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"V V 
• J 
1892 
Tlalpam 
(Mexico) 
The brilliantly ornamented Posada jars are carried in the same "way. 
Fruit, nuts, and sweetmeats from all parts of the country ere here in 
profusion and toys without number* The Tenders are continually shout¬ 
ing their wares and a crowd of thousands of spectators and purchasers 
with eager and wide-eyed children of all classes of society fill the 
space about this fair until it is only by considerable effort that one 
can get about, In the evening the scene is still more fascinating as 
it is brilliantly lighted with lamps, and pitch pine burning on iron 
brasiers or on the ground throwing a fantastic glare over the strange 
assembly. The multitude is good-natured and all seem imbued with the 
spirit of the occasion. 
The open air venders are all of the poorer classes of Indians,- 
Aztecs and Obomies, and deal in fruits, peanuts, sugar cane, paper 
dolls, sweet cakes, candies, and are ragged, dirty, and unkempt, 
f 
Their half-naked children sprawling about on the pavement by their 
sides or suckling infants tugging at their mothers* breasts in calm 
unconcern of the multitude. 
Thousands of people, men, women, and children, of all classes, 
gather about these booths and a lively traffic, in all manner of Christ¬ 
mas toys and gaudy ornaments, is carried on. All are good-natured and 
sailing,- the children with wide-eyed delight gazing at the multitude 
* \ 
of toys etc, made to please their fancy, '* 
In the evening, a band playing in the centre of the Plaza adds 
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another feature to the scene. 
On December 12th occurs the annual pilgrimage of Indians to the 
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shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe on a hill about 3 miles north of the 
City cf Mexico. 
I found the Plaza dee las Armas lively with hundreds of people em¬ 
barking on the street cars for the village of Guadalupe, Taking one of 
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