The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-30

baskets, that they may not peck at one
another. Coclxfighting hcre Is favorite
sport and game chicken peddling Is
regular business.
They Sell by the Pile
1t is wonderful how small the sales
of these street peddlers are In many
places the merchants sit on the street,
with their goods spread out before
them. About the cathedral are scores
who sell candies, peanuts and fruit. The
peanuts are not measured out by the
glass or the pint as with us, but are
counted. You can get about 10 for q
cent. Another pile may be four or
five candies, and third may be four
oranges laid up like a pyramid.
In the great market, where most Of
the Mexicans do their meat and vege-
table buying, are little piles of potatoes
containing dozen tubers not more
than an inch in diameter. Such pile
may sellTfor nickel Onions and green
peppers are counted and squash ana
pumpkins are cut into pieces and SOLD
by the slice l saw women today buy
ing cabbage at 1 cent slice. Think
Of cents worth of cabbage But there
aare many poor here and a cents worth
Will flavor stew. These small piles
are for the poor with whom 10 or Is
cents may buy whole mornings mar
keting.
NckcldDicS anu Iuito
You must not think, however, that
the market business is made up or
small trading. 1t Is one of the finest
markets on the continent, and ! doubt
whether better fruits and vegetables
are anywhere sold. The celery and lot
tuce are especially delicious. Nearly ev-
cry vegetable can be bought all the
year round. and the great variety OF
climates gives you apples, peaches and
p6 oil
apples and lemons. You can have straw
berries for breakfast from January to
December. You can buy pineapple
as big as your head for 10 cents and
fairly good oranges cost half cent
apiece.
Porters go along with great baskets of
fruit. As we stop to look at some pep
pers one who has two bushels of pine
apples on his head slips as he passes
and the great rosy fruit rolls over the
floor. No one laughs. however, and the
natives help him pick up his wares
Outside the Market
Some of the most interesting peddlers
are outside the big market. The streets
surrounding it are lined with booths III
which Indians are selling wares Of all
kinds, which have been brought In from
the country. Here is one man who has
pottery, consisting of balls. cups saucers
and carafes, all made of bnrnts clay. He
also has plates for tile chiidren as DIE
around as a copper cent, and cups the
size of a thimble. Near him is an Indian
who has clay: savings banks in the form
of little red pigs with slot holes in their
backs. and next him is man peddling
whistles. The whistles are made OF
black clay. They have as shrill noise
as that of any policeman's whistle made
of nickel. You can buy two for cent.
A little farther on Is man peddling
rat traps made of steel hoops, and be-
side him are two indians selling turkeys
which are thrown over their shoulders. |
priced the great birds and am told | can
have one for s1.2o. We weigh 1t and 1t
kicks the beam at II pounds
But here comes an Indian cargador
with a load of wrapping material tied to
his back. 1t consists of bundles Of dried
corn husks and will be used by the
butchers and other market people to wrap
up small purchases of every description
Every market man and market woman
keeps a stock of these corn husks on
hand and the great load which the In
dian carries will be easily sold.