CHAPTER XII. 



Government of New Mexico — The Admin istraiion of Justic* 

 Judicial Corrupiion — Prejudices against Americans — Partial- 

 ity for the English — Anecdotq of Governor Armijo and a 

 Trapper — Outrage upon an American Physician — Violence 

 suffered by the American Consul and others— Arbitrary Im- 

 positions upon Foreigners — Contrihicion de Gucrra — The Al- 

 caldes and their System — The Fueros — Mode of punishing 

 Delinquents and Criminals— Mexican System of Slavery — 

 Thieves and Thieveries — Outrage upon an American Mer- 

 chant — Gambling and Gambling-bouses— Game of M&nte — 

 Anecdote of a Lady of Fashion— C/4«^a — Cockpits— Cc^r?-er 

 el gallo — El Coleo — Fandangoes — Cigarritos. 



Prior to the adoption of the Sistema Central 

 in the Mexican repubhc, the province of New 

 Mexico was under a temtorial government. 

 The executive was called Gcfe Politico (poli- 

 tical chief), and the Diputacion Provincial very 

 mefficiently suppUed the place of a legisla- 

 ture. Under the present system, however, 

 New Mexico being a depart7nent, the names 

 of these powers have been changed, but their 

 functions remain very nearly the same. The 

 Gohernador (governor) is appohited by the Pre- 

 sident for eight years. The legislative power 

 is nominall/vested in a Junta Departammial, 

 a kind of state council, with very circum- 



