1894 
Catemaco 
Apr. 25 
Armed with several letters of introduction from the Jefe at San 
Andres, I went on today to Catemaco, 6 leagues beyond Turtle and 3 be- 
* utffc* '<■ • ' 
yond San Andres. The town of San Andres lies at about 1000 feet alti¬ 
tude, and Catemaco at 1,100 feet, with some intervening hills a little 
higher. 
The road ran over low ridges and across one or two narrow valleys 
until we came out at the town of Catemaco strung along a beautiful lake 
of the same name. The road crosses several remarkably clear creeks. 
The valleys about San Andres and thence to Catemaco are notable for the 
production of some of the finest tobacco grown in Mexico. Everywhere 
may be seen large thatched drying sheds with the hut-like houses of the 
laborers nearby. 
The gentle slopes of these valleys and rolling hills all about are 
covered with rioh volcanic soil, but there are few signs of the pros- 
* 
perity that should exist here. The land is peculiarly adapted to agri¬ 
culture and the climate healthy, yet I found the owners of the land 
desirous to sell. Owing to the rea<fy sale of tobacco grown here, land 
is held at pretty good prices. I was informed that from various causes 
such as too much or too little rain etc., the crop was poor 2 or 3 years 
out of 4, and it was only by the 4th year’s crop selling at a good price 
that the planters keep going. The large prices and great profits of the 
good seasons keep everyone having valley lands here in this business. 
The hills are not utilized for tobacco. All the way from Tuxbla the 
road is bordered in places by belts of si c 8nd growth woods containing 
Palo mulato, Rosa morada, and many other tropical trees. 
Catemaco is strung for a mile along the shore of the lake near its 
outlet. Hear the lower end of the lake.the woods have been cut away 
and ranches are scattered all about the shore, but heavy forest borders 
most of the upper end and the slopes extend up rapidly into the high 
223 - 
