126 



NEW TRACKS IN NORTH AMERICA. 



country folk), all assemble in tlie Lall-rooni; tlie fiddler times 

 up, and, witliout introduction^ each, man leads out his partnerj, 

 to the dance- It is a curious fact, that the haile (pro 

 nounced bilie), which is quite a national institution in ever 

 Mexican village under the jurisdiction of the United States 

 is now far less common even in the larger towns across th 

 frontier in Mexico Proper, I was much struck with th 

 absence of gaiety in the same people, when crushed by th' 

 tyranny of the so-called Eepublic of Mexico, although in 

 personal appearance both men and women had greatly tb 

 advantage of their more northern brethren* 



Four miles and a half from Los Vegas, beautifully situate 

 in a romantic valley up in the pine regions, are the ho 

 sulphur s};)rings of Yegas. These have been long celebrate 

 for their curative qualities in diseases which are very commc 

 amongst the Mexican population all through INTew Mexico 



thej 



mucb frequented, although the accommodatio 



the ho 



y limited and poor. Besides the water of 



sprmgs 



leO^Fahi 



, — which is most powerfull 

 sulphurous, an abundance of the purest cold water flows 

 down from the mountain, so that there is every prospect ( 

 this spot becoming a thriving watering-place as soon as th 



railway 



ey the health- seeker 



7 



plea sure -hunt ers 



m 



from the large to^'ns of the States thither, to take a summer's 



in the dry pure air of the Eocky Mountains 



a much 

 Leukerbad, 



The 



sprm 



are 7,500 feet aboT 



the 



ICT 



higher elevation than the famous hot springs at 



in Switzerland, It would be impossible to exaggerate the 



magnificence of the climate in these upland re; 

 Mexico. I may add that there are to be found 



of Ts^ 



above the spr 



? 



of very fi 



ore. The pieces I examined were very strongly magnetic, and 



