MEXICAN INDIANS. 



ter, which soon reassured them, and they came 

 round us afterwards with confidence ; but it was 

 with great reluctance they parted with their bow^ 

 and arrows, and their feathered ornaments. The 

 old man could not be prevailed upon to part with 

 his rod of authority, nor his official bird ; neither 

 could we induce them to sell, at any price, that 

 part of their dress to which the inventory of their 

 goods and chattels was appended. 



These Indians are a small and feeble race of 

 men, resembling in this respect the aboriginal in- 

 habitants of the country. Their bows and arrows 

 are suited to their strength, being more like those 

 of school-boys than the arms of men who have 

 their country to defend. And it is impossible not 

 to look back with pity upon the unequal contest 

 waged in this unfortunate country, when the mus- 

 ket and bayonet of the disciplined Spaniard were 

 first opposed to weapons so contemptible, in such 

 feeble hands. 



From the Plaza, we went to a house where a 

 bee-hive of the country was opened in our pre- 

 sence. The bees, the honeycomb, and the hive., 

 differ essentially from those in England. The 



