Chap. XI. A ROBBEK CHIEF. 387 
Mexico. I do not venture to assert whether this shows 
the influence of climate and the power of adaptation in 
the human constitution, or the reverse, — the immutability 
of types and races. 
When we remounted to leave Temdsaehic, it was ex- 
tremely painful to me to see that Natividad was obliged to 
follow us on foot, and in a quick trot to keep up with our 
horses. But I could make no alteration, and could only 
watch with surprise how, like a faithful dog, he trotted on, 
now before and now behind us, and then again at our side. 
Vargas joined him at the villa, and, though at first his 
speed was insufficient, he soon taught his legs to move, 
when he saw that he must either keep up with our carriage 
or run the risk of being scalped by some wandering Apache. 
This treatment of the two men was assuredly cruel ; but 
it is not considered so in Mexico. An extraordinary 
rapidity and endurance in running is common to all 
Mexicans of the lower class. In the next chapter I shall 
bring forward some instances of almost incredible perform- 
ances in this respect. 
On our way back, we stopped a night in the house of 
the Alcalde of Santo Tomas. We had been told that this 
man, although the first official in the place, was literally a 
robber chief. Don Guillermo asked him jokingly at table, 
if he knew the character imputed to him. " Ah/' he 
replied laughing, " I know all about it. It is a mistake. 
The Christian name as well as the surname of the chief are 
the same as mine, and his wife has the same name as mine ; 
but it is another man, and he lives in Cerro Prieto." This 
was actually the case. It was the band to which our friend 
Guadalupe, by his own account, had formerly belonged, 
and about which he, at a later period, gave me many 
details. " Your honour might have travelled safely there 
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