414 



MEXICO. 



straight hair of the Mexican. There are but few of them, and all are either free or under the 

 protection of laws whose eventual operation is to liberate them. The seventh is the offspring 

 of negroes and Indians, called Zamboes or Chinese. 



The Indians form about two fifths of the whole population. In no other country has 

 the aboriginal race survived the process of civilization, and here their number is on the in- 

 crease. They are hardy, and though subjected to frequent privation, live to a great age, often 

 to 100 years. Their hair seldom turns gray, and they are in the country a well-formed 

 race. Perhaps the only modern giant perfectl}'' well proporcioned, was the offspring of 

 an Indian and Mestizo ; he was 7 feet and a quarter high. There are now hardly any other 

 classes of people than the rich and poor. The titled nobility were always Creoles, and were 

 the highest. The lawyers, merchants, and shop-keepers are next in influence. The most 

 numerous, and lowest, is the disorderly rabble that infests the cities, especially Mexico, where 

 there are 20,000, who beg, steal, and, as a last resort, work for a subsistence. They resemble 

 the Lazzaroni of Naples, and live much in the open air. They are partially fed by the con- 

 vents, which have charitable funds for the daily distribution of food to the poor. 



G. Dress. The fashion of dress in all the American countries is somewhat unsettled, but 

 generally well adapted to the climate, and to tlie habits of the people. The European dress is 

 common in Mexico, and has always been worn by the better classes. Still a great many pic- 

 turesque dresses are seen, more distinguished for finery than simplicity. The equestrian dress 

 is of all the most costly and showy. The horse too is so covered with trappings, that he jingles 

 as he moves. The pummel of the saddle is inlaid with gold, and the whole apparatus often costs 

 500 dollars. The equestrian dress is surmounted by a low-crowned leather hat, edged with 

 gold or silver lace, and with a brim of 6 inches. The jacket is embroidered with silver or 

 gold, or trimmed with fur. The breeches are of a pea-green or bright blue, open at the knee, 

 and studded at the sides with brilliant buttons. The leg is cased in embroidered leathern boots 

 or hose, attached by a garter to the knee. At the ancle commences the shoe, which at the 

 top swells out 6 inches like a scallop shell. The spurs weigh about a pound and a half, and 

 have rowels 12 inches in circumference, together widi a small bell attached to the side, so 

 that a ?»Iexican cavalier seldom makes a silent advance. 



Over all is worn a rich cloak, which, together with the whole dress, is very expensive. Two 

 hundred dollars are sometimes given for the boots, though 80 is a liberal price ; a jacket, not 

 very fine, costs as much. A gentleman would hardly wear a hat worth less than 20 dollars, and 

 bis breeches, if at all respectable, will stand him in at least 60 dollars more. Spurs and embroi- 

 dered stirrup leathers are sold at 20 dollars, plated bridles at 22 ; an ordinary manga., or cloak, 

 at 100 dollars, and a rich cloak at 300. There is in Europe nothing like this dress ; it is exceed- 

 ingly showy and picturesque. In the streets men and boys appear in long cloaks ; at home 

 they wear jackets of printed calico. The morning dress of the ladies is generally black ; ai'l 

 the females of Spain are not more solicitous than those of Mexico to display a neat shoe ar i 

 a small foot. On holidays the colors are very gay, and the country ladies wear a profusion o 

 spangles. Shawls, covering the head and bust are often worn. These fashions, though com 

 mon, are not universal. A traveler who left at Xalapa for a few months Ackerman's book o* 

 fashions, found on his return an entire revolution in female dress, founded upon the EnglisI 

 model. 



The dress of the Indians is slight, and resembles that of the laboring class. It consists ii/ 

 leather breeches and jerkin, with sandals or shoes of hide. Sometimes, however, the Indians 

 have no covering but a tattered petticoat or a blanket, with a hole in it through which to thrust 

 the head. On holidays they deck themselves in gaudy flowers and feathers. They wear some- 

 times in the ear the glancing feathers of the humming bird. The hair of the Indian is cut 

 close in front, but hangs down in two tails at the side. 



^. Languat^e. The general language is the Spanish. The languages spoken throughou' 

 Mexico are, however, more than 20 in number. Among the native dialects the Aztec, o 

 Mexican tongue is the most widely diffused. This language is not agreeable to the ear, an 1 

 some of the words are of 1 1 syllables. 



8. Manner of Building. The city of Mexico is, from its numerous and spacious squares 

 and its neat and imposing edifices, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and may be 

 ranked with Philadelphia, Berlin, or Naples. The private as well as public buildings are mag- 

 nificent. They are of 3 or 4 stories, with terraced roofs and iron balconies. Generally they 

 are of a quadrangular shape, with open courts ; the interior piazzas have large china vases ot 



