The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-09-30
MEXICO'S INTERIOR.
aTRAvELER's DESCRIPTION OF HOME
LIFE AMONG TAE PEONS.

How Their Houses Are Duilt-When the
Evening Comes-Diet and Cooking
Dress OF tho Women-Apparel OF the
aIen.
In the terras calientes (hot lands) the
children often 60 naked, and the grown
people wear no more clothing than their
partial civilization demands. The fat
rooted adobe house, the palm covered
cane hut or cave in the hillside serves all
The purposes Of an earthly habitation for
those whose lives are passed within them.
But here in the coolest part Of the republic
"a mile and half above tho level of the
sea-nature has 80 elevated the country
and lowered the temperature that cloth.
ing is necessity. There is sufficient rain
10 penetrate the fat roofs and drown. out
the cave dwellers, hence we find people
living above ground and under inclined
roofs Thus they have advanced by the
sheer necessity Of their external surround
ings: but where nature has not acted with
compulsory force they still remain in q
condition that is scarcely above that Of
The lower animals in some respect
THE FAMILY CIRCLE.
The houses are built of mud, stone and
adobe. They have dirt floors and shed
roofs which are covered with mud mortar
about six inches deep. They seldom have
windows or any other provision for light
and ventilation except the door. We often
6nd large family living in one Of these
rooms. When the evening comes family
circle is formed around & few ancient
aarthep mugs and jars which are set on
5he dirt floor; from these III :: take their
scant and simple rc:'.,; s., :: which a
round of cigarettS are smoked, the to';:
is barred, tue flickering yallUw candle is
.iown out, and while the unsavory fumes
Of the smoking wick is permeating the
entire room the last one retires to rest IN
this dungeon home, i home then darker
than the blacklist night, as unsavory as
The dungeon OF he doomed, and almost as
5ickly and deadly ns the olack-hole of Cal
cutta.
We see these creatures on their knees
every day and with outstretchcd arms
they temoan their lot and beg of God in
his mercy 10 grant them more hles%nss,
after which they employ what littls@nen
tal and physical force they possess In re-
jecting these which have already been
granted "What fools these mortals be-"
Their diet consists of the various fruits
of the tropic, with goats meat, goat milk
and tortiiIas {corn cakes made Of salt and
water. The meal is ground by hand be-
tween stones similar to those used By the
ancicnts. In place Of stoves and iron
cooking utensils, they use elevated fire
places and earthen jars, which are placed
over charcoal fires The knowledge OF
cooking among all classes Of women is
as meager as the meaus used, hence the
breakfast biscuit white loaf bread, pies,
preserves and puddinss OF the United
States are never seen in Mexico.
DRESS OF WOMEN.
The women wear shawls over their heads
in place of hats and bonnets and the fash
ion never changes. Their feet ere small
and they wear tight shoes with very high
heels Among the lower class plain-cut,
bright-red dresses are often worn, but
among the higher classes combination OF
bright colors is preferred.
The men of every class have a passionate
fondness for dressed sheep, goat, or deer
skin suits. These are often fringed,
painted and embroidered with silver. The
pantaloons are often striped down the
side with rows OF buttons and buckles and
the wide -brimmed sombrero is often
adorned with silver stars, tassels and a
few rounds of heavy silver cord around
the crown. The peoQs wear very low.
crowned, wide e-brimmed straw hats, and
in place of coats they wear heavy woolen
blankets winter and summer. Though
am now in the torrid zone and to-day is
July 1sth, yet see the natives passing or
summing themselves with their blankets
wound around them up to the nose. Moth
ers are passing with their babies wrapped
up out of sight and the men use sandals
in place Of shoes or boots = few are
dressed rs we find them in the United
States. Thus it is the old and the new,
the high and the low are all seen at one
yiew.-Zacatecas Cor. Detroit Free Press.
Il