38 OBSERVATIONS OF A RANCHWOMAN 



Dame Rumour, but nominally, so far as 

 portions of Old Mexico are concerned. And 

 Spaniards make hard task-masters, affirms 

 the same oracle. A mongrel race various 

 Indian tribes crossed in the first instance with 

 Spanish soldiery, whose vices were certainly 

 not hidden under a bushel holds little in it 

 of fine promise. There is distinct evidence 

 of caste among them, and I am assured that 

 the further one travels from the border, the 

 more marked becomes the improvement in 

 the race. The more or less of Indian in the 

 blood has fully as much to do, no doubt, with 

 that question of caste as has the possession 

 of more or less of worldly goods. 



The admirers of the Mexican (chiefly 

 feminine) in his labouring capacity will ex- 

 claim, in defence of his indomitable laziness, 

 4 Oh, it's the climate ! This is the land of 

 poco tiempo, you know.' The climate ? What 

 nonsense ! is our inward retort. This is no 

 tropical atmosphere, but one that is ex- 

 hilarating and incentive to a fault. At 

 3,800 feet above sea-level, an altitude which 

 increases with every mile taken northward 

 with a clear air that literally sparkles even 



