Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1884-03-28

are constantly dppcdllhp' hViV "iD
actual forests of "prickly pear" with
trunks like those of aged trees-the
haunt of giant rattlesnakcs and lean
coyotes: ''Hercules' clubs" as big as
barrels, growing in enormous groups
and covered with long crimson
thorns that lend them indescribable
beauty; tall. slender calts, growing
straight up like beanpoles, from ten
to fifteen feet high; orchards of stu
pendous century plants; the marvellous
maguey, which is one of the chief re-
sources of the country; date palms
laden with heavy clusters of lus-
cious fruit, and cultivated fields of
tHncs-a species of cactus good for
man and beast, from whose blood-red
fruit wine, beer and vinegar is made.
The haciendas on this Mesa Central
are of enormous extent, in several in
stances including from six hundred to
nine hundred square miles, with wine,
manufactures and villages thereon
each little kingdom in itself, of which
many an old world prince might be
proud. The fortunate possessors of
these estates are indeed monarchs of
all they survey, for even the humans
who serve them are as much their very
own as the countless herds of cattle,
horses and swine which range their
hills. The system of peonism in Mex
leo is actual slavery, worse than the
serfdom of Russia. 1t has existed for
many generations, and comes about
in this wise: A man borrows sum of
money (perhaps to get married with,
for priestly fees are far beyond the
means of the poor) and offers himself
as security for the payment; of course
he cannot pay, in land where wages
range from six to fifty cents per diem,
the mortgage is foreclosed and he en-
ters into hopeless servitude. which de-
scends upon his children children. He
is provided with shelter of some kind
upon the hacienda of his master, and is
paid for his labor an average of twelve
cents day-not in money, but in
leathern checks representing his dues
Those checks he takes to the "store"
which every estate maintains, and ex-
changes them for goods-at whatever
price for the latter The enterprising
proprietor may demand. Each haci-
enda has its own church, of more or
less architectural pretensions, which is
generally a perfect gem in the way of
quaintness and queer old pictures. The
cluster of adobe houses, which form
the central feature of each estate is
surrounded by high wall of defence,
whose gun-hOleS and corner towers tell
of Olden dangers not yet quite passed
away. We tarried one night at a ranch,
the mistress of which-still a robusS
and comparatively young woman-it
the proud mother of twenty-eight chill
dren. Here some native musicians
were called in for an entertainment. |
wish ! could print that evening scene
for you-the low adobe walls, covered
with crosses and pictured saints; the
dirt-toor upon which most of the mot
ley audience squatted, wrapped in their
bright zasapes; the dusky troubadours,
with music of harp, guitar, flute and
viol, singing of ''las bonitas schoritas
de Gualahajara, and the wild fandan-
90 that was danced by daughter of
the host and tall ranchero. with a
Misunderstanding dagger and two pis-
tolls stuck in his crimson sash. And
later, by the light of the Southern
moon, Betsey and spread out blankets
on the dining-room table, and with our
revolvers on the half-cock under the
so-called pillows, slept the sleep of the
just with the music of MeXico's most
popular air:
La Golandrina" sounding in our dreams;
! Whittier SO swiftly flies the timid swallow
! What distant bourne seeks her untiring wing
! To reach ii safe what needle does she follow.
When darkness wraps the poor, wee, storm
tossed thing!
-NeU TOrb Home JOurnaL
THEY have the son of duke and