16 A NATURALIST IN MEXICO. 



in times past. On the sides of the well were stone benches, 

 and in one end the floor shelved down to the water's edge. 

 The water was of a bluish color, and had a taste of sulphur. 

 This i-rncf/c, its roof and bare, was an immense fossil for- 

 mation. Marine shells were conglomerated together in 

 solid masse?, many of the shells being very perfect. It 

 was used for bathing purposes during the dry season, and 

 also to furnish water to the inhabitants. 



While returning to our hotel we passed several natives 

 with bundles of ramon, or fodder, on their backs. They 

 were known as i^cncdors de j-a/iion, or sellers of ramon, and 

 they seemed to do a thriving business. Several calczjs con- 

 taining handsome seiioras and sefioritas were also passed. 

 These calczas were drawn by a single horse or mule, the 

 driver being perched on his back, and were very curious and 

 interesting vehicles, 



A visit to Merida is not complete without visiting the 

 market. This is situated in the southern part of the town, 

 and is a large and roomy building. He:e were displayed 

 for sale all kinds of meats, vegetables, fruits, sweetmeats, 

 toys, wearing apparel, and in fact about everything to be 

 found in Yucatan. The servants of the well-to do people 

 were here getting their daily provisions. One young native 

 woman I noticed particularly. With her were two small 

 children, and at her breast was a young child apparently 

 about nine months old. She was very pretty, with a shapely 

 head covered with an abundant growth of glossy black hair. 

 Her features were regular, and her form graceful and sym- 

 metrical in outline. She wore the usual dress of the native 

 population. This consisted of a skirt, called a//V, extending 

 from the waist to the ankles, and an outside over-skirt, or 

 uipil, extending from the shoulders to the knees. It was 

 cut low in the neck, was without sleeves, and elaborately 

 embroidered. She was barefooted and bareheaded. 



