1S8 Ten Years of my Life, 



The animals drawing these vehicles are suited to them, for the 

 horses of that country do not easily submit to this service, and 

 mules are almost always preferred. Though the turn-outs may 

 not bear comparison with those of Hyde Park or the Bois de 

 Boulogne, the ladies sitting in these closed boxes may vie in 

 beauty with any in the world. They appear on the Paseo 

 always in evening toilet — that is, low dresses and flowers in 

 the hair. 



The gentlemen are there on their finest horses and in their 

 richest riding costumes. When walking in the street they look 

 like European gentlemen, but for riding on horseback they 

 always wear a peculiar rich and becoming costume. All of 

 them have a large brimmed sombreros more or less gorgeously 

 ornamented with gold tassels and cords. Their short jackets 

 of cloth are set with arabesques in braid, and with a great 

 quantity of small silver buttons; Over their ordinary trousers 

 they wear others, which reach only from the foot to the knee ; 

 they are very wide, cover the whole foot, and arc richly em- 

 broidered with gold and silver. They look indeed very elegant 

 on horseback, and when dismounting they ahvays reminded 

 me of that peculiar kind of pigeons which have their feet 

 covered with long feathers. The silver spurs they use are 

 remarkably large, with wheels like saucers. 



The Mexican horses are extremely fine, intelligent and 

 strong, but rather small. They are as much covered with 

 finery as their masters, and even more. The saddles are, I 

 might say, the opposite of English saddles, for they are more 

 like a chair with large pommels and high backs, covered with 

 silver ornaments. Behind the saddle is always fastened the 

 serape of the rider, a kind of long plaid used by both sexes. 

 The silver-studded bridle seems to me the most cruel thing 

 imaginable, for the curb, a very large iron ring, is so sharp that 

 the jaw of a horse might easily be broken by it. The reins 

 are a many coloured silk cord. Behind the saddle hang from 

 both sides shaggy goat-skins, v^'hich serve as covers for the, 

 pistol-cases. A lasso is also attached to the saddle. 



Mexican gentlemen appear accoutred in this manner as well 

 on the promenade as on a journey ; and I must say that they 

 look extremely picturesque. 



From the statue of Charles IV., the barrier at the end ot 

 the promenade, the distance is nearly twelve hundred yards. 



