112 



MEXICO. 



sans have of late years settled in Mexico, but are always 

 regarded with jealous dislike by the natives. 



The works in wax are celebrated ; and there is an 

 artist, Hidalgo by name, whose models of national char- 

 acter and costumes are of rare beauty and fidelity. 

 There is evidently much native talent of an imitative 

 kind ; but the disadvantages under which the country 

 labours, are sufficient to crush and extinguish it. 



Owing to the causes before alluded to, I am totally 

 unable to give you the smallest insight into the manner 

 in which the best classes of the natives employ them- 

 selves during the early part of the day. Soon after sun- 

 rise, the churches held their proportions of worshippers 

 of all ranks. The hour of prayer over and gone, w r hile 

 we suppose that the males repaired to their ordinary 

 occupations, private or official, the higher class of females 

 disappeared altogether. Among the crowds in the great 

 thoroughfares, at the market, under the great arcades, or 

 on the promenades — it was a rare occurrence to descry 

 the mantilla of a lady of condition. 



Now and then, it is true, a solitary maiden, followed 

 by her watchful duenna, might cross your path, saluting 

 your nostrils by a gentle whiff from the lighted cigarita, 

 which, like the glance of her black eye, was but half 

 shrouded by the ample mantilla ; but this was not a usual 

 apparition. 



It was evident that they neither went out shopping ? 

 nor visiting, nor gallivanting, but staid within doors — 

 which, on the charitable supposition that they were prop- 

 erly employed, was well enough ; but hereof deponent 

 saith not. 



It was far otherwise in the evening. Then all, young 

 and old, came out of their hiding places, and the Alameda 

 and paseos before sunset, and the portales after dark, 

 swarmed with the damas and signoritas of the city. 



The number of carriages which repair to the evening 

 promenade is very great ; and there is certainly consid- 

 erable taste and luxury displayed among them. 



They are in general capacious vehicles ? with bodies 



