Delaware State journal, advertiser and star. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1832-1833, 1833-07-19
HABITS OF THE MEXICANS.

lected.
HABITS OF THE MEXICANS.
Letter from a Gentleman resident there.
am sorry TO tell you that I think there is
little in the character of this people to admire
and less to love. IF there is place in the
world where the scriptual enquiry can be
made with peculiar emphasis, it is in Mexi-
co. 'Who can find a virtuous woman, tor
her price is far above rubies. with per-
haps few rare exceptions, the men are all
knaves and the women all abandoned. l
would not trust one of them hey ond my pow
er to chastise them. Their money is the on
ly merit IhaUe found among them. This
people are extremely fond of sport and ex-
citement.
Gambling of various kinds is carried to a
greater extent than have known it before. |
They have game at cards which they call
morte, in which they can win or loose money |
faster than at ordinary games. thousand
dollars to win .r loose in ten minutes is a
mere recreation. Men women and children
are so fond of this game that all they can get
| is hazarded on the turn of a favorite card.
One day man may have in his pocket a
thousand ounces and the next be Jenny
less.
| lhave often seen a group of from ten to
twelve seated round a table in profound ST.
lenCe, and watching with interest the for
tune of the game. From sunset till sunrise
they continue to bet, ten, twenty, fifty, hun
dred dollars and whether they win or lose
there is no expression of pleasure or disap-
pointmeit, either by word or feature. An
entire night is often spent in dcpositing stakes
and in taking up the money, and scarcely a
word is spoken in all the time. They have
| ,F Foo
faces that it is impossible to determine
whether they are lucky or UNDERGRADUATE
er they are friends or foes-or whether they
are pleased or displeased. In short they are
| generally most consumate hypocrites
Another feate of strength and skill which
afforded me great amusement, and of which
the Mexicans are passonatey fond, consists
in throwing or tumbling bulls. A drove of
these animals half wild and half homestead
ed, are shut in small enclosure. One at
time they are let out in a convenient square,
in which are stationed as many horsemen as
choose 60 enter the lists. AS SOON the bull
discovers his foes he endeavors to escape by
, flight-the horsemen bound forward in pur-
suit, e lch one excrting himself to seize the
animal by the tail. fhe gets his hold (Which
, is generally the CASEY he plies his spurs to his
horse, who bounds forward with his utmost
| speed, and twrlng the bull round suddenly,
e while at full career, he falls-rollng, some
| times believing, on the ground. The caval-
cade then returns to the pen to wait the sa lily
of another bull, when the same scene is act.
s ed again. Thiss torture without cruelty, fol
n the animal always escapes with only fright
and fall,
The women are some of them genteel ant
the girls pretty. They have more fontlnes.
for finery than taste in putting it on, Devo
ted to fun and frolic they will spend night af
ter night at fandangoes dancing as if upon
q wager to tire each other down. Many o
J them are very comely in their persons ant
. graceful in their movements, and if they hat
s but spice of honesty might soften even
northern heart. There is however, one Gus
y tom among them which detracts material,
: from their graces and often clouds all thei
l. charms. 1t is the habit of smoking cigars
-Thisis almost. universallamo the Mexi
cans. Those who dislike it are at last driv
eff en- to it in self defence. Children often o
r. two years old are taught to puff and smok
of like veterans.
n The cigars are made by envelloping small
h quantity ct tobacco in bit of white paper
l. This is lighted at one end, and smoked 70
is perhaps minute, when the stump is throw
IN upon the floor and a new one lighted. I ar
III told that fifty per day is the average numbe
a; smoked by the voting ladies. The habit wa
L
lie swore their society;-but what will not tim
D reconcile us to. Fancy what would be you
at feelings upon entering room to make boz
ct to collection OF Heavens last, best gifts
e. and finding them, like so many Venuses, en-
in sconced behind a cloud. In the first plac
ne you would most likely be obliged to wal
IS, over thick bed of cigar stumps, and upo
til making your salutations be answered by di.
he charge OF smoke that would draw tears if n,
he endanger suffocation. 1t is not only from tn
n mouth that the tuning torrent flows, but it
Mt also snorted in volumes from the nose, as til
IS. whale spouts saltwater from his nostrl
ed Many ofthe poorer people expend more ft
is this article OF Mexican luxury than for the
- food and drink.
to
A machine has been invented in Cncnna
20 for cutting wheat, or any other small graf
TN by horse power. 1t is stated that it vii
up when propelled by two horses, cut as fast
ea eight persons can bind. A fair trial has bee
made of it, in the presence of several men
bers of the agricultural society of Hamilt'
act county. 1t met their fullest appreciation, al
,rn the editor of the Cincinnati Advertiser, wi
A. has seen the machine, expresses the opini,
Sc that it may be applied to cutting grass ais
all This, II IL proves fully successful,is an impo
he tant invention; but so many ingenious move
nv ties have been brought forward of late, and
lat few have answered the expectations at fir
al held out OF their utility, that we are di
IN posed to be somewhat cautious and incred
- lous.