prepared to take it 
1894 
Tlaootalpam 
(Vera Cruz) 
April Is '<%en the sun arose in the morning we were already many 
• »*♦ ’ . * . 
miles up stream churning along with a wheesy little stern wheel boat. 
The morning breeze blowing up the stream had been decidedly chilly be¬ 
fore the sun came up so that the first warm rays were peculiarly grate¬ 
ful, As daylight eame on we could see large sugarcane plantations along 
the banks, with scattered sugar mills. As we passed each of the latter 
our engineer saluted and was answered by the steam whistles, 
-4 
During the entire day we pursued an upward course along the winding 
stream (from 200 to 300 yards from bank to bank), The banks were low 
and level and where not cleared away a low dense growth of small trees, 
bushes, and vines concealed the back country. Many palms 25 to 35 ft, 
high were seen and with the bananas and cocoanut palms that were growing 
about nearly every ranch along the bank made up the main features of the 
landscape that would suggest that we were within the tropics, 
A few white herons, 3 species of Kingfishers, Fish hawks and cormor¬ 
ants (mexicanus) were the principal birds noted. We stopped at several 
sleepy little towns along the route, landing a few passengers and some 
com and then steamed on our way again. In the afternoon we reached 
Chacaltianguis Chacaltiangfcis where we changed from the steamer to a conveyance called 
the wageen, This was a species of coach with a seat along eaoh side be- 
' v, i i v • • 
hind the driver. Three half-broken mules were hitched on and after a 
few minutes devoted to the eccentric performances of our motive power, 
we dashed out of town amid the great excitement created among dogs and 
naked children. 
The road for about ten miles lies through a fine level country of 
rich alluvial soil with only a patch of cultivated land here and there. 
The people along the route were apparently satisfied to remain miserably 
- 214 
