The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-07-23
In a Mexican Market.

Behind the Palace, south Of the long
pile of buildings occupied by the Presl-
dent. of Mexico aud his troops, IS now
the principal market of the city. II Is T
inclosed w high stone walls, andthere
are entrances through fosr SSates !
leading from as many streets. Inc
outer portion of this inclosed square IS
occupied by shops and projecting, "pl-
azzas," beneath which are exposed LOT
sale the different products and manu-,
features of Mexico; and the central
portion is occupied by natives, squatted
beneath the shade Of squares OF maj.
tines stretched over frameworks, ana
each square supported by q single pole
like a huge umbrella. .a
Several zinc roofs, supported upon
stone pillars, give shelter to crowded
stalls and cover every.variety OF mer-
chandise from squash seed to wooden
spoon. The entire Enclosure is dense!Y
packed with human beings, especially IN
the morning, when the purchases are
mostly made. The men and women
that do business here bring their entire
families with them, and for the DAY i've
heref as iat ,beme ;theFe ~ no Poss'9ple
function Of indoor life that is not here
exhibited with unblushing indelicacy.
The markets are divided, in way, into
the various portions devoted to fruit,
vegetables and articles for household
use. Upon mats spread on the stone
pavement each vender spreads his or
stpsk iq OF . the s2a ace
I lis w through I'LL bkcllt3b!49o us a'
semblase. One finds little piles OF pep
pers, eggs, tomatoes, etc.. skillfully ar
ranged in a way calculated to arrest the
footsteps of the passer-by, and cause
him to curse the owner Of them. It IS
All the same to the sellers whether you
step on the goods or not; if you 90, you
must nav the bill for damages; it you
don't, you at least will see them ano
possibly purchase. ."1. ~ T., !, b.. Il.
In going through this market one
Sunday morning, l jotted down the diff
ferent varieties of fruits and vegetables
a. saw them on the margin OF news
paper; and here is the list, Transcribed
as it ran on there: First, after passing
the dealers in fried meats, who "er'
constantly dishing out scraps OF porl
. and shreds of beef sizzling in fat, to dirt!
leperos in sombreros and serapes sta
toned at the gate, you encounter tn
a fruit stalls andssha wpe 4s yta94'
; There are lines, fragrant as any grow
a in West India gardens, but without the1
!. p|umpness and flavor; they perfume tn
q air in the immediate vicinity, despite tn
t sewage odor and the Haunting Of VII
g tqaxments that sVaeQ to heaven: fl2;
f}ba are plals ih$j are t]i TN
ID brbught el(sd toke&Sr, but thft Pr,
it are not equal to those Of Northerfclm'
# -cherries-p peculiar to the country
5, shaddocks, mangoes, bananas, pla
% ta;ns. oranges-all from the tlerrns Ct
70 lientes, or hot lands, whence also con
k the cocoanuts and pineapples that lie
r. heaps on the pavement: the last q
r, very dear, approaching prices in Ne
Or York, owing to the great expense
" TRANSFORMATION over 200 miles of railroa'
n babies-not from the tteFrtts fcaNessA's
to who keep decidedly cool and comfort
81 BILE, whether lying kicking on their mot
rs i in r %a1a Il thl y'E srg csSdtkd td ii
n, mothers backs; melons, peaches, woo
on en- bowls, buckets, mats, babies; POI
lie try, babies; lettuce, babies, crocke'
ms babies at the breast; tomatoes, peppee
I'd babies on the half shell (of calabasil
al beans, radishes, potatoes, babies vii
ed out rag on them; onions, leeks' CT
ne bage, corn, babies with nothing on tn.
ss'bu3Ads; &s, carrots, bsee ,T1tfng
& Babes pMspecting for rt~kane'
d. "hen. fruit, artichokes, babies lean a
no emaciated; birds, brats, children, pun
an kin-seeds, babies fat as post office G
ng tract; Indians, with great coops OF Chi
at. ems on their backs, leading babies
ny the hand; jackasses, with great p
.cR niers of vegetables or charcoal, "
nd babies as browning curiositiss; crock
de- vendors with huge crates Of earthen
ZEN and pots, every one Of which may c
yht tain baby. Ia fact, there are here
md products Of every zone and cline,
est. the productions, including babies,
ion mother earth.-C0r. New York 1T'6a
lcCS n>~VkI, omA SnlnnCo.