6 NEW TRACKS IN NORTH AMERICA. 
and that the bed of the stream is always changing its position, | 
sometimes to one side, sometimes to the other; thus destroy- 
ing fields of corn, irrigating canals, and villages; taking from m 
one man and giving to another, covering rich tracts of alluvi 
soil with sand and rubbish, and undermining the trees whid 
had arrived at maturity on the firm dry land. About latitude 
82° 13’ are two flourishing towns, La Mesilla and Los Cruces 
Not long ago the river passed between them, but now they 
both lie on the left bank, the stream having completely 
changed its channel without disturbing either. 
Between the villages we often met with ruins of towns 
now quite deserted, but once far more extensive than those 
still mhabited. These ruins were generally of adobe ; bul at 
some of the most extensive had stone foundations, pees were 
therefore, without doubt, of Aztec origin. 
Our daily wants shkioad us often to visit the cottage of § a 
Mexican for lodging or refreshment ; and although the latt 
was usually scanty enough, the fata was the perfection of 
rustic neatness. Household cleanliness is as natural to some 
nations as ‘“pigstyosity” is to others. Compare the Irish | 
peasantry and the Mexican peons. Both are Roman Catholies; 7 
neither, as a rule, are well fed or well clothed ; both « 
indolent by nature ; and, as far as brains go, vue the Irish- 
man stands ‘eecmna’ Yet enter their cottages. In one cas 2 : 
you instinctively hold your nose, and back out. In the other 
you sit on the floor with pleasure, and use it as a table with. 
out the least compunction, Although great neatness 
the rule wherever I have travelled amongst the Mexicans, 
e Cottages along the Rio Grande, especially towards the ’ 
south, seemed to be kept with special taste. When nes 
into the parlour, We would look with dismay at our dus 
boots and soiled ap arel, for the floor would be often com- 
