Arizona silver belt., 1889-11-23
Dare-Deviis Of the Mexican Army.
lFrom HnrperIg Megazine.l

tffom Harper Me%azire.)
 A very important subdivision of the army is the gendarmerio, force charged with certain classes of police dutles, of which the most responsible is that of keeping the highways free of robbers. The section especially em- ployed as 6 road guard is known as the Hurdles, and is by all odds the most picturesque, and m some respects is the most meritorious body of troops in the Mexican service. The begin mng of this famous corps was in the time of Santa Anna. when Gen. La garde organized troop of ranchmen that was known pcpularly-because of the ranchero dress of leather that its members wore-as the Cuerados. On the fall of Santa Anna the Cuera- dos took to the road, and were dkeh successful highwaymen that they pres ently were given, because of the lav- ish ornamentation of sliver upon tbeir leather garments, the new nickname of the Plateados. The headquarters Of the organization were ih the, monn- tain of the Malinche, near Puebla, and it's members very diligently worked the highway between the capital and Vera Cruz. Nor must these highway men be chased with ordinary vulgar robbers The conditions of the coun- ttf ai this period were sG@h that hun dreds of men had no chpice between starvation and stealing, and the Plat eades conducted their irregular busl- nes in a chiyalrous fashion. and fre- qucntly manifesto generosity in 'heir treatment of the travellers who fell into their hands quite worthy oi the galllnt traditions of Sherwood Forest and ;le courteous customs of Robln Hood.
 In Comfort, $ time Inc good thought was acted upon of turning the Platea. dos from read robbers into road guards, and the ra;ier startling propO- sal was found 10 work cut admirably in practice. The corps was organized, and still Is maintained being now about 1000 strong upon a footing un- like that of any other section of the army. Each man provides his own horse and equipments (excepiing his arms. and is pald 10 reales day, out of which he provides raiions for hitn- sell and forage fer his horse. The men are armed with saher. carbine and revolver, and have service upl- form of brown linen hlouse and trous- CTS. though this is worn less often than the regular raEchero dress of jacket and trousers of soft-dressed brown leather. The dress uniform is "E
 Is the ranchero coSlanies sloriGed-.. the leather jacket and trousers loaded down with silver buttons and silver embroidery, and the wide felt hat richly tumn,i with silver, or even with gold The aoan;ings of the sad dies and brides are nf silver, and ire qucntly silver st,trGps maich the 1 riders heavy sllver spurs. On dress parade tie horses wear housings ot tooled and embroidered leather. and earh man carrleS at the pummel of his saddle light hoIse-hair Iariat, and strapped fast to the canile, crimson blanket. The horses 'are by far the finest, excepting officers mounts, in the Servlce, and are so greatly beloved and so afiectionately cared for thel they seldom get out of condition, while on review they positively shine. The men are magnificent fellows, fully ] looking the dare devils that they ac, tlally are,