IN THE PACIFIC. 119 



Mazatlan is not unhealthy, notwithstanding 

 the mangrove swamps in the neighbourhood ; 

 these are flooded with each tide, and in the 

 rainy season become one large lake, but the 

 town being built on a promontory gets the 

 benefit of the sea breeze, and is not affected by 

 the malaria, like many other places on the 

 coast. 



The natives living in the ranches scattered 

 about the country are as a rule most civil, and 

 grateful for the smallest remuneration; they 

 are very poor, and live almost entirely upon 

 tortillas , a pancake made from Indian corn, 

 and frijoles, the brown bean of the country : 

 on this simple fare a Mexican will go anywhere, 

 especially if it be washed down by a glass of 

 Mescal, a spirit made from the cactus. The 

 native women are not bad-looking, and all have 

 beautiful dark eyes and hair, and small hands 

 and feet. 



