The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-03-29
AMONG THE AzTEcs.
A Brilliant Letter from Our Western Cor
respondent.


the surrounding country are a curious
study. This letter will be devoted to
giving your readers some idea of their
habits of life and their modes of agrlcul-
ture. The Mesilla valley from which
this city takes its name Is one of the
most famous in New Mexico for its agri-
cultural products. 1t extends along the
Rio Grande for seventy-five miles and
having an elevation of near 1000 feet the
air Ia permeated with electricity and
ozone making 1t sanitarium which Is
visited by thousands affected with asth-
ma bronchial and pulmonary Diseases
The climate is superb, the thermometer
never reaching zero. Snow rarely whit
ems the earth, and hot and sultry nights
are unknown. To an 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 came here "in the full of harvest
time" when this beautiful valley along
the Rio Grande was yellow as gold with
its carpet of ripened cereals. Since then
1 have learned much by being brought
into contact with 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 its modes, styles and modern
civilization. Let me show your readers
picture of this valley. On either side
grand old mountains rear their peaks
high up into heavens pure ether
Coursing along at our feet in sluggish
quiet rolls the Historic 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 terri
tory. Just there on its bank is gathered
large number of Mexicans bedecked
in gay and bright array. Hilarity and
mirth rule queen of the hour. Men and
women join in dances and strange
sports. A little distance away gay
fandango is going on to the time of mon-
otonous music. We approach and in
our halfgrown Spanish" ask why
this merry.making, and are told that it
is "the harvest festival" The God of
the Aztecs has smiled upon the cereals
and the harvest has been abundant. AT
little distance to the left the process of
threshing out the grain is going on.
Shades of Coronado How antiquated
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 thrashed is
spread upon it. Within are dozen
goats and as many children who are
shouting, laughing and driving the
frightened animals round and round the
arena, while now and then a halt is
made to allow the master of the harvest
to turn over the straw, when off again
scramper the goats and children. This
is kept up for several days when the
straw is removed and the plump grain
gathered into bowl-shaped grass baskets,
to be picked over, ,winnowed and cleaned
by the women. The harvest time is
always gay season, and ali the young
people join in the festivities. Now let
me show you one of their agricultural
implements. You will, 1 fear, laugh
but you must not let them see you for
these are ensitive and unforgiving
people.
Here is plow, q long beam, to one
end Of which is hitched single steer or
OK, while the other end is smoothed off
for n handIa Eaotopod n, it ohout mid
way in sloping position, is stick
pointed at thelower end, which scratch
es up the fertile and mellow soil. This
is the chief implement Of Mexican ag-
riculture. Imagine it, you farmers on
the praries who ride upon your sulky
plows and sow your wheat with drills
This condition of things, however, is
soon likely to change, to be superseded
by American implements. The fertility
and magnificent climate of the Rio
Grande valley, the great demand for
agricultural products, owing to the ad-
vent of the A. T. &. S. f. r. r. is set
tling 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 a good
farm and they can be had for a song)
in this valley than any place 1 have
visited in the west. The vast mineral
interests anu the mining camps are Gre
ating great demand for cereals and
vegetables. Fruit grows here luxuriant-
ly and is found in great abundance
Apples, pears, plums, apr:cots, ounces,
figs, pomegranates and all small fruits
are grown in great perfection. The