Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-07-14

plled the sleeping and sitting places of
this well-tO-do Indian family, and just
back of the house under big pomegranate
bush were the earthern pots of various
sizes which answered all purposes Of stove,
saucepans, kettles, etc.
Soon as the saint was duly established
in his new quarters, all fastened again to
the dancing Enclosure, where the patron
opened the ball. Despite his high Office,
it must he confessed that this leather
colored custodian of Santa Cristo was not
very sanity in appearance. He had been
a bull-fghter in his youth, and several
ugly scars did not add to his personal
beauty. His pink calico shirt was worn
outside his pantaloons of white cotton, and
though he soon kicked off his sandals in
the excitement of the halle he retained his
hat throughout the day.
At , O'Clock there was 4 grand exhi-
bition of lassooing cattle by amateur va
queros, or COW boys. The latter were the
society swells of the village, and were
mounted on ponies, using the enormous
saddles and spurs of the genuine yaqueros
each provided with a coil of rope. Several
young bulls were let loose in the plaza, and
every street was open to them, with the
church, the buil-ring and the dancing in
closure to double around. During the next
half hour it was safest to be on the house
tops, for the amateurs rode like mad after
the irenzied torOs to the peril OF the people,
who scampered ont of the way rs fast as
they could. Nobody was hurt, however,
and presently the solemn tones OF the yes
per bell stopped the sport and proclaimed
the hour OF prayer. In the evening dane
ing was resumed and la Loteria and other
forms of gambling were in full blast
1t is said that the female population of
Iucatan stands as two to one Everything
however, seems to have been especially de
signed for the benefit and enjoyment of
the masculine third of the community, OBJ
livious of that of the majority. The
plazas, the paseos, the CASINOS, the cafes,
the social life are all for the amusement Of
the men, while the women are supposed to
find their highest pleasures in religious
performances and the seclusion Of home.
They are looked upon by the lords of Gre
alton IN much the same light that the
Turk regards the inmates of his harem-
objects to be petted or abused, treasured
or neglected, according as they minister to
his enjoyment or fail to please-but at all
events, to be kept jealousy out of sight of
other men, and supposed to have no wishes,
tastes or preferences Of their own.
As rule, the women take kindly to
their chains, having never known or heard
of any other mode Of living, and when. as
IN rare cases, she rebels, it only does her
infinite harm, by increasing the harshness
of her master. Though inStinctively viz
tuous, so far as faithfulness unto death to
one man IS concerned, their standard of
morality is not very high, and the ameqos
{" friends ~ of married men are considered
as good as anybody. Thenature of Yucate-
can women is not intense, it is only warm,
weak and indolent. Though as children
especially among the lower classes-they
go about absolutely unclothcd till neary
half-grown, as adults they are fully as
modest IN appearance - their northern
sisters.
Whatever their inward thoughts NAV he
/ cannot say. \ young American writer
lately here-who doubtless observed the
girls more intelligently than your CORE
spondent could do-says OF them: "They
can no more help showing the pleasure a
young mans presence causes them than
flowers can help showing that they like
the sunshine-but they look demure as
kittens, and when gazed at drop their IL
quld eyes like vestal nuns"
Because of their secluded lives, they en-
ter with double zest into such simple
pleasures as are afforded them. 1t is said
that all engagements in Yucatecan high
life are made during some religious fiesta,
IN the ballroom or at the gaming table.
Most zcalously do they improve those fleet
ing hours when they can have the real
pleasure of dancing with their lovers, or
even of looking at them over the heads of
others. They yield themselves to the
sweet abandon of the occasion and float
through the slow measures of Z" the May :"
IN the arms of their cavaliers listening
eagerly to honeyed words that may be
whispered in their ears, despite the pres
ence of lynx-eyed mammas and duennas.
No people in the world possess mora
charming manners, both in public and pri-
vate, than the high-class Yucatecan; but,
as in other parts of the world, no doubt the
sauve politeness of calm exterior NAV
cover depths of passion and despair heart
thr1bs and heartaches, high hopes and bit
ter experimentation in the midst of
mirth and music.
Among the women, favorite saint is
Santa Lucia, who is one Of the hottest in
the calendar, celebrated for her power of
working miracles in favor of lovers. If
any young man prays to her for wife, or
any young woman for husband, it is be-
lieved that he or she is sure to receive the
object of such supplication. More than
once has it been solemnly limited to me
that doubts on this subject are sinful, ard
case after case is cited of marriages made,
where one had fallen in love with the
other-who was perhaps ignorant of it, or
even disliked the other party, yet was f.
nally brought to terms through the mirac-
ulouS powers Of Santa Lucia.
FANSIE i. WARD.