Page:Life in Mexico vol 1.djvu/251



 Mexico in May — Leave Mexico for Santiago — Coach of Charles Tenth — Mexican Travelling — General Aspect of the country—Village of Santa Clara — Robbers' House — Temples of the Sun and Moon — San Juan — Mexican Posada— School-house — Skulls — Hard fare — Travelling Dress — Sopayuca — Military Administrador — Santiago — Matadors and Picadors — Evenings in the country — Dances — Mexican Songs — Cempoala— Plaza de Toros — Skill of the Horsemen— Omatusco — Accident — Tulansingo — Beautiful Garden — Mexican Dishes — Fruits — Horses — Games of Forfeits — Ranchera's Dress — Young Girls and their admirers — Verses — Knowledge of simple medicine — Indian Baths — Hidden treasures — Anecdote.

6th May.

the setting in of the rainy season, we accepted of the invitation of our friends the 's, to visit their different haciendas, as in a short time the roads will become nearly impassable. The country in May is perhaps at its highest beauty, or even a little earlier; as already the great blow of roses is nearly over; au reste there are roses all the year round, though more in December than in July. And this, by the way, is rather a source of disappointment to the unwary traveller. He arrives in December, and finds the gardens full of flowers. "If this be the case in December," says he to himself, "what will it be in May?" May comes — the roses are over, and the chief flowers in the gardens are dahlias