The scientific name of sisal-hemp is Agave Sisalensis or Agave Sisolana; properly speaking, it is not hemp at all, and reminds us of the peddler of "hot mutton-pies" who replied, when a customer complained that his wares were frozen, "hot mutton-pies is the name of 'em." The true hemp is an annual plant, supposed to be a native of India, whence its culture has spread through the world, and it has no resemblance whatever to henequin, or Agave Sisalana.
While we have been talking on this and other topics the train has been rolling on towards Merida. Frank recorded in his note-book that Yucatan was first seen by the eye of a white man in 1506, and was first visited and partially explored in 1517 by Hernandez de Cordova. The visit of Cordova was not altogether encouraging, as the Indians killed or wounded all but one of his companions, among the wounded being Bernal Diaz, the historian of Cortez. Not discouraged by his injuries, Diaz came the following year to Yucatan with Grijalva, and in 1519 with Cortez to the same country and Mexico.
Mexico and its treasures attracted attention for the next decade or two, and very little thought was given to Yucatan. In 1537 a settlement was effected; but the Spaniards were opposed by a ferocious people, and found time for nothing but fighting until 1540, when they defeated the natives in a great battle on the present site of Merida. After conquering the country they found they had achieved a barren victory, as Yucatan contained neither gold nor silver, the object of all the Spanish conquests in the New World.
After their defeat the Indians seem to have accepted the situation, and acknowledged themselves vassals of the Spaniards. They became Christians, like the people of Mexico, and though they may have been somewhat perplexed in their endeavors to reconcile the precepts and practices of the religion of the white men from beyond the sea, they did not find it worth while to argue vigorously with their masters. From an exceedingly warlike race they became a peaceable one, though they might have been otherwise had their country contained gold and silver mines, in which they would have been put to work as slaves.
According to history, they did not forget all the arts of war or lose their instinct for it. In 1761, and again in 1847, they rebelled against the Government and made a great deal of trouble; and even at the present time there is a section of the country where the Indians are living in open hostility to the authorities. A few thousand of them in the eastern part of Yucatan have made a great deal of trouble, causing towns and villages to be abandoned in consequence of the raids which they make at irregular intervals. Several times they have come into the neighborhood of Merida and caused a great deal of excitement.
Frank and Fred heard terrible stories about these Indians, and were cautioned not to go anywhere near their country. "If they get hold of a white man," said their informant, "they cut him to pieces immediately without waiting for any explanation, or else they take him to one of their villages and torture him in the most cruel manner for the amusement of the women and children. They live among the hills, swamps, and forests of the south-eastern part of the country, and though several expeditions have been sent against them, it seems impossible to penetrate to their retreats. They have a very little trade with the English residents of British Honduras, but refuse to allow them to enter their country; one Englishman who had dealt with them for several years ventured to go there, and was never seen or heard of again.
"They are constantly making threats of destroying Merida, and as these stories are circulated they greatly alarm the timid portion of the inhabitants. It is not likely that they really intend anything of the kind, as they would probably be defeated, but they know the value of rumors and keep them constantly circulating. In this way they have diminished the population and business of Valladolid more than one-half. It was once a prosperous city, but is now languishing, and many of its houses are in ruins."
