San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-02-15
MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS.
trriral ofa SfrnsOe C0rdrdn aud tfs March
Ihro,sg. the STREETS OF san -anfo"io.
Prom the San Antonio Ezpress.I

The lower orders Of the Mexican na-
ton are a strange people. They are
ignorant and nonprogressive, living from
hand to mouth. and satisfying their
wants with the most ordinary articles Of
food and clothing. You find them to-
day where their ancestry was one hun
dred years ago, having not moved a peg
in the way of mental, moral or social
progress. They inherit and maintain
the customs and manners of yore, but
yet live in comparative contentment,
evidently concluding that their share OF
LIES pleasures cannot be increased
that their condition is an unalterable
one. But it is not our purpose at this
time to review the character, habits and
customs of the Mexican peasantry-we
are simply going to speak OF the manner
in which these people travel from place
to place, and give description OF q
novel scene that met our attention yes
terday-noyel even upon the streets OF
San Antonio.
Receiving the impression that he can
better his circumstances by changing
his base, the Mexican peasant soon con-
cludes what to do. He has wife and
probably eight or ten children, as many
dogs as there are members of tho fami-
ly, two or three game cocks, half-doz-
en- donkeys and an old cart. These en-
brace the entire wealth and property,
for the jacal in which he lives has been
permitted to be erected on the estate OF
some wealthy don and must remain af-
ter its abandonment. About him live
others, perhaps, with whom he success
fully labors to induce them to follow his
example and seek a more acceptable
place of abode. There is close natu-
raj attachment between Mexican rela-
tives-the family ties are always dear
and are very seldom marred by OLSEN
sions. So, when one of circle of rela-
tives concludes to try his fortunes in
some new section of the country, it is
an easy matter to persuade the others
to follow
The preparation for the journey is
soon made. Their old carts are drawn
up and repaired, their horses, mules and
donkeys are collected and kept within
sight, biding the arrival Of the day for
departure, and when that day comes,
packing up and leaving is the work of
few moments. The horses, donkeys and
mules are hitched up with harness made
for the occasion Of ropes and raw-hide,,
and probably fifteen-hand horse and
runty little jack, then q pair OF jacks,
then a mule, horse and jack, in the
order mentioned, form a train. Some
thing that can pull is wanted-no mat
ter for looks-appearances are at total
disregard. The supplies for the jour
ney will be corn, to make tortillas or
pancakes of, few pounds of salt and
some red peppers. Possibly beef has
been slaughtered and its flesh dried for
consumption on the way; if not, the
chances are taken of finding an occa-
sional COW or steer along the course of
the tourists. The household goods of
the average Mexican peasant are but
handful, and are easily slowed away.
While travelling there is no special effort
to make time-progress is by slow
walk. The husband or father OF fami-
ly generally drives, unless he has son
old enough to do so, when he is relieved
and walks along behind the wagon. The
wife and children are fixed place near
the front of the cart, where they huddle
together and the journey is proceeded
with. 1t is q monotonous one. The
odd-looking team slowly moves along,
and scarcely word passes between the
travellers who, though they seem bereft
of all cheer, are simply in realm of
stupor and thoughtlessness. Like all
travellers over plains or prairies, when
they camp fire is made about which
they squat, and at night they sleep
either in or under their cart, huddled
closely together. Day after day passes,
and they reach their point of destina-
ton and are at once located and situa-
ted Just as they were in their former