The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-11-12
BORDER SCENES.
Graphic and Lively Dissertation of sight,
on the Mexican ErnulI..r-

Graphic and Lively Description OF sights
on the Mexican Frontier.
The Rio Graude is about one hundred
yards wide at Laredo, good, clear water
flowing over a hard clay stone b tom
and can be forded on horseback in many
places, 1t is only navigable for small.
boats, from Brownsville down.
The high anks on either side are
thick set with Msxic an jacals, ar adobe
houses. These are built of large mud
bricK which have been dried IN the sun
They have dirt Hoors and straw roo.-,
and, in many cases, no chimneys OF
windows.
There are, also, cave-dwelIers who
dig circular pits in the side of the river
bank, and pass life OF contentment in
them.
Down by the waters edge a novel
scene is presented. Women and chill
drsn, barefooted and bareheaded. are
seated on the rocks washing clothes in
the cold water
Other women have tall. wide -mouthed,
Stde-handled Jars filed with hOmfny
from which they are rinsing out the lye
and ashes, and the men are hauling
water on donkey carts. Those who have
not the cart, rig a barrel after the fash
ion of a roller, I'll it with water, then
hitch donkey TO it by means of raw
hide rope traces, and thus roll away n
0ally bul ply ADOSc SIlll lb7S ldNOrel
t-udge up the hill with two bucket, OF
water suspended from The end OF q
pole, and balanced across the shoulders.
Leaving the river side We pass up
into tAe city Of NuevO Laredo, which %
jR the State Of TGmaulipas.
It Is Sunday morning, yet all the
stores, eating houses, saloons, gam bling
places and oockpits are open o The pub
lie At CniS SeueOu @. the ye r lFeJru-
aryJ chicken fghtins; on Sundays ze ms
to be the most popular amusement.
Later on, bull lights Will be the chief
entertainn ent every Sunday a1tsruOOn.
There is a large arena in the suburbs Of
the city, where the public gather TO wit
ness the semi-savage entertainment.
Though strongly Coz demned by c,ti-
zens in the United States, yet, when they
come here, most Ameri ans taEo in the
buIi-hght at the first opportunity, re-
gardless OF the day, and many Of
them become quite regular patrons
thereafter.
on the street at one corner, in very
public place we sec an old, blind beg
gar, on his knees praying in very
loud voice, while hi7 hand is extel doI
for aims. He prays loud and long for
ali who will give.
There are scores OF peddlers passing,
with a stool under the arm and a wide
fiat basket on their heads. They may
be heard in every part II the city cry
ing pan, iache caIne, tOrtIllaS dulce,
tamales," meaning bread, milk meat,
corn-cakes and candy. The" amaies
is a mixture OF corn-meal, meat, anu
red pepper, cooked n cern-shucks.
The most popular dish is chic on
carnie," made of equal parts Of ha- he'd
meat and red pepper, with suficieu
water to mix them
Passing on we see pack donkeyo
L. NIT
hay, and, IN fact, anything in the way
OF burden. They have no brides, yeI
are easily guided BY a man or boy VII
feIlows On behind and goads them rignI
or lett with short stick.
Almost every family keeps q donkey,
and, in a small town, where they al
bray for their breakfast at the san,
time, other creatures may as well keei
silent They are, IL measure, 'he
hon ehOll canar IS OF lie leo, q
If not fed well are sure to sing for
Next we meet a Ne lean cow-hov.
He has on "A wide, richly enbrOi ~
sombrero. a buckskiI suit, a pair O.
large spurs, a wooden b a. keJ g
the saddle, and a long, hOrsshlir .,t' "a
around the horn OF the saddle he )
goin-g in a lope on a wild mu- tang.
We also meet uu.uJer Of cumber-
some ox-carts drawn by three yoke of
oxen. The oxen p.lI by their hea' >.
The yoke is always lashed TO .a
hoIns by means OF strong, raw"i-e
thongs.
Though Sunday morning, we meet a
man plowins and planting corn. his
pIow is made of square piece of m
ber. with au iron point on one end. II
had two large holes bored In the top
SIDE. from one OF which the beam ex-
tended. and single straight handle
from the other. He made marks with
this. and liled the corn in rows about
one foot apart, with hopes OF raising
maize grande big corn.