MEXICO, 591 



About fivG hogs are slaughtered a day to supply the pork demand of 

 Monterey of 50,000 people. The people are fond of it, but the majority 

 are compelled to eat cheaper meat— beef, kid, and mutton. The greater 

 Piirt of the lard consumed is brought from surrounding haciendas. No 

 disposition is manifested to improve their stock of hogs by foreign im- 

 portations, such as the Chester, Berkshire, and the like. 



nOKSE-EAlSING. 



Horses are raised tif a considerable extent when the population is 

 considered. The average price of horses raised in this State is $13.50 

 each. They arc principally of the Brancho breed, of medium size, well 

 shaped, and very durable and hardy. 



He is much better suited for the general purposes for which he is 

 needed and used here than the larger American horse. He can travel 

 feriiier in a day on less water and food than the American horse. 

 , There are, however, a good many large-sized horses raised in the State 

 (roni imported stallions, and the number will be increased as heavy 

 American plows and general agriculture demand them. 



A great many horses, especially mares, have been bought and shipped 

 to the United States this year. I think 25 per cent, of the horses in the 

 State have been purchased and shipped beyond the Eio Grande in the 

 last twelve months. 



MULE-RAISING. 



All the mules used in the State are raised here. They will average 

 14 hands high, are generally well proportioned and very hardy. There 

 arc some larger mules raised, but very few over 15 hands high. Many 

 have been bought by the Americans and carried into Texas this year. 

 They arc used entirely Ibr wagon and carriage purposes here, having 

 never been able to displace the ox from the plow. 



THE BURRO. 



The burro, or, as he is called in the United States, the ass, though- a 

 modest and small aniimal, occupies a very important place in the in- 

 dustries of IV'exico, as is generally the case in all mountainous countries. 

 He is indispensable and can never be superseded by the horse, mule, or 

 locomotive. 



Perhaps when aerial navigation is perfected his dominions will be 

 somewhat encroached upon, but even then he will hold an imjiortant 

 place in the industries of Mexico. Kind by nature, patient to a fault, 

 economical in his diet, he will eat his allotted rations of cactus at home, 

 and enjoy a modicum of old rags, paper, &c., when ho comes to town 

 .without complaint. Burdened with loads larger than himself, he sub- 

 mits to the cruel whacks of his master's " baston" without murmur. 



He is faithful and true. He bears his rider with unerring step along 

 precipitous mountain ledges, and packs ponderous burdens of gold and 

 silver ore i'rom otherwise inaccessible mountain heights to the valleys 

 below. Fruits and agricultural products are brought by him from 

 " quintas " among rugged hills to thehnngry of the cities, and with equal 

 good grace he tugs with his heavy loads of fire-wood from forests high 

 up the inountain sides to warm the shivering denizens of the city and 

 hamlet. 



