Page:Campbell's new revised complete guide and descriptive book of Mexico (IA campbellsnewrevi00camp).pdf/9

 Preface.

T IS the early traveler in a country who knows the real need of a guide and descriptive book, from the fact that his journeys are made, perforce, without one, and he is compelled to find the places and things as best he can.

To find these places and things, of which one may have only heard, is not unattended by difficulties. The native does not always regard them as out of the ordinary, or of special interest, and, however courteous and willing he may be, is not always able to show the way to objects of even considerable importance.

I have known these difficulties as an early traveler in Mexico, and, while I rejoiced in seeing what others had not seen, I have wished for the book that might guide me over untraveled roads, till I have come to believe that he who writes the book leaves a legacy to him who comes after.

The Guide and Descriptive Book of Mexico is written after the experiences of a decade of travel in that country, and an exploring expedition made expressly to secure a better acquaintance with the country, these have given a knowledge of its cities and towns, of its mountains, valleys and spreading plains, and of its history and legend, impossible from reading or hearsay.

The Historical and Clerical data have been carefully culled from the best authorities and from the records of Church and State.

The Legends are from the country’s books and from the fascinating folklore of its people.

Statistical and tabulated information is compiled from the latest data and from the most reliable sources.

The Maps are from the latest surveys, comprising the extension of railways and routes of travel to the year of the date of the book.

The Descriptions have been written under the spell; in the presence of an atmosphere of romantic adventure; while loitering in the fields of the Conquest; under the shadows of ruined temples, whose describing by the ancient chronicler suffices, and of which no more is known to-day than then, when it was written by him that those temples were, “the work af a people iii