XAYMACA; THE ISLAND OF MANY RIVERS 323 



iar Arizona scene was so vividly recalled. But I 

 soon discovered that a cow and calf were being 

 cut out of the herd, and driven at a gallop into 

 a small enclosure at the foot of the hill. The 

 cow, kicking and plunging, was tied by the horns 

 to a fence-post, a negro standing on one side of 

 the animal with upraised fence-rail, ready to give 

 her a severe blow should she kick. Her calf was 

 then allowed to go to her, but had no sooner 

 begun to suck, than the poor little creature was 

 pulled away by the tail, and a third man, at arm's 

 length, a tin cup in hand, accomplished the milk- 

 ing. All through the process a hideous uproar 

 prevailed, in which beasts, boys, and men joined. 

 It was a laughable and, at the same time, a pitiful 

 sight. Each cow yielding under these barbarous 

 methods about a half pint, only three pints of 

 milk was our daily portion. An elaborate cream 

 separator and modern churn were in the dairy, 

 and we had been assured that fresh butter could 

 be furnished us in abundance. A few days later 

 Mrs. Scott saw one of the maids squatting on her 

 heels in the courtyard, lazily swinging back and 

 forth in her hands a quart beer bottle containing 

 a white liquid. " What are you doing, Diana ? " 

 " Meka butta cum, mum." And this was the 

 source to which we must look for the coveted 

 supply of fresh butter. A tablespoonful was the 

 sole result of her lazy effort. 



