a6 NEW TRACKS IN NORTH AMERICA. 
were accompanied by large thick-stemmed mezquit trees, each 
carrying a fortune in pianoforte legs, and many hard prickly 
shrubs, whose tiny leaves and beautiful flowers were just 
opening to enjoy the spring; but the contrast between the 
crabbed, drought-stunted foliage of the plateau, and the 
graceful verdure in the San Miguel valley, was great indeed. — 
At Torreon every little adobe building looks like a summer-_ 
house placed in a garden. Palms shade it from the sun ; high 
hedges of prickly pear—Nopala Castiliana, as the Mexicans 
call it—keep out the pigs and the cattle ; and groves of large 
orange trees, golden with fruit, lead down to the river at the 
back. We chose the prettiest of these baby-houses, and 
tapped at the cane door. Two girls, neatly dressed in prints 
and white aprons, came to let us in. They had only just 
reached womanhood, and were very good-looking; but their” 
cast of features was quite new to me. Their faces were oval, 
almost round ; eyes large, soft, and very round, of a dark blue | 
colour. Their complexion was rich olive, but not as dark as 
that of the Mexicans generally. Their hair was jet black, 
neatly dressed; their voices were soft; and they laughed r 
merrily when Van Alstine asked them if they would take 
compassion on two such queer-looking foreigners. My com- 4 
panion-knew at once that théy were pure-blooded Opita 
Indians. 
This was my introduction to the most courteous race 
Species. 
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