418 



MEXICO. 



but their songs are sad. They have a great talent for drawing, and, if they would persevere, 

 could excel in the art. They have much skill in modeling in wax and carving in wood. 

 Their sense of the beautiful has survived their political degradation ; and they have now the 

 same passion for flowers that was noted by Cortez. The Indians are a gentle race, and their 

 materials for happiness are few ; they consist in a banana, a hammock, and a guitar. They 

 are darker than tiieir southern neighbors, resembling in countenance the Mongul race, though 

 there is no people in whom there is so slight a projection of the forehead. They attribute 

 their former state of civilization to a mysterious personage who arrived several centuries ago, 

 mtroduced the arts of peace and abrogated human sacrifices to the gods. The priests made 

 no difficulty in believing this person to have been Saint James ; for faith rises in proportion to 

 the want of evidence. The Indians having little else to love, adhere tenaciously to their old 

 customs. The priests, in indoctrinating the Indians into the mysteries of the Catholic reli- 

 gion, were obliged to incorporate with it many superstitions. The ceremonies are indeed 

 changed, but the creed of the Indian is not very clear, though he loves fire-works, processions, 

 and festivals. As the priests are somewhat addicted to miracles, several were used in con- 

 versions ; and the fire of a lens was concentrated on an Indian's arm, to convince him, that 

 the sun was a body of fire, and not the Creator. A picture of the torments of the uncon- 

 verted was shown them, and the terror it inspired turned to advantage. 



As a class, the Indians are poor and miserable. They live mostly in the more barren dis- 

 tricts, and feed on fruits of easy cultivation. The necessaries of life are so abundant, that there 

 is little need for exertion ; some few of the Indians, however, possess considerable property. 

 Were a stranger to see the edifices in the Mexican cities, he would not infer the existence 

 of poverty, — but at the sight of an Indian hut, he could imagine the existence of but little 

 else. In the cities they are more degraded than in the country, and it was remarked by a trave- 

 ler, that he never saw a white tell an Indian to do anything that was not executed without 

 remonstrance. There is no warrant for injustice, however, in the laws. But the Indian has 

 little restraint over his propensity for pulque, and is often intoxicated. In the city of Mexico 

 tumbrils are sent round by the police to take up those who are drunk. These are kept a 

 night, and made to work in the streets for three days with a ring around their ancle. 



The Indians are by law free, and have the rights of other citizens ; yet they are much op- 

 pressed. They are often kept as laborers for years, against their own will. A small sum is 

 advanced to one of the improvident race ; it is expended in pulque, and the debtor is shut up 

 in some mine or factory to liquidate the debt by labor. Here food, clothing, and brandy are 

 furnished him, for which he is charged ; and there is little chance of his obtaining his freedom, 

 till he is of no use to his creditor. The creditor has, or assumes, the right of a master, and 

 may flog his debtor without mercy. The Indians are allowed magistrates of their own race, if 

 this be an advantage ; though the Caziques seem to understand the principle, that leads men 

 politically degraded to oppress those below them. The grade of the Caziques cannot be dis- 

 covered by their superior dress or greater intelligence. 



There is now in Mexico little distinction of mere color or caste. There was formerly a 

 great hatred between the castes, but this is ended in the broader distinction between American 

 and European. Several Indians are deputies to Congress. There has been an Indian judge in 

 the Supreme Tribunal at Durango, and Guerrero is known to have had a great mixture of the 

 African blood. The change in this respect has been wonderful. The acknowledged patent of no- 

 bility was once the hue of the skin ; and it was common to hear one say to another, in the heat 

 of dispute, " Do you think me less white than yourself " Next to a skin perfectly white, it was 

 considered advantageous to have an order of court to that effect. Sometimes, however, when 

 the skin was too dark for the desired decision, the court would order, that the applicant should 

 be "considered white." 



12. Jlmusements. The amusements of the Mexicans preserve much of the character of their 

 Spanish origin. Bull-fights are therefore common, though they are less sanguinary than in 

 Spain. A description of them will be deferred to the article on Spain. Gaming is so general 

 among all ranks, that it is rather an employment than a pastime. Games of cards are to be 

 seen in the public squares, carried on by animated groups, who hazard their last coin, and the 

 very cloak upon their shoulder. This spirit of gaming is the characteristic and the bane of 

 Mexico. Ladies, priests, soldiers, laborers, Indians, are all addicted to it. The pLyers, 

 however, notwithstanding their ardent character, lose with much equanimity, and show little 

 TOiiffsaon when they win. The origin of this spirit of gaming is to be referred to the mining 



