Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/217

 MEXICO. alists, was carried by surprise, by a small detachment of Mina's troops during the night of the 19th. On the 22d, after three days of forced marches, during which they crossed a country desolated by the war, where neither provisions, nor houses, were to be found, Mina's advanced-guard fell in with a party of the Insurgents of the BaxTo, under the command of Don Cristoval Na'a, with whom he at last opened the long desired communication. Robinson''s description of Mina's new allies is very correct, and very characteristic. He represents them as fine athletic men, admirably mounted, armed with lances and sabres, (in the use of which they excelled,) with round jackets, decorated with a quantity of gold and silver-lace, velveteen breeches, (also embroidered,) deer-skin wrappers round the leg, gar- tered at the knee, shoes of the country, open on one side above the ankle, — immense iron spurs, inlaid with silver, with rowels four inches in diameter, — open shirt-collars, and hats of the country, with a very broad brim, and silver band, ornamented in front with a picture of the Virgin of Guada- lupe, (the patroness of the Insurgents,) inclosed in a frame, and protected by a glass. Such was, and is, the costume of those men, by whom the first shock was given to the power of Spain in America. They compose the agricultural popu- lation of the country, and are known in the towns by the de- nomination of Rdncheros ;* a name, which always conveys to any one acquainted with the country the idea of great acti- vity, strength, and excellent horsemanship, combined with the peculiarities of dress which I have just been describing. Nava conducted Mina to a large Rancho, in possession of the Insurgents, which he was allowed to reach, without any opposition, by a body of Royalists, seven hundred strong, (with whose character, and mode of life. Captain Head's delightful work has rendered every one so familiar,) but rather in a higher stage of civi- lization. N 2
 * The Mexican Ranchero is equivalent to the Gaucho of the Pampas,