Mexico, its ancient and modern civilisation, history and political conditions, topography and natural resources, industries and general development; . ltivation of sugar-cane, which is an important Mexicanindustry. Fields, with water for irrigation, are allottedto the responsible worker—Mexico is a country whoserainfall generally is insufficient for cultivation withoutirrigation—and this he cultivates, the hacienda lendingseed and implements, and taking as payment a statedportion of the crop. So, if the people generally are poor, they are not dis-contented. Their wants are exceedingly simple a
Mexico, its ancient and modern civilisation, history and political conditions, topography and natural resources, industries and general development; . ltivation of sugar-cane, which is an important Mexicanindustry. Fields, with water for irrigation, are allottedto the responsible worker—Mexico is a country whoserainfall generally is insufficient for cultivation withoutirrigation—and this he cultivates, the hacienda lendingseed and implements, and taking as payment a statedportion of the crop. So, if the people generally are poor, they are not dis-contented. Their wants are exceedingly simple and easilysupplied. Furniture and other household chattels are notacquired nor required by the poorer class of peon. If hehas no bedstead, the earthen floor serves the purpose, andhere he and his family sleep, rolled together in theirponchos or blankets for warmth, with an utter disregardfor ventilation, damp, or kindred matters. Indeed, ifneed be, the hardy peon will sleep out upon the openplain without feeling any particular discomfort. The interior menage of a Mexican hut is naturallyprimitive. The fireplace is often outside, and consists. MEXICAN LIFE AND TRAVEL 215 of unshaped stones, between which charcoal or firewoodis ignited, and upon these the earthen pot, or olla, isbalanced, containing whatever comestible the momentmay have afforded, and whose contents we will proceedto investigate. If the fireplace is inside, there is often nochimney, and the habitation is smoky and dark, with onlya hole in the roof for ventilation. En passant, it may besaid that some of the methods of the poorer Mexicanpeones are not much in advance of those of our commonancestor—primeval man ! To observe now the contents of the olla. First itshould be noted that earthenware vessels fulfil nearlyall the purposes of the peones culinary requirements. Inthese seemingly fragile articles the women bake, stew,boil, and fry in a fashion which would astonish theEnglish or American housewife, accustom
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