Mante

The region known today as Mante is taken from the Huastecan Indian name, “Cinco potreros de Tamatán”, or the five pasture grounds, and in the “Tenek” or Huastecan language a word that means, “the embarkation of canoes.”

According to various documents, it was a very unsanitary place due to the flooding that the land suffered when the regional rivers overflowed, and more so due to the Mante River whose waters stagnated for months without any exit causing caused the formation of large lime deposits that afterward became a breeding ground for mosquitos and horse-flies whose sting was very painful.

Due to these insupportable and unsanitary conditions, the Spanish could not colonize the region permanently, although due to the rich and fertile capability of the ground they did farm the area.

According to several studies, there were several Indian tribes of “collectors-hunters” that inhabited the area with the Parnes, Chichimecas, and Janambres as the predominant tribes in the area.

The Janambres represented a formidable danger to those who attempted colonization as they attacked all who tried to settle in the “Tamatán” area. There are many stories that the Janambres were constantly hostile towards the colonists and when these fought to repel the attacks, the Indians withdrew to the hills.

On the other hand, there are indications that early in the conquest of Mexico the region of Mante was visited by several Augustinian missionaries, among them Friar Juan de Mesa, Friar Nicolas de San Paulo (last name Witte); Friar Comel de Bye and Friar Antonio de Roa, who ministered in several areas such as Tamezin (Tamesi, Tanchipa) and Tanguachin.

These facts are taken from Doctor Patricia Osante in her book Orígenes del Nuevo Santander (The Origins of New Santander).

However, according to the available evidence, neither of these Augustinian missionaries established a mission or any other colony, or at least, none of the evidence gives one reason to believe so.

Therefore, the “Cinco Potreros de Tamatán” (Five Pastures of Tamatan), also known as “Frondoso Paraje de Canoas” (The Luxuriant Embarkation of Canoes) or (The Leafy Embarkation of Canoes), was not considered by the founding officials, including the Escandón family.

The poor quality of the lands of San Juan Bautista de Horcasitas (today Magiscatzín, a township of González), forced several of his fellow colonists to migrate towards the mountain range of Tanchipa, including the surrounding areas of the Mante River spring.

In this area, they began to cultivate the fertile lands that guaranteed them excellent harvests of corn, beans, sugar cane, peppers, and fruit, which they used for their subsistence and commercial reasons.

So it was in November 1750, when Escandón was on an inspection visit in Horcasitas, that he found the area already populated. Finding it justifiable he proceeded to donate these lands to the Bishop of Manila, Don Manuel Antonio Rojo de la Fuente, and Vieyra, who accepted them.

After fulfilling all the legal requirements, Escandón orders Captain Juan Antonio de Barberena to take possession or the lands known as “Cinco Potreros de Tamatán” (The Five Pastures of Tamatán), which according to the testimony of the same Barberena occurred on March 8, 1764, at the same time taking an official census of the marketing colonists, and belongings of the Hustecan and Olive Indians that lived in the Horcasitas.

Miguel Velazquez and Ausencio Hernández represented the colonists and Andrés (Andrew) Gómez the Indians. There were thirty-five colonists living in the immediate vicinity of the Mante River spring and sixty-six in the area from Abra to Tanchipa.

On the basis of this historical data, some people consider this date and these colonists the founders of what was then known as “Frondoso Paraje de Canoas” (The Luxuriant Embarkation of Canoes) or (The Leafy Embarkation of Canoes), later known as “Rancho Canoas” (Canoe Ranch), and later still as Villa Juárez (Juarez Village), and now as Ciudad Mante (Mante City).

However, we should recognize that dividing the land among the inhabitants does not constitute the founding of a town or city, and in this sense, the Ciudad Mante (City of Mante) does not possess a precise founding date.

Hipolito Aviles, a fellow citizen and researcher living in Mante, submits that the word “mante” comes from the Nahuatl language and is composed of three syllables in that language: “man”, “atl” and “tetl”, which mean “place of”, “water” and “rock”.

Taken together these words mean “the place of the water in the rock” or “where the water comes out of the rock”, clearly alluding to the Mante River spring, because it is there that the water surges forth from the rock in the “Sierra de Cucharas”.

Contradicting the previous opinion is the fact that one must remember that this region was never inhabited by the Nahuatl Indians. The tribes that lived here were Huastecan, a branch of the Maya, and their language was “tének” or “huasteco” (Huastecan).

According to the research of diverse renown educators that have diligently studied the Tenek language, it is known that the word “mante” is of Tének origin and is formed from two roots which are: “man” meaning “yellow”, and “te” meaning “stick” or “tree”.

Therefore it is obvious that the word “mante” refers to the tree of that name, and whose fruit, upon ripening is of such an intense yellow color that it gives the same yellow appearance to the leaves of this tree when seen from a distance.

At the same time, it is clear that it is this tree that gives the River Mante its name, later to the sugar mill and also to the City of Mante.

If the version of Hipolito Aviles were true, then only the river would have this name but not the tree because the tree does not “surge forth from the water in the rock.”

On this basis, the name “Mante” correctly came from the tree in the family of the sapota tree with the same name.

“Mante” therefore means “yellow stick (or tree).”

The city of Mante has many beautiful and attractive sights for the tourist. Many of these tourist attractions are located in the immediate area surrounding Mante. Several of these places are briefly described in the following details.

“El Nacimiento” Or the “Birthplace” is only 7 miles by graveled road from the city and accessible in all seasons.

To see this magnificent spring with water flowing from the rocks in the “sierra de Cucharas” (Knifde spoon Ridge Mountains) is a new and marvelous experience. It is a tourist site where the entire family can enjoy a satisfying day in the country along with a picnic.

One may also go swimming or simply relax on a boat ride. One would be encouraged to swim to the mouth of the cave in order to view and enjoy the view of the light entering into the cave (above) and the crystal clear waters with an emerald tint.

“La Aguja” or “The Needle” is another popular swimming place in excellent condition approximately 4 miles from Mante.

It was (constructed) along with the construction of a dam on the Mante River which is used to irrigate the large sugar cane plantations of the region. This dam was constructed between 1927 and 1929 and inaugurated on August 9, 1929.

From here one can navigate upstream until you arrives at the “Nacimiento”.

The Beaches of Limon are to the North 7.5 miles away where the township of Limon with a lovely and friendly population is closely knit with Cd. Mante.

Coming down the river you come to where two pleasant rivers, the Sabinas and Frio (Cold River) join flowing into the Guayalejo River. This lovely attraction is visited by a large number of tourists that enjoy the tranquil, shallow, and uncontaminated waters of the river.

The cave at “El Abra” and the natural cave of Quintero are two of the caverns in the Cuchara Sierra and are without doubt the best known and more frequently visited in our region because of the close proximity to Cd. Mante.

In the cave at El Abra, it is worthwhile to view the “basement” located at the bottom of its interior 380 feet from the entrance.

It was partially explored by cave explorers from San Antonio, Texas in 1956. In the natural cavern of Quintero, one may observe the thousands of bats at the eventide as they emerge from the cave to search for food in the surrounding areas.

A castle-like building was constructed during the last century that belonged to the large hacienda “El Naranjo” (The Orange Tree). It was famous during its time, having received distinguished guests such as General Porfirio Diaz. It is located to the south of the village called Nueva Apolonia.

El Cielo (The Heaven) a protected cloud forest covers a land mass of 144,530 hectares and is a paradise for the great number of species that inhabit it. There are 175 distinct species of migratory birds and 225 local fowl, various amphibious mammals, as well as white tail deer, jaguar, and black bear.

This is due to the unique climatological, biological, and topographical conditions in El Cielo.

To find out more about this paradise take a look at the photos of this ecological reserve of our region. This is located away from Mante’s other beautiful sights as the Servilleta Canyon in the Mante’s zone.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

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