Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/109

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 Character of scenery.—State of agriculture.—Fences, implements, and crops.—A hacienda.—The agave, or maguey plant.—Mode of obtaining pulque.—The Vaquero, or cow-herd.—A lazy brute and his canine companion.—Seeking stray sheep.

such a country as Mexico it is in vain to look for the rural beauty and tranquillity of more favoured countries. Rich as are the soil and climate the most frequent aspect of the scenery is wild and desolate; and as the soil needs but small attention and cultivation the little that it does demand has been withheld. 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