TO SALTILLO. A83 
built with much taste. They possess, too, a degree of 
comfort, and even luxury, not found in the modern 
houses of the country. It is an old settled place, and 
has always been noted for the excellence of its wine 
and brandy. A species of wild vine was found here 
by the first settlers, whence its name;* they also 
brought with them the vdtes vinifera of Asia, which 
flourished well. The extensive cultivation of the grape, 
for which the position of the town is admirably adapt- 
ed, as well as the extent of arable land near, drew 
together a large and highly respectable population. 
Although now much reduced in their worldly means, 
there are many old families remaining, who possess all 
the dignity and elegance of manner which always cha- 
racterized the native Spaniard. 
The town extends for a couple of miles along the 
side of a hill. The smaller vineyards run along the 
declivity, the larger ones beyond the town, on the 
plain. The hill, which consists of a porous limestone, 
abounds in water, which is collected in tanks, and 
conducted by acequias through the vineyards and the 
principal streets of the town. Besides these acequias 
there are numerous wells; in fact, every house of any 
extent has its own well within its court. When the 
town has supplied itself, the remainder is conducted 
by aqueducts or ditches off to the plains, where it 1s 
all absorbed in irrigating, first, the gardens and vine- 
yards, and beyond these the fields of wheat and maize. 
So admirable and economical a use of water I have 
never before seen. | 
* Parra, a vine trained on sticks, or nailed to a wall. 
