Reginald Herbert Mason

“ Here the river is broad, there it narrows to a rapid rivulet; at one point the rocks appear ready to fall on each other, further on, they are frightfully rent asunder, and it requires steady nerves and firm footing to approach their overhanging summits with impunity. Such stupendous scenery has great attraction for the traveller, and a lover of Nature might gaze upon it for hours together, in wondering admiration;—the arriero, however, does not yield to the temptation, but casts one curious glance in its direction and turns away;—his mission impels him onward. ”

“ Many a discontented Briton, wearied with the conventionalities of home, and anxious for a change, has packed up his trunk and set out on his travels, in search of Utopias and bowers of Paradise. But as those white cliffs he was so anxious to leave behind really begin to fade in the distance, he feels a sadness of the heart creeping over him; and when they are completely lost to his sight, he finds the brilliancy which illumed imaginary prospects, gathers in greater refulgence around the well-remembered scenes he has for a time forsaken. In absence, his own country becomes doubly dear to him ”

“ Their teeth almost meet in his flesh, and, in spite of his utmost exertions to the contrary, they are gradually drawing him under water. In vain he grasps their throats with maniac energy; still they keep their hold, and the stream becomes dyed with his blood. Presently the smaller of the two looses his hold; the current carries him away and he is drowned.
Only one of his assailants a large she-wolf, remains to be dealt with now. He struggles desperately, but in vain, to free himself from her grasp, yet he perceives a kind of fixedness in her movements that he had not observed before. ”

“ The hampers are examined accordingly; and on opening the wicker-work he straightway produces—the bleeding body of a newly killed turkey, spitted as neatly on the end of the lance as if it had been before a fire! Then he draws out another turkey—alive, but pierced through the wing; a third takes the opportunity of leaping forth, though with hobbling gait, and shelters itself behind the booted feet of the soldiers; while a fourth is forcibly kept down by the officer, in its attempts to force its passage through the wicker-work to the light of day! ”

“ The rushing wind blew in such tremendous gusts, that trees were torn up by their roots, and borne away; many of our sheds were totally unroofed, and the rain descended in such torrents upon the cattle within, that the water rose to their knees as they stood; while the vivid flashes of lightning, breaking from time to time through the growing darkness, affrighted them almost to madness. ”

“ It appears highly probable, that the political future of Mexico may be influenced in no ordinary degree, by the government of the United States of America. Since the war between the two countries, American habits and opinions have steadily gained ground; the Mexican republic adopting the United States for its model in many particulars. There are not wanting politicians in the United States, who already "realize," in imagination, the Mexican territories as brilliant appendages to their own; nor are others unfrequently met with, who complacently regard Mexico as lying "in their path of empire." ”

“ The wolves, pinched with hunger, are unusually daring at night. There is a numerous herd of them and they are quarrelling together over every morsel of the spoil; for there is not sufficient to satisfy the whole. Several of them have turned away with their hunger sharpened, and approach the hunter, while their companions are battling for the horse's bones. Meanwhile he has started up, seized his double-barrelled rifle—the only weapon, beside his lasso, which he has brought with him—determining to hold out as long as possible, and to sell his life as dearly as he can. ”

“ The wild-cattle hunters of the prairies have only to come within hailing distance of a herd to select the finest and the best and to consider them as certainly their prey as if their hides were already laid on the backs of their horses, and their fat melted into barrels for sale. ”

“ Still the arriero urges onward—onward ever! trusty ever! hearty ever! Uncomplaining and enduring as the mule, his dumb companion: ever anxious to fulfil his engagement and to merit the confidence which has been reposed in him.
Now he approaches a deep ravine upon the great Rio del Norte through which for several miles the pent-up stream rushes in rapid torrents. Not even an Indian canoe can pass those deep-sunk streams; and the abyss viewed by a stranger from its top is wonderfully magnificent and fearful. The sides of the craggy precipices are in some places almost perpendicular ”

“ Dense and teeming forests—where the branches of trees are interlaced herbage grows rank and unrestrained and flowers are borne down by their own abundance—present themselves on the one hand; while on the other whole tracts of country are neglected—lands which, with the slightest care might produce an endless abundance: beds of hardened land, covered with layers of soil and rubbish, and miles of undulating upland and valley, which ought to be duly ploughed and sown with wheat and Indian corn, are all waste and useless. ”

“ If he can only gain the deep stream which he sees shining on his right hand the hunter will have a chance of safety: the water will; at all events, be an auxiliary to him, as he is an excellent swimmer. The thought inspires him with renewed hope and energy; he halloos, and beats off his enemies at every step; and, after many narrow escapes, he reaches the banks of the river. The wolves, however, appear to have a perception of the importance of the moment ”

“ If thou dost prove treacherous, our vengeance will overtake thee when thou dost least expect it: our emissaries will be ever near when thou knowest it not; no distance will weaken our control; and no power will shield thee from our resentment. On the other hand if thou dost serve us faithfully and well, we will defend and support thee, and thou wilt have a due share of our booty with the rest. ”

“ It is the business of the vaquero to preserve the sheep and cattle under his charge from straying and making inroads upon the unprotected vegetable and grazing-lands of other proprietors; but as the animals are almost as indolent as himself—lying as they do, blinking and sleeping in the more shady parts of the field—his occupation is a very light one, and he trains himself to follow it with only one eye, and that but partially open. ”

“ He knows no want, and he desires no change. What animal could ever wish for greater happiness?
He has a companion by his side also, nearly as gloriously idle as himself—a dog who looks very like a wolf, for his colour and outline are of that savage kind. He winks and slumbers like his master sometimes in the shade and at others in the sun and has the same fear of the whip before his eyes. They are a worthy couple ”

“ Indeed, it is seldom that the eye can rest upon a spot where the evidences of care and cultivation are visible. The most magnificent and entrancing prospects are to be found occasionally; but they owe everything to nature, and nothing to man. We gaze with wonder and untiring admiration upon the beauteous works of God; but when we view the rich landscapes in connection with the prosperity and advancement of mankind, our thoughts find no response, and we turn from the prospect with a feeling of unmingled sadness. ”

“ The sim was setting gorgeously over the arid rocks and plains of the mining district lying between Jesus-Maria and Chihuahua, in the far north of Mexico—casting, even in its decline, an intense light and burning heat over the scene around—when a young man rose from the sandy earth at the bottom of a small cliff, in the shade of which he had been resting, and taking up a pick-axe, prepared to enlarge a cavity he had formed in the ground, before the evening should overtake him. ”

“ So fatal to human life are the hot, marshy breezes constantly afloat in their neighbourhood, that the most accustomed inhabitants are often stricken with fever, followed by speedy death; and all who have the means in their power are happy to take refuge, during the hot season, in the more favoured districts at a distance above them—where the burning sunshine is tempered by the clear air of the hills, and the atmosphere is uncharged by the poisonous particles generated in the vapours of the tropics. ”

“ If foreign goods are landed at all on the shores of the republic, it is under every possible discouragement and disadvantage; and thus less capital is circulated throughout the nation, fewer profitable investments are presented to the wealthy, and the prices paid by the poor population for necessary articles are ruinous and exorbitant.
In addition to the want of capital and labour, rents of houses and land in the cities of Mexico are enormously high; insomuch that none but the very wealthy can reside in good houses and decent neighbourhoods. ”

“ Perhaps a lonely valley may entice him, where belts of landscape, of different kinds, mount one above another; and miles of corn-growing uplands and lines of verdant fields, clumps of dark foliage and beds of ruddy rocks, sugar plantations and country haciendas, chilé plots and cochineal allotments, agricultural watch-towers and rural hamlets, may be reviewed in turn, as they rise in due gradations to the hills on the horizon. ”

“ However this may result, any movement, having the effect of releasing the community from the oppressive bondage of superstition— of enlightening and instructing the grossly ignorant—of infusing new energy into the indolent and enervated—of lessening the terrible amount of crime at present prevailing—and of placing truth and religion in a purer and more elevated light would confer a benefit not on the country of Mexico alone, but on mankind. ”

“ He is not incapable of exertion, however; but the evening hour, when all is cool, is the proper time to exercise it—then, after he has girded up his loins and escorted his charges to their resting-place, for the night—when he is cosily seated by the furnace side in the servant's room of the farm—his feats in bolting the tortilla cakes, and clearing the mutton platters are astounding: empty cups and pots of stew attest his energy, and his attentions to the pans of frijoles and chilé, and his exertions in swallowing draughts of pulque and atole, are most laborious. ”

“ Fancy yourself seeking shelter from the heat in a grove of tropical palm-trees, everything-around redolent of the warmth of the country,—gorgeous flowers and luscious fruits, lizards and snakes, and a plantation of sugar-canes in the distance,—then turn and look upwards, and a scene as of the depth of winter will meet your eyes. ”

“ I do not consider the Mexicans generally an intemperate people; but their favourite liquors drunk to excess, have as powerful an effect upon them as more fiery alcohol has on the natives of other countries: and when a Mexican of the patronizing stamp has his natural independence augmented by his potations he is a remarkable specimen of human nature indeed—sometimes very disagreeable, but often excessively whimsical and diverting. ”

“ He will see sublimity in the wild mountain-passes, where all is vast and solemn, and nothing human or transient intervenes between himself and his Creator; where everlasting hills rear their heads against the expanse of heaven, and aged pine-trees cast their sombre shadows ”

“ Within the numerous balconies in front of the houses opposite, under the brilliantlycoloured awnings there are groups of Mexican ladies, of all ages, their handsome features and beaming eyes intent upon the oddities of the scene before them. ”

“ There they floundered as they might have done in a comic dance; the mud rising in the richest profusion at every movement, till it seemed likely that both man and animal would soon be covered over. The mule kicked Señor Zarios and Señor Zarios kicked the mule; while the lady and her little boy struggled wildly to release them tugging first at one limb and then at another, and screaming loudly to aid their endeavours. "And this," thought I, "is the party who were proceeding to pay a little social visit to some particular friends of theirs, in Perote!" ”

“ Habits of monkeys.—Their sociality.—Treatment of each other,—Crossing' a stream.—A serpent's breakfast.—The monkeys' manoeuvre to revenge their comrade.—The snake destroyed. Many a comical story might be told of the monkeys who cling and flutter, like uncouth birds, round the forest trees in the tierra caliente of Mexico. Their sociality is amusing; for they are generally to be seen in compact tribes or gangs: and very good-humouredly they seem to affect each other's society. ”

“ A less trustworthy person, in appearance, it would be difficult to imagine; but as their employment, and even existence, depends on their reputation for honesty, they are deserving of every confidence. Their faithfulness, indefatigable perseverance, constant care, and self denying endurance, are beyond all praise, and form a remarkable exception to the general character of the Mexican populace.
One bright summer morning, an arriero set out from the city of Chihuahua, with an unusually precious cargo on the back of his mule, including a small quantity of coin, and several bars of silver. ”

“ Thou, who callest thyself Martin Valio, late an officer in the service of our foolish and oppressive government, art now fully admitted a member of our band. Thou art bound to obey its laws, to execute its orders, to respect its interests, and to preserve its secrets. ”

“ War or treason, courtly luxuries or mercantile disasters, are as nought to him. Allow him his shadowy resting-place and luxurious ease, his ragged serapé and battered sombrero, his savoury supper and straw couch o' nights, and let the world go on as it pleases! ”

“ On he sped beside his patient mule, over the mountain paths, in the dead of night; the man profiting in no slight degree by the fine instinct of the animal, who seemed to understand the emergency, and to strain every limb for the preservation of his master. But even surefooted mules have occasionally been known to take a false step, and our arriero's beast stumbled over a projecting rock, and fell down a shallow precipice, carrying his master with him. Though the declivity was slight, the fall was yet so heavy that both arriero and mule lay at the bottom stunned and insensible for hours. ”