154 PECULIARITIES OF DIET. 



Indian meal, is another article of diet, the pre- 

 j>aration of which is from the aborigines ; and 

 such is its nationahty, that in the North it is 

 frequently called el cafe de los Mexicanos (the 

 coffee of the Mexicans). How general soever 

 the use of coffee among Americans may ap- 

 pear, that of atole is still more so among the 

 lower classes of Mexicans. They virtually 

 \ breakfast, dine and sup' upon it. Of this, 

 mdeed, witli frijoks and chik (beans and red 

 pepper), consists their principal food. The 

 exti-avagant use of red pepper among the 

 Mexicans has become truly proverbial. It 

 enters into nearly every dish at every meal, 

 and often so predominates as entirely to con- 

 ceal the character of the viands. It is hke- 

 wise ground into a sauce, and thus used even 

 more abundantly than butter. Chik verde 

 (green pepper), not as a mere condiment, but 

 as a salad, served up in different ways, is 

 reckoned by them one of the greatest luxuries. 

 But however much we may be disposed to 

 question then taste in this particular, no one 

 can hesitate to do homage to their incompara- 

 ble chocolate, m the preparation of which the 

 Mexicans surely excel every other people. 



Besides these, many other articles of diet 

 pecuhar to the country, and adopted from 

 tiie aborigines, are still in use— often of rich 

 and exquisite flavor, and though usually not 

 much rehshed at first by strangers, they are 



for the most part highly esteemed after a little 

 use. 



The rancheros, and all the humbler classes 



