The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-21
A MEXICAN VILLAGE.
Strange Things Seen by the Tourist In
Tia Juann.
Especial correspondence

Tia Juana.
Especial Correspondence
SAN DIEGO, Cal, July 28.-The village
of Tia Juann, just across the California
line, is an object of much interest to tour
lists. The citizens care nothing for it, for
they can get a good enough glimps. of
Mexico In "old town. but the tourist Is
told that lie Unjust SEQ Mexico and wri.s
a letter from Mexican soil to his home
people. This is fad and pleasant de-
fusion, while those who supply the station
cry and envelopes charge high tariff
prices. The village consists of one street,
which looks as if it had been swept by
hurricane. The houses are out of date
adobes and are looked at with much inter-
est and amusement, The pulquerias are
also objects of interest, and tho visit of the
tourist is failure unless he takes drink
of pulque, of which he has heard SO much.
Ordinarily one drink puts an American
under the table, but the Mexicans, living
SO near the American line, have learned
the urt Of adulterating, and this is done
for the benefit of Americans.
The Mexicans are learning to drink
beer, and good business is done in
smuggling. 1t is mainly carried on by
women. They will come to town thinly
Cidu anu r6GurD DlOubeu lOOk1DS, Or aB j
dressed for the winter season. They carry
hidden in their shawls, pockets and be-
meath the folds Of their dresses several bot
ties of beer. besides merchandise, all of
which is dutiable. l, s
One of the curious customs in the adobe
village Is the water system. The water Is
hauled around in a barrel, which rests on
the ground and revolyes by means of
rope at each end. 1t has never occurred to
these unprogressiye people to mount the
barrel on wagon or sled. The water Is
sold at cents for bucketful. AT each
house Is an ola, or earthen jar. around
which is wrapped a cloth of double thick
ness. The water is put in the ola and re-
mains fresh and cool no matter how hot
the day.
The policeman is an interesting figure.
He carries rusty musket instead of the
usual club. At night he blows long,
keen, shriH whistle about every ten min
utes This will let the burglar know
where he is. He also drawls out the time
every hour, and succeeds in awaking ev-
erybody in the neighborhood.
The alcalde Is another feature Those
who have been within his power have their
own ideas of Mexican justice. Sometimes
an American Gattleman is brought up be-
fore him for smuggling-that is driving
cattle into the territory without first get
ting permission from the customs author
tiles. Grass Is short over the line, and
their grazing grounds must be protected.
So the American cattleman is fined any
where from $50 to $780, If he does not
pay, his cattle are confscated. The alcalde
calls out the militia, or rurales, and the
cattle are driven to the alcaldes corral,
where thoy remain until the fine is paid.
The victim is then charged for the trouble
of oorralling and keeping them.
A Mexican laborer sued another Mexi!
can who owned considerable property. He
admitted that he had been paid the stipu-
lated price, but argued that as he wanted
money the mag should pay him again.
The argument seemed to strike the aloalde
favorably, and he said TO the defendant:
"Senor, you are rich. This man is very
poor. You had better pay him again, or 1t
will be my unpleasant duty to send you to
the oalabazo."
Their manner of washing clothes is
more destructive than that Of the Chinese.
The women take the clothing to the creek,
and after soapipg them with the soap
weed, which Is far better than the manu-
featured article, each garment is placed on
a rock, where the life it pounded out of 1t
by means of another rock in the hands Of
a strong woman, who snashes the clothing
as If she had a grievances against 1t. What
is left is hung out to dry, while the women
amuse themselves In swapping neighbor-
hood gossip and smoking cigarettes.
Cockfghts are frequently gotten up for
amusement and also for revenue. The
bets are necessarily small, and women
indulge in tho betting. The bets are
pooled, and the master of ceremonies de-
ducts the cost Of each rooster, 80 that the
winner does not receive sum equal to his
own. After the gamekeeper has paid the
bets the winning rooster is awarded to the
man whose bird was whipped. If the bird
has been badly used up In the tilt, it is
killed for dinner. The fight is usually to
the finish, however, and after the feathers
have been cleared away it is seen that
neither bird is fit for further field SERVICE
and both are served for the feast, to which
all como who wish. The gaffs used are
like the blade of penknife and are as
sharp as razor and pointed like needle.
A few blows and the battle and the chick
en- are ended. Chickens are trained for the
arena, and the men are also trained in the
vocation. J. NJ. ScANLAND.
u -