OTHER ASPECTS OF THE MEXICAN 147 



Distrustfulness seems to be born in the 

 native, and a significant fact, and one con- 

 stantly overlooked in writing and speaking 

 of him, is the profound suspicion he en- 

 tertains towards those of his own race. 

 Evidently, and not wholly without reason, 

 he views his compatriots in the light of a 

 band of thieves ! Also it requires an ex- 

 ceptional Mexican, man or woman, to see 

 that petty thieving is against his own in- 

 terests, while the average negro almost 

 never steals when satisfied with his employer. 

 Therein consists one of the many respects in 

 which the negro, intelligently speaking, is 

 superior to the Mexican. 



The native woman is courteous herself, 

 and expects the same in return. There are 

 few Englishwomen, however or ladies is 

 perhaps a better word who demean them- 

 selves by rudeness to those in their employ, 

 so there is no trouble about that ; unless 

 unfortunately it should be necessary to 

 employ an American woman also, in which 

 event there will certainly be trouble : the 

 result, precipitate flight on the part of the 

 native. 



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