming down the hill 
but the ranchero again put them off by saying that those were tracks of 
the evening before. 'When the men want away and set guards along the 
trails near by the two sons of the ranehero went into the bushes behind 
the corral and dug e. pit about 4 feet deep in which my assistant con¬ 
cealed himself covered with brush all day with no mishap beyond a pig 
falling in on him. 
At night he was hidden in a neighboring house and at 2 a.m. he and 
one of the friendly Indians as guide started across the broken country 
for town. I looked up the Jefe Politico as soon as possible and told 
him of the affair and he sent the oaptain of his soldiers out with me 
on my way to the mountain. On the road we met the old ranehero and one 
bon on his way to town. fine latter continued alone and the former turn- 
1 S4M 
ed back. I asked both of these men then what the Indians would have 
done had they caught my assistant and they replied emphatically that 
they thought from the actions etc. of the men that they intended to do 
him mischief. I learned that the Indians were men from the borders of 
->V • - • 
Huamantla led by the chief of the Indians of the Sierra who is recognized 
as the head man by the local authorities. I went on up the mountain 
where I secured same photographs and returned to town. There I found 
the son o? the ranehero again and he told me that the Jefe had sent for 
him about the matter and wishing to get at the affair more closely I 
asked again what he thought the men intended to do with my man and he 
replied "Nothing,- only they wished to have him coxae back to town!" 
Evidently the Jefe had taught him quite a different story from what he 
had before the interview. Pram various sources in the town I learned 
that within a year past half a dozen dead men had been found lying shot 
on the mountain (Malinche) and no one could be found to fasten the crime 
on but in a general way said to be the "Indians’ 1 . It appeared that the 
184 
