THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 71 



humor so often possessed by his race causes this 

 exhibition of speed mania to appeal to him as a 

 good joke, and he snatches up the handles of the 

 wheelbarrow and goes off at a round trot, continuing 

 thus to trot until the work is done. 



The peon's forbears at the coming of the Span- 

 iards were not only skilled but industrious, as all 

 history proves, and any laziness evinced by the mod- 

 ern peon is set down to mismanagement by govern- 

 ment and church. The effect of climate it surely is 

 not! The very idea is ludicrous, and not borne out 

 by facts. 



Let us turn from personal experiences with the 

 peon to read the words of an American long resi- 

 dent in Mexico ; and neither is he alone in his opin- 

 ion, being upheld by several residents in both New 

 and old Mexico. I myself have heard those who 

 have employed peon labor in numbers and for half 

 a lifetime declare that the Mexican will give his 

 very life for white men who know how to win his 

 esteem and confidence. 



"The Mexican peon is naturally a faithful, loyal 

 associate and helper; he is trustworthy; he believes 

 it to be a priceless honor to be confided in. . . . All 

 men, however, irrespective of nationality, if dis- 

 trusted and watched will frequently let the watcher 

 have what he is looking for." 



In respect to business arrangements, verbal con- 

 tracts and so forth I myself have found the peon 

 more to be depended upon than many a person of 

 other national itv. On first coming to this Valley I 

 was assured bv Americans, who understood the 



