Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-02-09
NO. f..
BURROS IN MEXICO.
ous Of the Most Popular and Reliable
systems Of Transportation

When | say | think the system of
irsmwavS or street railroads. in the
City Of Mexico is the most perfect sys-
tenn If transportation | have seen in
the Republic. | probably owe the
jackass. or burro. system an apology.
This meek. long-suifering. over-hur-
dencd. unfed aud much abused animal
Is utilized on all occasions aud for all
purposes A. anv time Of day and on
all roads leading from the country
TO the city NAV be seen in countless
numbers this jaek-rabbi, family
with every variety Of marketing.
incluling fruit. milk. poultry in
coops. lumber. charcoal. tied in bum
dies of weeds or long grass. building
stone. brick. burned and unburned.
and. in fac, every thing that Is move
able il piled ON these foriorn. friend
less animals and carried 10 and from
the country. II j. said before the in
Productions of railroads that as many
as 81. coo were in use in and around
the City IL Mexico alone. and the
same system II transportation prevails
throughout the K public
The most amusing thing | have
seen in the natives is tho ingenuity
they display in packing these burros
with any thing they want To trans
port. Lumber that is too long To bal
ance they attach TO each side of tho
donkey and let one end drag on tho
ground. and in that way haul it iifty
miles or more from the mountains to
the city. or the mines, as the case may
b..
Their i another class Of trausporta-
tion in Mexico. which should not be
overlooked as il enters largely into
competition with all Others. viz that
by which the heads aud backs of men
and women are use,i. II Is surprising
to see what heavy burdens are carried
by both sexes. to and from the coun-
try. the women generally. with n
papoose on the back. and frequently
with one or two more children shade
larger following c,oss behind her. aud
she behind man. vho i driving e
herd of burros all alike loaded .
their fullest capacity. ami making
slow railroad time. There Is another
class known n cargaslOcns. licensed
by the government aud usually en-
ploye,i in cities. They arc iurruS,ed
with handling all valuable packages.
moving household goods. carrying
messages. Transferring people on their
backs across the s;rec,s hat ar often
Ovcrilowed in the rainy season. etc.
etc. They are. in short. kind Of con-
tdential transportation company. and
the only one have ever heard of in
Mexico. A. there ara few nayigab.e
lakes or rivers of Importance in tho
interior If Mexico. transportation by
water cuts but little figure. Of course.
Sill. the native Indian continues To
utilize what there is The famous
Lake Tezcuco. upon which C3rtez
launched his little fieet in his attack
upon the City of Mckee IN Ij3) and
into which the drainage II the city is
emptied. still affurI- navigation for
small craft not drawing more than two
feet of water. and IS accessible To- the
city through canals which are utilized
by the Indians for transpor iug pas
sengers and every variety Of market
ing. Il which they raise Iarga quanti-
ties along the canals ani an Tho
borders Of the lake. w. GCu'd. SE..
iu 81 I0xfs Esusfb rf-0u