parasites over the trees, many of which are being strangled to death by this growth. Many parts of this territory have never been explored. Wild beasts rule the forests and hills. There are wild boars and snakes. Sometimes the latter come up on the railway bed for their sun nap. There are buzzards, the prehistoric scavengers, and Alice-blue butterflies. Beautiful birds of the tropics fly from bush to bush. Some places along the line the natives have planted corn. Their cattle graze along the roadway, and frequently the train stops to give the cows time to get off the track. Fields are so fertile that the corn averages more than twelve feet in height.
The planting is as primitive as the people are. The natives punch a hole in the earth with a stick, drop a grain of corn and cover it up. In two months they can gather the ears.
After one has travelled a few miles by train one enters the oil fields. Between the hills of the rolling country one sees the derricks where wells are being drilled. When the oil begins to gush out of the hole it is diverted into pipe lines, which carry it sixty miles to Tampico.
Geologists estimate that this country for centuries has floated on oil—but less than eighteen years ago American explorers tapped the first well. At that time there was only one company in the field. To-day there are more than a score. Then the land could be purchased for less than fifty cents an acre. To-day the cheapest available
