541215-99

‘A breakdown in this country would spell disaster to
the Expedition. It would take months to get mechan-
-ical attention and parts. 1 may exagerate some-
things but the roads in Guatamala, I do not.

Lake Atetlan is indeed beautiful and mech
larger than my preconceived idea of sama. To see it
is worth the trip to Guatamala. The people are orient-
al in many respects and reminds me of India and Uhina
Bach village or area's people seem to have a differ-
ent pattern of clothing. at Chichicastenago it is
predominately red-at Huchenetenago the men, like
‘Uncle Sam* wear red and white stripped pants.

It is pathetic to see so many drunken people.
Out of approx 100 Indians which were returhing to
the mountains out of Chichi-32 of them were drunk
and lying along the road side. This status of
affairs, I understand is only common on Sundays
-a result of their indulgencies. Women are like-
wise drunk. Guatamala needs probition $

We are certainly marked in Guatamala, In
every Pueblo, village or Uity where we have stopped,
ourious people flock around the dar. Often the
word communista’is fingered in the dust on its sides.
If it isn't that word it is is a word with ‘malo’ in
it,such as malogastra or something like that. It
is fdlly to expose loose articles as they will grab
them and take off on the run. The stealing, 1 think
is more resentment than thievery. I have noticed
in the villages where only beans and corn are grown,
they will take off with anything they can get their
hands on. They evidently trink this highway robbery
and stealing is legitimate. It calls for & protect-
ion of your rights and property. The Communists are
really desperate and their economy is in the "bed-rock'

Incidentally the dust on some of the roads
is 4 inches deep-bus drivers wear special masks.