A.m.  J  our.  Pharm. 
Dec,  1893. 
Vanilla. 
583 
and  bundled  in  bundles  containing  from  50  to  75  Beans  each.  The 
different  curers  having  different  amounts  for  their  packing.  Some 
50,  some  60,  others  70  and  some  75  to  their  bundles.  These  bundles 
are  all  uniform  in  size  according  to  length,  and  are  placed  in  cans 
•of  40  bundles  each ;  then  four  or  five  of  these  cans  of  different  sizes 
are  packed  in  a  case  made  of  Mexican  red  cedar,  which  is  the  most 
plentiful  wood  grown  here.  A  curer  stated  to  me  that  the  making 
of  these  cases  was  the  most  expensive  part  in  putting  the  Bean  up, 
as  they  have  no  machinery  such  as  saw  mills  and  planing  mills, 
everything  must  be  done  by  hand,  which  necessarily  takes  some  time 
to  make  one  of  these  cases,  as  the  corners  of  each  are  grooved  and 
dovetailed  together,  making  the  case  cost,  when  completed,  from 
$2  to  $3: 
After  the  Beans  are  cased  the  cases  are  then  covered  with  a  fibre 
matting  made  here  by  the  Mexicans  and  the  Beans  are  ready  for  ship- 
ment. Mules  or  burros,  in  some  cases  mustangs,  are  drawn  up  in 
line  and  two  cases  are  strapped  on  the  back  of  each  animal,  and, 
started  for  the  sea-coast  in  caravans  of  perhaps  eight  or  ten  animals 
with  two  or  three  attendants ;  then  shipped  on  steamers  for  Europe 
and  the  United  States. 
In  going  from  the  interior  of  Mexico  you  will  meet  caravans  of 
these  beasts  of  burden  laden  with  all  kinds  of  merchandise,  this 
being  the  only  way  of  tarnsportation.  The  authorities  for  some 
time  have  been  endeavoring  to  get  a  railroad  to  Papantla,  but  as 
yet  have  been  unsuccessful.  The  Aztecs  or  native  Indians  do  not 
want  to  have  any  improvements.  Several  attempts  have  been  made 
to  survey  a  road,  and  just  before  reaching  there  I  was  advised  of  a 
civil  engineer  who  had  been  sent  to  survey  a  route  and  who  was 
next  day,  after  his  arrival,  found  hanging  to  one  of  the  trees  outside 
of  the  town.  The  natives  do  not  want  anything  different  from 
what  they  have  been  used  too,  and  will  sacrifice  their  lives  in  defence 
of  what  they  consider  their  rights. 
I  returned  to  America  with  a  conviction  that  notwithstanding  our 
national  character  of  penetrating  to  the  utmost  corners  of  the  earth, 
that  as  a  people  we  know  little  or  nothing  of  Mexico,  a  great,  broad, 
rich,  fertile  tract  of  land,  magnificently  endowed  by  nature  and  so 
favorably  located,  as  respects  soil,  climate  and  physical  conditions, 
that  in  my  judgment  it  is  ere  long  to  become  the  most  prolific 
source  of  supplies  for  many  of  the  essential  and  valuable  products 
