Page:Mexico, picturesque, political, progressive.djvu/19

Rh On the route between Chihuahua and the Plains of Zacatecas, the beautiful mountains continue, now nearing and now departing from the table-like valley between. An entire tract of country at one place is covered thickly with pale purple blossoms exhaling a faint, sweet odor. The great haciendas, lying near the route, have portions of their ranches near the line. It may not be understood, so it is well to explain here, that a hacienda is the large estate of which numerous ranches form part. The owner is supposed to exercise a kindly care over all his assistants and dependants; churches and schools are provided within the limits; in many cases a hospital is conducted for the health and comfort of the laborers, and a somewhat patriarchal system obtains. The peon, or laborer, cannot leave one hacienda for another without the consent of his master, and the pledging of some portion — usually a quarter — of his wages, until his obligation is paid. It is a remnant of an old system of bondage, and will probably give way to progress and time. Some of these haciendas are of immense size; one was pointed out enclosing two hundred and forty square miles.