The National tribune., 1901-10-03

appearance, DelnS Dulll Oh TIMBER SET IL
the earth stockade fashion, the apertures
filled with plastic earth, and the whole
covered with a thick roof of matched
prairie grass or straw. But few of these
habitations have floors, except the one
furnished by Dame Nature herself. Lum
Der appears to be an article so scarce as
to be sort of architectural luxury, there
being no trees fit for boards within a dis
lance of several hundred miles from this
part of the country. As a consequence
the inhabitants are obliged to resort tC
such other methods of building as theiI
ingenuity may suggest. The Unframed
skins of cattle are much used.
The agricultural implements of these
poems" are extremely rude. Then
plows are merely crooked sticks of timber
having but one handle, and just iron work
enough about them to keep them in the
ground-being about as nicely calculated
for turning up the soil as the snOut of a
hog. The yokes used for their oxen are
mostly innocent of bows, being straight
sticks of timber, slightly haliowed to fit
the neck, and strongly dashed to the horns
with leather straps. As a goad for their
cattle they carry in one hand a long pole,
in the end of which is sharp spike. In
| driving they walk in front of the team.
1t was 10 o'clock the following morn
| ing before we reached Brownsville. On
passing the Matamoras bend of the river
the current was so strong that we had
great difficulty in making Roadway
against it, and the vessel ran several times
against the bank before we finally sue
ceeded in getting fairly in position to
breast the tide. A motley group of
Me1icans, OF both sexes, crowded the
shore, some of the masculine portion en-
| joying the pleasure of a bath.
Bathing seems to be a source of much
enjoyment among these people, and par
l : af lat.1 .F%r
seen freely INDUCING in this hydropathic
exercise. That they intend to take things
coolly seems quite evident.
THE ''GREAsER" AT HOME.
Brownsville is a place of about 5000
inhabitants, the greater portion Mexicans.
| Although within the limits of the United
States, it is in every respect Mexican
town. The buildings, as general thing,
| are poor. Those in the outskirts are mere
novels, like the habitations we saw while
coming up the river. A large Catholic
market-house, all of brick, are the only
imposing edifces of the place. The stands
of the market are owned by "greasers,"
who have the faculty Of charging the most
eXorbitant prices for everything they have
to SELL
Lest the reader should be in doubt as
to what kind of an animal a ''greaser' is
used is very appropriately applied to these
natives, in consequence of the general
sioyenly and greasy appearance which
they present. Laziness is one of their
most prominent characteristics, and the
repugnanee which they cherish for manual
labor is too manifest to be easily mis-
taken. With one days stock of provi-
sions in store they seem to be perfectly
content to pass that day in the most
''inglorious ease" L do not wish to con-
yey the idea that the Mexican people are
entirely thus indolent; for / am happy to
be able to state that there are honorable
and praiseworthy exceptions-men posses
sing considerable amount of genuine
business enterprise and tact. But the
spirit of inertness appears to be more gen
orally characteristic of this people than
any other L have yet seen.
Keeping shop, vending fruit in the
streets, any other occupation than the
arduous one of cultiyating the soil, or
even no occupation at all, is the rule
rather than the exception among these
shiftless poems. Go by the open doors of
their dwellings any part of the day you
choose, and you will see them either laid
out in an attitdue of repose, or idly loung-
ing about on the bare ground or floor.
Chairs and stools are generally discarded,
their preference being to sit, Indian fash
ion, fat on the .'footstool of nature"
Billiard playing is one of their greatest
recreations, and think | am safe in say
ing that there are more of these saloons
and "gin-mills" in Brownsville than any
other place of its size in the country. In
several respects they are emphatically
gay and festive" class of beings, the fair
goddess Terpsi.aore apparently being the
most admired Of all the mythic deities of
classic history.
"Fandangos" are held nearly every
night.
In holding these amusements a yard
is usually selected, on one side of which
refreshment tent is erected, the scene
of festivities being well lighted with
Chinese lanterns. The music consists of
two or three wind instruments, base
drum and harp or guitar, and is not al
together exceptional in its execution.
Cigarette smoking is a very fashionable
mode of enjoyment among both sexes, and
this pleasure is INDUCED in even while
they are performing the graceful eyolu-
tons of the dance. Games of chance with
cards also contribute towards furnishing
amusement for those who take no part in
tripping the light fantastic" The parade
through the streets of a band of music.
crowded into an old ''caryaI' and drawn
by mustang pony, gave due notice when
a fandango was about to take place.
The country around Brownsville is fiat,
bushy, and well interspersed with lagoons
and marshes. In the absence of springs
and wells, of which this section of the
country is entirely destitute, the inhabi-
tants have found it necessary to construct
cisterns of cement, which afford plenti-
full supply OF good, wholesome water,
gathered from the roofs of the buildings.
Water from the river is also used to con-
siderable extent, and the labor of obtain
ing it furnishes employment to quite a
number of natives, who haul it through
the streets in barrels fixed so as to move
easily by rolling, for which they receive
two .-bits" (25 cents per barrel. In time
of drought, ciStern water is less preferable
than that obtained from the river, in con-
sequence of the aniInalctIlae which il gen
crates, which renders filtration necessary
in order to make il fit for USE
The soil of this river country is well
adapted for agriculture, being rich and
easy of cultivation and 10y a little native
energy might be made to smile with yege-
table abundance. Instead, however, of
such being the case, .he country has more
the appearance of a ''howIing Wilderness
than a region inhabited by civilized be-
lngs. Aside from a few small patches of |
corn, l saw nothing to indicate a regard
for agricultural pursuits among the in
habitants. The market was very poorly
supplied with vegetables, although meat
was furnished in abundance. Cattle are |
very numerous, being allowed to run wild
over the plains, affording no other trouble |
10 the natives than that of catching and |
them for the market The |
of our army did not lack for |
beef, but an adequate supply of vegetable |
food WAS not 70 he had for a na,ind Of cav