Camilo JiménezApril 16

In the time of President Porfirio Díaz (early 20th century) Guadalupe Ronquillo was the municipal President of Ixctlán. Guadalupe dressed in the style of the oldsters; a white shirt, long, wide, pleated with two large pockets, baggy trousers, of the same white, with buttons at the ankles, with an old-style hat. Guadalupe was a good President who did not exploit the people. He was not rich. He repaired the church, and every Sunday he held council outside the portals of the church. A man, a “good Indian” (“buen indio”). One day Guadalupe decided to go to México City to resolve some of the town’s problems with Don Porfirio. He left on foot from Ixcatlán, walked to Huautla, and from Huautla to Teotitlán, and from there to México, accompanied by many of his men from Ixcatlán, bringing along tortillas, etc. He arrived in México City with his people and demanded to see Porfirio. Of all the Indians, only he was able to enter the offices of Don Porfirio. When he entered the office, Don Porfirio asked him to take a seat. He calmly sat down, but all of a sudden his feet were in the air. (The chair was one of those with springs in the back.) Poor Guadalupe was scared out of his wits. “You needn’t be afraid!” (“¡No te espantes!”) Don Porforio told him.

It used to be that people traveled by boat as far as Paploápan, but as the river has been running rough not a single boat has disembarked.

Amador ServínApril 15

Long ago Ixcatlán was located near Cerro Quemado (“Burned Hill”), but the eagles descended and carried away the children. Thus, the people had to leave high country.