THE SWARTHY COMPLEXION. 217 



ble description. But as there has been so 

 much imposition with regard to foreign jew- 

 elry, articles of native manufacture, some of 

 which are admirably executed, without alloy 

 or counterfeit are generally preferred. 



In New Mexico, caches de paseo of any kind 

 are very rare ; occasionally, however, one of 

 those huge, clumsy, old-fashioned vehicles of 

 Mexican manufacture, so abundant ui the 

 southern cities, and often nick-named * wheel- 

 ed tarantulas,' by strangers, may be seen. 

 Such an apparition in a Yankee city would 

 excite as much curiosity as a caravan of the 

 rarest animals. The coach alone is a load for 

 two mules, therefore the veliicle is usually- 

 drawn by four and sometimes six, and inva- 

 riably driven by postillions. 



The stature of both sexes in New Mexico 

 is commonly below medium : but they are 

 mostly well proportioned, of atliletic make, 

 and sound, healthy constitutions. Their com- 

 plexion is generally dark ; but every variety 

 of shade is found among them, from the 

 lightest European tint to the swarthiest hue. 

 Their darkness has resulted partly from their 

 original Moorish blood, but more from inter- 

 marriages with the aborigines. An occasional 

 Indian, and sometimes an entire village, have 

 abandoned their wonted seclusion, and be- 

 come identified witli their conquerors. Li 

 the North, the system of Indian slavery has 

 contributed still more to the same result They 

 buy the captive children of both sexes of the 



wild tribes, taken prisoners among each other, 



19 



