1893 
Huamantla 
(Tlaxcala) 
Perote 
(Vera Cruz) 
May 
Indians own a ccsmnunity interest in the land of the mountain and make a 
practice of disposing of whoever they my think would do them any harm. 
They probably became impressed with the idea that my man was looking 
over the land with some unknown object that might be injurious to their 
interest and so started out to remove him. 
My guide and the captain of the local soldiers talked together about 
the Indians killing people on the mountain and seemed to think it quite 
justifiable for them to kill anyone on suspicion for ”the land is all 
they have and they do nol? wish to risk losing it"f hence, they decided 
that it was quite proper to kill any stranger there on suspicion. 
Prom what I saw and learned I am satisfied that the Jefe knew of 
the men going out for my man and if they had killed him he would have 
been as unsuccessful as in other cases in finding the assassins. 
May 17th, left Huamantla and proceeded to Perote, Vera Cruz, This 
place is close to the northwest base of the Cofrc de Perote, and is on 
the same plain as Chalchieomula, Huamantla, etc. There is less volcanic 
sand mixed with the clay of this vicinity but the same general character 
of country. There is evidence of a greater rainfall here, however, in 
the abundance of flowering plants. An Oxalis and a Taraxacum growing 
about the team,- the latter even along the sides of the streets, were 
familiar looking species,and a great variety of others was here. 
Just back of the town is the pine-covered base of the Cofre. West 
of Perote are some shallow lakes or sinks, as this part of the plain 
forms a sink here as does the district just west of Chalchioomula. 
About 6 or 8 miles west of Perote is an extensive, rough lava bed 
coming down over the plain from the north. In this shallow basin about 
I 
Perote I found a new species of Spermophile living about the fields. 
Wheat, barley, com, and chickpeas, with some pulque, are the crops here. 
185 
