1894 
streets of town and lie there from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. when he died from 
Tuxtepec 
(Oaxaca) 
this disease without anyone offering him the least assistance). 
The man I stopped with was formerly worth $30,000. or $40,000., but 
owing to failures in ootton and tobacco crops he was practically ruined 
although he still has some thousands of acres of land. He has one of 
the few large, tiled adobe houses with pillared portico that the town 
affords. Here, with the assistance of two nearly grown sons, he runs 
a petty drinking cantine and store the entire stock not being worth over 
$200. % this and a small ranch cultivated on shares by some Indians, 
he manages to live, but neither he nor his sons seem to have the least 
idea of trying to do anything beyond gaining sufficient to live upon from 
day to day. The old man is anxious to sell some of his land, but beyond 
this has little desire to accomplish anything. In the family are several 
grown daughters whose life is wholly passed in a small round of light 
household iwirk (all hardiwork being done by Indian servants) and idleness. 
1 • * ' , '■ . ' ’ ' , 4. .. 1 : v • * • | - 1 . f.' . • 1 ' )* • -... t' 
I was there a week during which I never saw any of the daughters read 
anything or even leave the house for a walk, A little arranging of the 
rooms in the morning and embroidery in idle afternoon with hours passed 
sitting in aimless idleness filled up eaoh successive day. As this 
family was among the best in the town, it was quite evident that a high 
intellectual level is not sought here. The head of the family took no 
papers and seemed to be ignorant of all current affairs even in his own 
country. Above this town at Valle Hacional about 25 miles up the river 
( . ♦ • ; • ' l : < i i ' .. . • j \yr •*. ' . ’ t > if, . ■ '• 1 ' 
on a branch is a noted tobacco district. 
» ► 
The traffic along this river is wholly by canoes made from large 
trees by the natives. Same of these canoes are very large and will 
carry 6 or 8 tons. They have a "toldo” or arched house near the stern 
made by lashing mats or a canvas over a framework of poles. A stout 
mast with a large square sail is used when the wind is favorable. 
- 218 - 
