SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 171 



that it may lose none of its interest, I insert it 

 exactly in his own words. 



" The gallants of this city shew themselves 

 daily, some on horseback, and most in coaches, 

 about four of the clock in the afternoon, in a 

 pleasant shady field, called the Alamaida, full 

 of trees and walkes, somewhat like unto our 

 Moor-fields, where doe meet, as constantly as 

 the merchants upon our Exchange, about two 

 thousand coaches full of gallants, ladies, and 

 citizens, to see and to be seen, to court and to be 

 courted, — the gentlemen having their train of 

 blackmoor slaves, some a dozen, some half a 

 dozen, waiting on them in brave and gallant 

 liveries heavy with gold and silver lace, with 

 silk stockings on their black legs, and roses on 

 their feet, and swords by their sides ; the ladies 

 also carry their train of slaves by their coaches' 

 side, of such jet-like damesells, as have before 

 been mentioned for their light apparell, who, 

 with their bravery and white mantell over 



