70 A JSIATURALIST IN MEXICO. 



drivers sounded a small horn on approaching the inter- 

 section of streets, and everything went with a grand rush. 

 The mules did not suffer much from this rapid transit pace, 

 as might be supposed, for they were frequently changed, 

 and were generally in excellent condition. Our road 

 ran along the base of the Cerro de Borrego, crossed the 

 valley of Orizaba, and then again skirted the base of the 

 hills. Nogales was a neat little village of a few hundred 

 inhabitants, and was worthy of description. We did not 

 have time, unfortunately, to form an adequate idea of its 

 character. The marble yards bordered a deep ravine, through 

 which flowed a picturesque stream. In the vicinity of the 

 village we saw several washouts, showing the tremendous 

 force with which the Xvater must rush down the mountains 

 during the wet season. On n-^arly every one of our 

 excursions, we were greeted by a magnificent view of the 

 glistening, snow-capped peak of Orizaba, rising high above 

 the clouds. 



One afternoon, a day or two before leaving Orizaba, we 

 visited a quarry to the east of the town. On our way we 

 passed through the market place. The scene presented 

 here was very picturesque and interesting. On the edges 

 of the sidewalks, and in the streets, were placed little 

 patches of straw matting, upon which were displayed the 

 different articles the natives had for sale. Beside the 

 matting sat native men and women, cross-legged, each one 

 waiting patiently for some one to come and buy. The 

 natives were dressed in loose clothes. The men wore white 

 cotton pants and shirts, and had on their heads straw hats 

 or sombreros. The women wore woolen skirts of a dark 

 color and cotton waists, over which was thrown a shawl of 

 a slate color. Everything about them tended to induce 

 freedom of movement. Their skin was a tawny copper 

 color, their hair jet black. They appeared inferior in in- 



