The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-01
SANTA FE'S BURRO MARKET.
1t Is Possible to Buy One OF New MexicO's
Burden Bearers for 81 rs.

SANTA FE, N. Mi March 28.-You can
buy a burro for 81 rs in this city. All you
have to do is to go down to Burro Alley
anywhere from 10 in the morning till late
in the afternoon and strike a bargain with
the first wood carrier you meet. Only
make sure that your eye teeth are secure
when the bargaining is over for these burro
punchers Of the Southwest are the canniest
traders.
Burro Alley is burro headquarters in
Santa Fee. This is a narrow, crooked alleyI
lined with adobe houses. In the rear Of a
curio storc, at the end of the alleys is a corral
where the Joses and Pablos and Garoias
leave their burros after their loads OF wood
are sold, and here may be studied burro
character in all its phases.
Nearly every burro in the corral will
wear one of the tiny pack saddles which
can be so deity loaded with stove wood
by the Mexicans who keep Santa Fe supplied
with fuel. Thu wood is cut in lengths Of
about two or three feet and is piled in great
mounds on the pack saddles. 1t is mar
vellous the skill with which the Mexicans
can load their tiny burros with these great
loads Of wood. They are deity fastened
with a few twists Of a rope and they will
not slip to one sidei nor is it possible for the
burros to shake them off.
Many OF these hewers OF wood; whose
Mecca is Burro Alley walk forty miles in a
day in order to make a sale that cannot
approximate more than 81 so. If a Mexican
wood hauler is prosperous he will have,
say, three burros. He will cut a supply Of
wood far off in the mountains, perhaps
will find his burros loaded with their packs
OF wood piled high above their backs.
| Swapping his quirt and calling out explosives
in Spanish that never fail to stir the feet
on his long walk to dispose of his wares.
Early morning will find him in Santa Fei
! for the burros are fast walkers when there
is a Mexican behind them.
Once in Santa Fe, the burro driver walks
along the streets until he is hailed by some
householder who has Just run out Of wood.
| There is a minutes haggling and an inspeo-
| backs of the burros. Then the ropes are
jerked; the loads Of wood fall to the earth;
and Pablo or Jose pockets his money ana
starts back toward burro alley. Here the
burros are put in the corral and the driver
sallies forth. Early in the afternoon the
burros are driven out Of the corral and the
homeward march is begun. The driver
does not reach home until late. His earn
ings are small, but he Is content He turns
his burros out to rustic for themselves
for nobody ever thinks of feeding a burro-
and in a few hours he ia ready to start again
on the long walk to Santa Fe.
One can seek, and seek vainly; a sour
visaged burro among the thousands OF ami
mails that are driven to Santa Fee. The
burro may be ready to drop under the cruel
weight Of his load, but he looks content,
! Perchance his master fingers awhile at the
| Plaas, in which case tbs burro is apt to
| sink 10 the ground, load and all, and float
forth peacefully into slumber. When he ia
| commanded to get up you wonder how
he is going to do il; under that great load;
but somehow or other the slender legs get a
leverage and the burro struggles to his feet
and walks of ct bis masters bidding.