The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-01-30
MEXICAN BUSINESS WAYS.
Some Experiences of Americans In
Dealing With the Natives.

Dealing With the Natives.
''The visitor to Mexico encounters
many strange sights and curious customs
and methods of doing business" said an
American business man. "A great deal
If mining and agricultural machinery has
been brought into Mexico. and the Next
can ranchero, if not instructed in ham
ding the newfangled farm machinery, is
sometimes at a loss to get things at.work.
The loss of a screw, nut or bolt some
times completely blocks all his efforts
70 get things in motion. Not long ago l
went out with a gentleman from the
states on a trip through the country sell
ing plows and during our travels in the
state of Michoacan stopped at very
large hacienda. The owner was very po-
lite and kind, but when it came to the
point of buying a pillow he did not seem
to be 10 the humor to trade. He said:
"'Why, / have bought several different
kinds of tools and implements from the
states, but must confess l have had bad
luck with them. Not long ago l received
a moving machine. from a well known
mandatory, and it won't work, and
am getting tired Of being swindled.
eve thought it very queer that new
machine would not work and rquested
that he get it out and let us look it over,
which of course he gladly did. We look
ed it all over very carefully and could see
nothing wrong with it, so had some OF
the farm laborers take hold and haul it
around the yard, the owner in the mean
time following along with us and very
much interestd in the proceedings. After
satisfying myself that everything was iR
good working order l reached over and
threw the knives into gear, and she
| worked like a charm. You should have
seen the look of astonishment on that
| ranchero's face. He could not believe
his eyes and felt pretty cheap when he
saw what the difficulty had been with
the moving machine. They did not
know enough to throw it into gear. This
will explain why a good deal Of trouble is
had in this country in selling improved
/ machinery.
"a good deal of comment has been
made on the native methods Of doing
business. A friend of mine wanted to
buy certain grade of native made wax
matches. One day he came across
stand where an old woman had the iden-
| teal kind he was looking for. She had
some two dozen boxes, and he insisted
upon buying them all. But evidently she
| did not understand dealing in wholesale
way and would not consent to dispose Of
more than three boxes at time. which
he very reluctantly was compelled to
| take. After walking away few steps
he decided that the opportunity might
not occur again to get those matches, and
he returned and bought three more box
! es. and when he found that the retail
plan of. selling prevailed he kept march
/ ing back and forth, and every time he
passed the old woman's stand he bought
three more boxes until he had the whole
two dozen.
Last year / spent several months in a
small town in the state of Guerrero and,
having some stock to feed, decided to buy
enough corn to last me two or three
months. Sc visiting the market place ON
the next Sunday l looked up a native
who was selling a sackful Of corn by the
quart or small measure used by them.
inquired the price of a carga Of corn,
which was IS, and asked him how much
more he had at home for sale. He told
me he had Is cargas and would sell it all
| decided that this was just the opportu'
| nifty l was looking for and told him
would take the whole lot il he would de
liver it the coming week. The native
| proceeded to scratch his head and look
me over and hem and haw, and finally be
decided that he could not sell. To the
INITIATED not familiar with the Mexican;
way of doing business this might seen
strange. | pressed him for his reason.
"-Well, I'll tell you,' he said. L rais'
nothing but corn, one crop each year
Now, if sell this corn all at once l will
be sure to spend the money, but il sci
little at time will have money ever
week until the new CROP And accord
ing 10 his business views he was right
and we did not trade. New York Sun.