The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-04-29
AMONG THE AZTECS.
MEsrLLA, New Mexico,

April Z, 1881.
The denizens Of this strange city and the
surrounding country are curious study.
This letter will be devoted to giving your
readers some idea Of their habits Of life and
their modes Of agriculture. The Mesils val.
ley from which this city takes its name il one
of the most famous in New Mexico for its ag.
ricultural products. IL extends along the
Rio Grande for seventy-five miles and having
an elevation Of near 4000 feet, the air is
permeated, with electricity and ozone, making
1t q sanitarium which is visited by thousands
affected with asthma and bronchial and pull
monary diseases. The climate is superb, the
thermometer never reaching zero. Snow
rarely whitens the earth. and hot and sultry
nightSere unknown. To an Eastern traveller
the novel sights and experiences he encoun-
tiers are so full of interest that he is 10th to
depart from this land Of the Aztecs. | came
here sin 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 have learned much by
being brought into contact with the people
of this foreign country who until within a
few months have been so Isolated aud shut
out from the outside world as to know moth
ing of it's modes, styles and modern siviliza-
ton. Let me show your readers picture of
this valley. On either side grand old noun
tsins 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 Rock
les, and continues southwark through the
whole length Of the territory. just there on
its bank is gathered large number of Next
cans bedecked in gay and bright array. Hi
larity and mirth rule queen Of the hour. Men
and women join in dances and strange sports.
A little distance away a gay fandango is go
ing on to the time of monotonous music. We
approach and in our " half-grown Spanish
ask why this merry. making, and are told
that 1t Ia "the harvest festival" The god of
tho 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 Coro-
nado How aniiquated A circular enclos-
ure 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 upon it. Within
are dozen goats and as many children who
are shouting 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 scamper the
goats and children. This is kept up for sew
eral 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 all the young peo-
pie join in the festivities. Now let me show
you one of their agricultural implements
You will, fear. laugh, but you must not let
them see you, for these are a sensitive and
unforgiving people.
Here is pillow, long beam, TO one end of
which is hitched single steer or OK, while
the other end is smoothed off for handle.
Fastened to it about midway, in d sloping
o osition, is stick pointed at the lower end
which scratches up the fertile and mellow
soil. This is the ehiefimplement of Mexican
agriculture Imagine it, you farmers on the
prairies, who ride upon your sulky plows
and SOW your wheat with drills. This condi-
ton of things, however, is soon likely to
change, to be superseded by American nipple.
ments. The fertility and magnificent cli-
mate Of the Rio Grande valley, the great de
mand for agricultural products, owing to the
advent of the A., 7. & 8. F. R r. is settling
this valley with better class Of farmers, who
will not only open the eyes of the Mexicans
but make fortunes for themselves. | had
sooner own q good farm land they can be
had for a song) in this valley than any place
have visited in the west. The vast miner
al interests and the mining camps are Great
ing great demand for cereals aud vegetables. |
Fruit grows here luxuriantly and is found in
great abundance. Apples, pears, plums.
apricots, ounces, figs, pomegrauates and all
small fruits are grown in great perfection.
The grape was introduced by the Spaniards
long years ago. / never tasted such luscious
fruit, and the clusters rivaled those of Eschol |
in size and beauty. This surely is the garden
spot of the southwest. Mines in this region
are being rapidly developed and the wealth
of yield found is wonderful. The excitement
is like the furorc over the early discoveries in
California, and many miner is going back |
to his eastern home in few years with his |
pockets full of coin and healthy bank &C
count. would advise any young man who
has nerve and grit to come to Ne# Mexico. |
More fortunes will be made here in the next
few years than in any other locality in
America r g r