MEXICO 203 



perate zone (tierra templada). Here it is eternal spring. Then 

 as the land gets higher up to the Sierra Madre comes the cold 

 belt (tierra fria), cold only in comparison with the other 

 warmer parts, as snow is seldom seen except on the high 

 mountain peaks, but where frosts in winter prevent the growth 

 of the more tropical fruits and vegetables. The two latter 

 zones are the great stock-raising portions of the Republic, 

 healthy alike for man and beast. 



The system of running stock in Mexico is very much after 

 the old style that was in vogue in Australia fifty years ago. 

 Sheep and goats are shepherded in flocks of from 1200 to 2000, 

 the shepherd (pastor) has no dog to help him, but breaks in his 

 flock to turn at certain cries ; at night he brings his flock to the 

 camping ground (majada), and so well trained are they that 

 wherever they see the shepherd's fire they coil down and re- 

 main till morning, unless disturbed in the night by wild animals, 

 when it is the duty of the shepherd to get round them and bring 

 them back to their camping ground, the coyote (wild dog) being 

 most troublesome. The shepherd has no tent or hut, merely 

 a piece of oilcloth to sleep on or to keep his provisions dry ; 

 hence the shifting of camp is an easy matter, and a flock never 

 remains on one camp more than a few nights — a decided ad- 

 vantage. Over every four shepherds there is a " vaquero " 

 (overseer), whose duty it is to count sheep, carry water and 

 rations to the shepherds, and look for any stray sheep. Over 

 every four " vasieros " there is a " mayordomo " (head man) 

 who has the general supervision over all, and issues rations, etc. 



Lambing is quite a laborious undertaking. First, all ewes in 

 lamb are carefully drafted out and run in small flocks not ex- 

 ceeding 1000 ; each day's lot of lambs are kept apart in small 

 " atajos " (flocks) until the lambs are well mothered, when 

 several of these " atajos " are joined ; the lambed flocks are 

 never larger than 300 until the lambs are marked. All this 

 necessitates a number of extra hands, but as labour is very 

 cheap, from 18/- to 20/- a month, it pays to do it. and usually 

 good percentages are raised. 



Shearing is done in temporary sheds of boughs, with mother 

 earth as a floor, swept more or less carefully (generally less) 

 for the occasion. One of the shearers being appointed captain, 



