News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-09-30
ON A TROPICAL PLATEAU.
WHAT MAY BE SEEN OF AN AF.
TERNOON IN MEXICO.
Cumbersome Mexican Vehicles F'if.
teen Feet High-Market Women
"A RanChero and His Dress

Cumbersome Mexican Vehicles F'if
teen Feet High-Market Women
"A Ranchero and His Dress.
Thomas Wallace writes from Zacate-
cas-, Mexico. to the Detroit Free Pres as
iollows; The air is clear and cool, and
the SKY Is set with few bright feecy,
noatlng clouds, such as the artist is won't
10 paint In his pictures. The cloud
shadows are passing over the canyon,
along the valley and up the mourta
side. He they present that bright
contrast and many beautiful combina-
tions which nature forms by means of
sunshine and shadow. The mountain
slopes far and near are covered with the
thorny ch parral, the century plant, the
many wild flowers of the tropics, and
the wild tuna (prickly pear which is
now laden with the most delicious and
wholesome fruit which we have yet
found in the tropics.
Here, too, we see flock of goats quietly
grazing under the care of patriarchal-
looking shepherd, who is seated on an
ancient boulder beside his dog and crook.
Another flock, preparatory to early milk
ing time, is vending its way down the
mountain to the goat corral. On the
CALLED back burros, which, because of
their age and infrmities, have been
turned adrift to die in the mountains.
In the distance we see long freight
train moving across the plateau. 1t is
composed of cumbersome carts, each
drawn by six mules.
These carts are sometimes ten feet
wide, with three shafts made of hewn
timber about six inches square. The
wheels are about as high as those of the
old time log cart, and are often run
without tires, but in this case each felloe
is from six to ten inches square, SO tires
are not needed. One form of wagon bed
is unknown here, but in place of it they
build single room house on a balance
over the axle, using the rear half of the
shafts for sills. 1t is built of square tim
Der or round p lies, with floors and walls
made of green COW skin. They are some
times fifteen feet high, and are usually
covered with kind of coarle bagging.
There is no door to the structure, hence
everything must be loaded in over the
top, at the gable ends. When a long
caravan composed of these carts is seen
moving slowly over the plain, each
loaded with almost eve class and kind
of products known to the tropics, one
can then form a better idea of the re-
sources of this country, but when we
look at the tackle of the mules and the
odd and ancient garb of the drivers and
the ranchero, we can form q still better
idea of the harness fashions of an
tiquity. Well, l hardly know how to de-
scribe this procession; but, in the lam
guage of the Arkansaw Trd0eJer, every
thing appears wonderfully out of
kilter."
In the distance beyond we see great
cloud of dust rising in the plain. This
is the signal that the evening stage will
soon be here, and also that it is lightly
loaded, and that the mules are coming
Gin full tilt"
1t is the evening hour, and the market
women are passing out of the city. One is
riding spry little donkey that seems
anxious to get home. She is closely
wrapped in shawl and carries baby
in her lap, while her husband follows on
behind, driving the donkey. The whole
is fine representation, recalling pictures
of the flight into Egypt.
A peon on board his burro is passing
out to the distant hacienda. Now he
dismounts to take his drink at the way
side pulquera; but there is no hitching
post. What shall he do2 All! he is
equal to the emergency, for he has
hitched his donkey to its own hind foot.
Over the way there is humble jaCal. 1t
has but one room, with dirt floor and
decayed canvas roof. The chickens are
picking each other for their respective
positions on the Ioost in one end, while
the family and pet goat are taking their
supper in the other. Soon the front en-
trance will be closed by means of sus-
pended gunny bags, after which the
happy family will bid adieu to all things
external until day.
Now the ranchero of the caravan is
passing. He is mounted on a fine horse,
which is prancing under a sil lver- mounted
saddle This is made so strong and
so tight that we often see pair
of horses draw q heavy load when
hitched by the saddle horns. The fend-
ers and panels are very large and richly
with colored thread and
silver tinsel. In place of saddlebags
here is pair of baguerillos These are
ong, black, hairy appendages fastened
20 the rear Of the saddle, and hang half
way to the ground on either side. They
nave long pockets on the inside, and the
whole in the distance resembles a half
'ide of undressed bear skin. The rider
S dressed in the popular garb of the
and carries a belt of cartridges
lround his waist and large revolver, a
asso and breech-loading rifle on one
ide and long sheathed sword on the
'ther. In his appearance and mode Of
ife among his peon subjects he might
'e thought fine representation of a
eudal lord of the middle ages. To look
It, he appears u formidable object, yet
lie is not at all dangerous, neither in
)eace nor war. His sons. following in
lis footsteps, are the wouldbe Mexican
Knights of modern times, but their race
8 nearly run, and until this much tended
,ut sickly flower of ancient ancestry can
ind more congenial cline in which to
,ud and bloom, it must soon fade and
lie from the sheer neglect and cruel
reatment it continues to receive from
he foreign tribes of the north.