The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-03-26
Among the Aztecs.
Curious Modes Of A Agriculture-Mines and
NIining-A Brilliant Letter from Our
Western Correspondent.
MEslLLA, New MEXICO, Mch. 19, 1881.


MEslLLA, New Mexico, Mch. 19, 1881.
EDITOR CHIEF:
The denizens Of this strange city and
the surrounding country are q curious
study. This letter will DO devoted to
giving yonr readers some idea of their
habits of life aud their modes of ngricnl-
ture. Tho Mesilla valley, from which
the city takes its name, is one Of the
most famous in New Mexico for its agri-
cultural products. It extends along the
Rio Grande for seventy five miles and
having an elevation of near 1000 feet,
the air is permeated with electricity and
ozone, making it a sanitarium which is
visited by thousands affected with astl,-
ma, bronchial and pulmonary discusses.
The climate is snperb, the thermometer
never reaching zero. Snow rarely whit
ems the earth, and hot and sultry nights
are unknown. To All Eastern traveller
the novel sights and experiences he en-
counters are SO full of interest that he is
10th to depart from this land Of the Az
tees. l came here Gin the full of harvest
ti,ne," when this beautiful valley along
the Rio Grapde was yellow us gold with
its carpet of ripened cereals. Since then
have learned much by being brought
into contact Will, the people Of this for
eign country, who until within a few
months have been SO isolated and shut
out from the outside world as to know
nothing of it's modes, styles and modern
civilization.
Let me show your readers picture Of
this valley. On either siio grand old
mountains rear their peaks high up into
heavens pure ether. Coursing along at
our feet in sluggish, quiet rolls the his
toric Rio Grande, which rises in Colorado,
runs into New Mexico between the two
chains of the Rockies, and continues
southwark through the whole length Of
the Territory. just there OH its bank is
gathered large number Of Mcxicans
belecked i'll gay and bright array. Hi
larity and mirth rule queens Of tile hour.
Men and women join i'll dances and
strange sports. A little distance away !.
gay fandango is going OH to the time Of
music. We approach and
in our halfgrown Spanish ask why
this merry making, and are told that it
is 1.-THE harvest festival" The God of the
Aztccs has smiled upon the cereals and
the harvest has been abundant. At a
little distance to the left tho process of
tl,reshing ont the grain is going on.
Shades Of Coronado! How antiquatcd !!
A circular enclosure is made by driving
poles side by side close together into the
earth. The hard ground has been swept
clean and the wheat to be threshed is
spread npon it. Within are a dozen
goats and W. many children who are
and laughing and driving the
frightened animals round and round the
arena, while now and then halt is made
to allow the master of the harvest to turn
over the straw, when off again scampcr
the goats and children. This is kept up
for several days when the straw is re-
moved and the plump grain gathered
into bowl-shapcd grass baskets, to bo
picked over, winnowed and cleaned by
the women. The harvest time is always
u gay season, and all the young people
Join in the festivities.
Now let me- show you ono Of tho asri-
cultural implements. You will, 1 fear,
laugh, bmt you must not let them SET
you, for those are sensitive and lnfor-
giving people. Hero is a plow-n long
beam, to one end Of wlIicl, is liitched u
single steer or OK, while tl,e other end il
off for IL handle. Fastened to
it about midway in u sloping position is
. stick, pointed at tho lower end, which
scratches up tho fertile and mellow soil.
This is the chief implement Of Mexican
agriculture. Imagine it, YOU farmers OH
the prairies who ri'lo upon your sulky
,,lows and SOW your wheat with drills.
This condition Of things, however, is
soon likely to change, to be superseded
10y American implements. The fertility
and magnificent climate Of the Rio Gra,de
valley, the great demand for agricultural
products, owing to the advent Of the A.
r. e. S. +. r. T., is settling this valley
with better class of farmers, who will
not only open the eyes Of the Mexicans,
but make fortunes for themselves. l had
sooner own good farm-and they can
be had for song-in this valley than
any place 1 have visited in the West
The vast mineral interests and tho mi
ming camps arc creating great demand
for cereals and vegetables. Fruit grows
here luxnriantly and is fonnd ip great
Apples, pears, plums, april
cots, ounces, figs, pomcgranates and all
small fruits are grown in great perfec-
ton. The grape was introduced by the
Spaniartls long years ago. never tasted
such luscious fruit, and the clusters ri
vailed those Of Escl,Ol in size and beauty
This surely is the garden spot of the
Mines in this region are be-
ing rapidly developed and the wealth of
Weld found is wonderful. The excite
rnent Il like the fnrore over the early
discoveries in California, aud many a
MINER is going back to his Eastern home
in Il few yenrs with his pockets full of