Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-08-11
A Texas Rancho.
For the SPECTAToR.1

4
Texian would say, 'Lit out" on my thir.
ty-five miles ride across the country. I ar
rived at "Los Indias'' about o'clock, af-
| ter having driven over vast prairies of mss
| quit brush and cactus, without any water
| except that in my canteen, and none
for my horse; was cordially received by the
owners of the rancho and no less than four
of his sons inmates of the rancho, such
greeting consisting of firm, warm grasp
of the hand, accompanied with "Buenos
tardes, senor," (good evening, sir), and
''me allegro de yer senior" q am glad to
see you, sir), after which | was conducted
to the back yard under the shade of hand
some chimberry tree to rest, while my h orse
was properly cared for. While giving the
news, always relished by these ranchemep,
my ear caught the sound of grinding coffee
and almost in as short time as it takes me
to tell it, dark-faced Mexican came out to
where we were seated, that is the father
and |, for the children always take back
seat and never have anything to say, after
having greeted the guest, and l may add
that upon arriving at one of these Mexican
ranches you are expected to get out of your
buggy, or off your horse, without an invita-
tion, and make yourself perfectly at home;
if you do not, they will consider it an insult,
and never like you afterwards but to re-
turn to the coffee, the ''criado" (servant)
having presented waiter with two large
cups of strong black coffee with a small
plate OF coffee cakes my appetite was some
what appeased, though felt could eat all
on the plate and drink both cups of coffee,
though my experience had taught me that
need not have long to wait, for after few
minutes of conversation, the owner of the
r-oTa nt1n oon l..
name among the Mexicans is as cmmon as
Smith among the Americans went to the
door of the rancho and spoke word or two
to one of his servants, who brought out q
quart bottle of "mescal,' liquor or wine
made of the maguey, or American agave or
century plant, to which Senior Garcia helped
me freely, as well as himself, and while this
drink is not very Intoxicating, yet it revives
all things pleasant within the mind of man,
and if my friend Senior Garcia knew any,
thing, he was not slow in telling it. This
drink is purely Mexican, and my first meet
ing with If was in the interior of Mexico
1t is not made in Texas, and the duty being
SO high, makes it very costly drink On this
side OF the river. The thought of the "mes-
caf' had not died away before the servant
cams out to US the taird time, this time
with sumething like what my mother, back
III Augusta county, use to call s'boiled GUS
tard" with the whites of eggs beat up and
poured on top-now, believe, they call it
"hoat;ng island" the Mexicans call it
''dulce,'' which means with them anything
sweet Next follows cigarro Cigar, and
in the course of half an hour, Senior Garcia
by being notified by servant informed me
that dinner was ready. Wepassed through
the long two-story house into the dining
room and sat down alone to the table,
though this Senior Garcia had no less than
twelve children, and his wife and mother
in-law in the house, yet this is the custom
among these high-ton Mexicans. The
owner of the rancho, the head of the house,
did all the entertaining of the guests at this |
dinner, as they called it, though it was |
really supper. We had coffee again, 'tor-
tillas" (pan-cakes), "chili con carne'' (meat |
mixed with pepper, &c., and freeholders,
as they are called by most people here
they are the large red Mexican bean. This
constituted our supper, and it tasted deli |
,ious to me after my long drive, and having
my appetite gradually worked up to the |
tight pitch. This rancho lies in country |
which has grand future, while its develop
nent will no doubt be retarded by the slow
ness of the people in adopting agriculture
is a calling instead of stock raising, to-
gether with improved mechanical appli-
ances, yet that time will come. The farm
srs still cling to the Grecian ox-yoke and |
5he Roman plow, as they did two hundred |
years ago. The present owners of this
,anche are the grandchildren of the man to |
whom the State ofTexas granted patent to |
,he five leagues of land in one body about |
he year 1850, and includes about 90 900 |
lcres of land, and has probably been in the |
same family for two hundred years. These |
Garcias, Perezes, and Floreses,
Ire like the Smiths, Joneses, and Browns,
among the Americans, and are of the aris- |
,ocratic class of Mexicans, the offspring of |
. mixture far back Of the Spanish conquer
)rs or their immediate followers with the |
native races of this country. There are two |
other classes of people here, and the three |
liffer widely from each other. The "peon'
)r humble laborer, usually the descendant |
)f the ancient Aztec 1ndians-he is always |
poor, always without education, nearly al
ways beast of burden, a hard and willing |
worker. Then there is the mixed English, |
French, Italian, German, or Spanish citi-
zen, with part of either blood in his veins,
ind may be half English or half Indian,
lalf Spanish or half German, and the bal
lnce conglomeration of races.
This rancho has a fence surrounding the |
,ntire number Of acres, and upwards of forty
thousand head of cattle Craze within its
olds. There is proposition now to divide
he five leagues into five shares among five Of |
he children, and as the owner has nearly as
much more land on another grant adjoining
le is able to furnish all his children with
lmpls ranches. One of his daughters has
married an American doctor, and he has
leeded him fine rancho. At some future
lime, may give you letter on some of the
peculiar habits and customs Of these Mexi-
,ans. They have "Fiestas" here frequent
Y which last one or two weeks at time,
fairs" we call them in English, and sim
,ular performances can be witnessed day
md night, cock-fghts, Spanish fandangos,
otteries, gambling, &C. They have pecul-
al games and performances on their holy
lays which occur quite often. On ''San
Tuan's dia" (St. Johns day. the twenty
Tears up to twenty all ride on horseback
md the others trying to capture it from the
me possessing 1.-THE rooster having a
ed ribbon tied to one of his fset-the riders
topping at every house in the city where
here is "Juan" (John). The Mexicans
lame their boys for the days on which they
re born, each day in the year celebrates
ome saint. The object of the above play
s to keep the rooster the longest, and fire.
luently it is torn to pieces, and they all
assemble at tha house of the youngest
Juan" and have the remains of the rooster
cooked. Frequently boys are hurt and not
eldom parties are really killed, though |
hese boys learn to ride early, and, as a
general rule, are good riders. At this juno
ure considerable excitement prevails rela- |
i've to the revolution acress the river, but |
have digresse6 from my text and must |
lesist
Respectfully, C.L.C.
John-"Au' what will you be doin', frind, |
lfther lavin' college?'' Jones-ssWell,
[ohn. you know there are alWays plenty of |