SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



207 



sisted that this degrading system should be 

 abolished; it was so, and the city remained 

 several days without the means of procuring 

 wheaten bread, when the old arbitrary mode 

 of preparing it was again resorted to. 



Tortilios are soft cakes made of maize, or In- 

 dian corn ; they constitute the principal food of 

 the poor, and resemble our pikelets : they are 

 wholesome, nutritious, and good, and, when 

 eaten warm, I considered them a delicacy. 



Shops for the sale of native and Spanish 

 brandy, (aguardiente), and other spirituous 

 liquors, wines, &c. are too common ; and by 

 the gay display of their various-coloured poi- 

 sons, in handsome decanters, present such a 

 temptation to the poor Indian, that few who 

 possess a media can carry it home. 



The water-carriers of Mexico are a nume- 

 rous body, who bring this necessary article 

 from the deposits of the aqueducts to private 

 houses in large globular jars, poised on their 



