The Placer herald., 1858-12-11
From the unpublished Chronicle of a Traveller.
The Beautiful Decoy.

miar with the history Of Mexico, that a re-
gular system of highway robbery exists in
every section of that miserable governed
country; and that through want of inter
ference Of the authorities, this has grown up
into such regular and formidable shape
that every traveller must be prepared to put
his life at hazard at every stage, or be pro-
vided with a suitable contribution for los
caJalleros del camino, (the knights Of the
road,) who, in the event Of finding you pre-
pared and willing, will make their levy with
polteness only equaled by the smiling
landlord when be receives your overcharged
fare for your last nights entertainment
Why such systematic boldness Of robbery
is alowed-if not with the convenience. at
least with rare y any interference, Of the
Government or State authorities-s one of
those mystical matters which, among so
many Others so puzzles and perplexes the
intelligent foreigner, but that such is the
disagreeable truth every traveller through
that wretched country can bear ample tes-
timony.
Some years ago, having business which
first called me to the Capital of Mexico, and
thence through the interior of the country
to the northward, met with several thrilling
adventures, which | have recorded for the
benefit of whomsoever may take an interest
therein emitting only the dates, they being
non essential to the interest of the nara
tons themselves.
The first of the series occurred on the
route between Vera Cruz and the City Of
Mexico In the regular diigencia running
between the places ust mentioned | had
Just taken passage, and had passed through
the beautiful city Of Jaapa and entered the
gloomy town of Perote, without meeting
with any unusual incident, though being
continually warned to be on my guard against
the dangers of the road. At Perote, where
we halted for a relay and refreshments, all
my fellow passengers took leave of me, very
solemnly assuring me that, if assailed by
the lodyoncs, or robbers, it would he much
better for me to take matters quietly, and
suffer myself to be gentlenanly plundered,
than to run the risk Of having my throat
cut for resistance, as | had somewhat boldly
proclaimed it was my intention of doing
| thanked them for their advice and replied
that | would take the matter into serious
consideration.
At Perote, | repeat, all who had been my
companions from Very Cruz took leave Of
me- this being the end of. their Journey in
that direction, but there was one new pas
senger here to 90 forward, whom, to my
agreeable surprise, ] found to lie beautiful
young lady, some twenty years of ace.
Senoria Paula, as | subsequently ascer-
+oip han tN ha md Of
those rare beauties seldom met with except
in tales of fction-taIl, graceful, with pro
fusion Of long, black hail soft, clear, melt
ing dark eyes-features as perfect as ever
came from the hands Of the uIptor and
with an animation the most fascinating, vary
irg in expression with every changing mood
of the intellectual possessor. A glance at
her bewitching black eyes showed me that
she was one who was naturally Of a social
disposition; and as we ratified away from the
gloomy town, | took the liberty Of opening
a conversation.
"They tell me-" said T. ''that the route be-
tween here and Mexico is a very dangerous
one to travel"
There is little to fear" she replied, with
sweet smile and in meodious tone, Tex
cept from the professional robbers, and they
seldom harm any one who makes no resis-
tance"
at seems strange to me-" | reioned, 'that
you Mexicans should take such things as
matter of course, and deem resistance a
very impolitic way of treating the knights
of the road, instead of boldly asserting your
rights, and abating the evil by a manly spirit
of resistance. For myself, | must consider
it the most cowardly Of proceedings, for
any respectable party to set out prepared to
quietly crafty the cupidity of the ladrones,
and unprepared to treat them to their just
every traveller, Senor," she replied,
"should before setting out, count the cost
of his journey, and as of course it is natu-
raj he should value his life highly, it seems
to me natural that he should pay a certain
sum for positive safety rather than put that
life in jeopardy. For instance, in travelling
from Vera Cruz to Mexico if he will first
reckon that so much is the fare by the dill
gencia, and that SO much will be required
for entertainment on the way, and so much
for the contingency you speak of, he will
then have the exact cost between two points;
and if he will look at the whole as the sum
total of his journey, he will not seem to be
robbed by any one party more than another"
"That," I replied, "may be, believe is,
the Mexican mode of doing business, but
does not tally with the preconceved ideas of
us foreigners"
"But every one," replied the fair speaker,
SHOULD conform to the customs of the coun
try he visits"
"And do you then, 60 prepared for this
highway robbery? and have you no fear in
thus journeying by yourselfs"