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A NATURALIST IN MEXICO. 



ear-rings and necklaces for ornaments. These natives 

 (peons) are the working class of Mexico. 



Our next class is the European, or Creole, the con- 

 querors of Mexico. They are gentle and refined, yet pas- 

 sionate, and very courteous toward each other. They make 

 delightful companions They are fond of gaming, and ar- 

 dent admirers of the fair sex. Many of the women are ex- 

 ceedingly handsome, having dark ryes and hair. The 

 women, however, are kept mostly shut up in the houses, 

 and travellers rarely get a glimpse of them. They are ex- 

 cellent needle- women, and spend a great part of tlieir time 

 in this way. In their dress this class favor the French and 

 conform to the latest Parisian styles. They wear the 

 characteristic head-dress of the Spaniards, the mantilla. 



The third race, the Mestizos, or 

 mixed race, is the off-spring of white 

 father and native mother. They are 

 splendid horsemen, and seem to com- 

 bine the best characteristics of the 

 two races They wear, when dressed 

 up, a white plaited shirt, wide trous- 

 ers of white or colored material, 

 fastened about the waist by a brilliant 

 girdle, brown leather gaiters, and a 

 broad felt hat, or sombrero, with a 

 silver band about it. The rancheros, 

 or peasants, are distinguished by the 

 open trousers of leather, ornamented 

 AN ICE CREAM VENDEK. With sllvcr buttous, aud white drawers 

 underneath. A colored handkerchief about the neck and a 

 serape, complete the outfit. The women wear loose, em- 

 broidered chemises, and a woolen skirt; they wear no 

 stockings, although occasionally one is seen with slippers, 

 aud a rebozo, or a narrow, long shawl drawn over the head 



