The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-07-25

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car, and, from that elevated per,h on the
rather shaky roof, we few along among
the beautiful, green plantations, specked
all over with little groups of working
Indians, men, women, babies, donkoys,
cattle, etc. The view was grand, We
were shut in and surrounded by giant
mountains, green with trees to their very
tops. It was just about sunset, and the
church bells of the many converts and
monasteries were pealing away musically
their evening vespers as we wound our
way in toward the station at the farther
end Of the little city
Orizaba is one Of the prettiest and most
characteristic little cities in the country,
and we had determined to spend three
days there. Proceeding in a miserable
old broken-down carriage to the "Hotel
Dilligencias" (Which was forbidding,
cold, deserted, gloomy sort of modern two
story house, lately built against the old
hotel, which appeared to have been rather
rambling stone stable VIC found pretty
comfortable rooms, and, upon going down
to kind of hall, with the kitchen opening
out Of it through revolving door, we sat
Eve four at table big enough to enter
tain the entire troop with which Cortes
first conquered the country. A dim little
lamp just enabled us to see each other
across the great table, and two Indian
robbers waited upon us, looking as if they
had just come in from currying the mules
and donkeys that We saw through the open
doors, disputing, with the gaunt dogs and
tame turkeys, an entrance into our ban
quoting hall There was great commo-
tion in the chief corridor of the hotel, in
consequence of lot of gamblers" who
had just arrived from Mexico, and who
were to give ball there that night, where
with to attract the population to their
gaming tables, which were scattered about
in the halls, and where there we're thou.
sands Of silver dollars and golden ounces
spread out, and where the games Of roulette
and faro were played oil night long.
Standing hard by, we watched the playing
for an hour or 50, and then retired to bed,
with brass baud, blowing away like mad,
only about ten feet from the thin doors of
our apartments.
The ball could not be called success,
for only two couples were dancing, and
they, merely a few turns, as the attendance
was mainly around the gaming tables,
which were throngcd.
We spent three delightful days at
Orizaba, visiting the many curious and
interesting old Spanish churches, in wan
dering around the picturesque streets, in
watching the odd manners and customs Of
the descendants of the ancient Aztec
Indians, hundreds of whom were ever and
ever struggling about, bringing their flow
ers and fruits and charcoal (their chief
articles of merchandise into the city for
sale, loaded upon their own backs, or the
not much stronger backs of their dirty,
sleepy little donkeys.
At 0rizaba, one evening, on my way to
the "Lonja," or club, l met the famous
old one.legged General Santa Anna, and
one day we had the thrilling excitement Of
u genuine Spanish bull-6ght, with Napo-
luca bulls. Mrs. c. aud Mr.. B
remained present only until after the first
bull was killed, but the Colonel and
stood or sat, the whole thing bravely thro'
from three until halfpast six in the after.
noon. Several bulls were killed, and
plenty of horses nearly SO, and one man
pretty well punched. 1t was rather a sick
ening entertainment, but not quite as bad
as one that took place at the city of Pu.
ebla few days thereafter, where three
men, as well as many horses, were killed |
The women aud children of which there
were many, enjoyed the sport ~ quite as
keenly as the male spectators, If we could
judge by the gusto with which they shout
ed, laughed, devoured sweetmea.s, and
drank pulque. N. B.-Palque is drink
much INDUCED in by the middle and poor
er classes Of Mexico, and which tastes
something like rancid milk, boiled onions,
and eggs that have remained too long in
the family. A vile fluid, until you get
accustomed to the taste, and, as 1t Is al
ways kept in hog-skins, instead of jars or
bottles, to prevent breaking, and the hog
skins not presenting too agreeable or
clean appearance, we don't think we shall
soon get accustomed to the national bey-
erage. 1t is made from the leaves of the
maguey, large plant like the aloe or
cactus.
The ANDEs.-Wc left 0rizaba on the
morning of March the ninth by rail; and
in an hour began the ascent of the famous
Andes Mountains In two hours we climb
ed four thousand feet, making eight thous-
and above Vera Cruz. AT one little town
Maltrata-at the foot of the mountains we
looked up, and hcarly over our heads was
the "down train four thousand feet above
us. In two hours afterward we had ex
actly changed places, and ourselves looked
dozen upon the same train that but two
hours earlier We were looking up to. 1t is
one Of the most remarkable and stupen-
dous railroad works of the world, and
peering down from our immense height
upon the lovely fertile plains Immediately
below US, was something fearful. This
great road, although not quite three hun
dred miles in length, has cost abont thirty