MEXICAN PRACTICE 69 



souls, and the Rio Grande valley below El Paso 

 is populated by them in considerable numbers. 

 In the city they conduct mostly stores, restau- 

 rants, laundries, etc. In the valley they pursue 

 truck gardening, raising most of the vegetables 

 used in the city. Quite a number of them own a 

 few horses ; they are about the poorest horsemen 

 imaginable and employ veterinarians regularly. 

 Their faith in medicine and in the art of healing 

 is even greater than that of the Mexicans; they 

 obey the doctor's instructions implicitly and are 

 most appreciative of good service and attention. 

 On top of this they are absolutely honest, paying 

 their bills promptly and generously; white folks 

 can well afford to take lessons from John China- 

 man in this respect. The only bad part about 

 him is the fact that he is a prosperity killer; he 

 takes in more than he gives out. In fact, aside 

 from emergency expenses, he spends so little 

 money for his own subsistence, clothing, etc., that 

 white folks cannot compete with him in any line 

 of business he undertakes. 



Only in one regard must I modify this state- 

 ment, and that is in regard to his gaming pro- 

 clivities. Most Chinamen of my acquaintance 

 were confirmed gamblers. However, as they 

 gamble chiefly among themselves, no one outside 

 of their clan profits by it. 



I have seen one, now and then, take a whirl at 

 roulette during the big fiesta in Juarez, but 

 unless they make a lucky play to begin with they 

 don't stick long. And, come to think of it, the 

 one and only time that I can remember of a 



