THE HUMAN BEAST OF BURDEN. 



277 



rear of a Mexican army, almost every soldier Laving some woman who 

 belongs to him, who carries a heavy load of Indian corn and babies, 

 and cooks tortillas for her lord and master. The number of these 

 poor creatures who perish in the wars is very great.' 7 



Fig. 30. 

 Portrait of a Mexican Butcher. 



(Alter \V. H. Holmes.) 

 Observe the parts of the body involved. 



Mrs. Polhemus, in her " Woman's Work for Woman," speaks thus of 

 the Mexican burden-bearers : " Who are these two men coming towards 

 us, and what do they carry? The first is bearing to the city nothing 

 less than a load of wash-tubs. Very primitive they are, as you may see, 

 yet clothes will come from them as white and beautiful as any you 

 may have washed in your stationary tubs at home, with all the modern 

 improvements. Our next friend carries a bundle of wood, picked up 

 outside the city, and how precious those crooked sticks are you would 

 never guess till you tried to buy them. Here comes the baker's boy, 

 with his great flat basket, nicely balanced on his head, and filled with 

 fresh rolls and sweetened breads for your afternoon chocolate; then 

 comes an Indian woman with a great bundle of charcoal strapped to 

 her back, a baby tucked into her rebozo in front, and beyond walks 

 another, bearing on her head an earthen jar. In Guatemala this is the 

 way they carry milk, but here in Mexico City the jar is more likely to 

 contain water, either for bathing or drinking. On the corner stands a 

 porter, waiting and ready for a few cents to hoist to his back your 

 heaviest Saratoga trunk and transport it whither you will. Here comes 



