150 Ten Years of "iny Life. 



houses of the richer classes are often brilliantly furnished, 

 though not always in good taste. The Mexicans are very 

 fond of gilding, and they have frequently gilded tables and 

 other furniture. In the bedrooms the bed is the only thing 

 recommendable, for it is very large and mostly made of iron, 

 which is necessary on account of insects ; all the other accom- 

 modations are very primitive, and the luxury of cleanliness is 

 not much appreciated. Sheets are almost always made of 

 cotton, and so are tablecloths and napkins, and their miserable 

 state very frequently forms a strange contrast with the rich 

 furniture and plate. 



Though the Mexicans are a lazy people, they rise early. 

 The gentlemen have their morning ride and the ladies go to 

 church, and from there to the Alameda. This is the only oc- 

 casion on which they appear in the street on foot. Returned 

 home, they take a bath and make their toilet. They lunch 

 between twelve and one. 



The Mexicans are very frugal, and that is one good quality 

 at least to praise, even in the gentlemen. They do not drink 

 much, either spirits or wine or beer, though pulque appears 

 everywhere on the table. They live mostly very regularly and 

 decently, but gambling is the besetting sin of many of them. 



The men are generally rather little and delicate-looking, but 

 very well formed, with extremely small hands and feet. They 

 are very polite and reserved and courteous, as if always on 

 their guard against being imposed upon. They have good 

 reason for it ; for Mexicans are not reliable. They promise 

 readily, and are always at your service with words, but are not 

 to be trusted. Fifty years of civil war would demoralise better 

 nations than the descendants of Cortez's rapacious crew. 

 They love money, and have no scruples whatever in reference 

 to the means of getting it, and to rob the Republic as much as 

 possible is cpnsidered more a merit than a sin. Whoever gets 

 a high position uses it for this purpose. Though avaricious 

 and grasping in this sense, they are sometimes liberal and reck- 

 less of expense, as is usual with gamblers. In general they 

 are very hospitable, and at their dinner-table are always laid 

 covers for guests who may drop in. Frugal as they usually are, 

 the tables are loaded with everything when they give parties. 



The ladies are very pretty, and generally excel in the rich- 

 ness of tlieir black hair, there large black and melancholy 



