Wichita eagle., 1889-04-28

CoRRALITOS. CHIHUAHUA, Mex,
March Is, 1888.
After leaving Las Palomas, near the
United Stated frontier, and all our custom
house duties arranged for, our course lay
to the southwark. By the way, speaking OF
Mexican customs, my own experience has
been that never saw more polite, yet at
the same time quite efficient custom-house
service, than that maintained by the Next
can Government, and my experience has
not been confined to the single case of cross
ing the Chih1ahuan frontier at Las Pal
omas. The greatest annoyance one has to
encounter, if it can be called one at all, is
that after passing the first Mexican custom
house encountered directly at the line, the
next three or four villages or towns are also
liable to have custom-houses where you
must present your papers gotten at the first.
and they may subject you TO examination if
they want If an American, Of the usually
independent character, is fairly perspiring
in his endeavors to find something to annoy
him this may do it, but have never been
delayed more than a mere minute or two
when I eyinced a willingness to help them
perform their duties. While the great out
ragged class of American citizens are re-
ceiving the stereotyped indignities at the
fine points of international etiquette with
them, and as result having their baggage
and equipments thoroughly searched, the
few polite members of our nationality place
their keys at the disposal of the authorities,
stop their wagons graclously if on an excs-
dition in Mexico, show their papers willing
ny and at once, and as consequence the
officers usually open the wagon sheets be-
hind, crawl under the tongue of the vehicle,
with a''Muchisinas gracios'' MANY thanks),
hand back the papers and walk away.
was IN Mexican town LA Ascension)
half day; had one wagon unload before
knew there was custom house in 1t. In fact
it was the delay Of the second wagon with a
broken part so long that brought them under
the notice OF the officials. expected to
be shot at reveille in the ditch next morning
when found out my mistake, and SO did my
English friend with whom l was STAYING,
but told the custom-house officers frankly
my mistake, asked them to the house to in
spect what had apparently smuggled in, and
although they came they refused to go into
my private apartments or accept my keys,
took view of the empty wagon and in
spected the wrong horses in the corral and
went away -atlsfied. Next day, Sunday
while waiting or my wagon to be repaired,
they got up three cock-fghts for my amuse-
ment, a batIs ldance) at the 'Presidente's"
(Mayor's) house, and generally we adorned
the pueblo = light pulque pink verging to
mescal maroon. The only way to bride
Mexican official, as far as my experience
goes, is with politeness. l believe if a man
could be found who was more courteous
than a Mexican custom-house officer, that
he could import the whole of the United
States and New Jersey free of duty into
Mexico on the strength Of it.
Not only do the Mexicans have custom
houses for two or three villages or towns in
depth along their frontier lines, but a
traveller is also liable TO run across custom
house officer or two out in the country if he
is traveiiIg in his vehicle from the United
States into their country, and they, too, can
search his effects if they want. When we
were coming from Las Palomas to La AS
cension and had Travelled about thirty miles
without seeing living thing except jack
rabbits, road-runners, quails and ducks,
(thanks to the Apaches' efforts for the last
few years. we suddenly turned a bend in
the beautiful BOca Grande valley and came
upon a handsome stretch Of yellow Sdcdton
grass that covered rich soil which viii in a
few years be as fine a farm for some person
of energy as there is TO be found in the
world.
Across it we saw walking two as hard
looking characters, with wide sombreros
and long pistols, as ever shaved mans
throat bias. They stopped our wagon, and
started to hand them the Mexican money
/ had TO avoid delaying the expedition. |
They said "pocumentos," and l handed
them my custom house clearances, which
they quickly inspected, handed back and
then politely gave US all the information
they could as to the road we were to travel /
1t is only at the first place, however,
where the papers have TO be made out and
the duties paid, that there is any delay, IN
less the holder of the ''documentOS - Is Of
an obstreperous disposition. l have heard of .