Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/169

Rh the strange history of the twice-found diamond and his past suffering's in the silver regions.

The following anecdote will illustrate the life led by the contrabandistas, or smugglers, who abound in such numbers in Mexico:—

It was a merry time within the low double roomed rancho of Antonio Pulf, the contra bandista. A table of goodly dimensions occupied the largest floor; and around it were seated a dozen swarthy adventurers, or more, in the most free-and-easy positions, and with various degrees of dignified joviality visible on their rugged countenances. The table was strewed with bowls of aguardiente and pulque, and platters of meats and tortilla cakes; the latter of which were smoking hot from the griddle, and the former burning hot with chilé pepper, as a matter of course. It was a grand occasion: the gang had been long accustomed to carry on their illicit traffic in defiance and contempt of the government; and they had just concluded a transaction on a more magnificent scale than ever. The goods had been reconsigned almost immediately on the arrival of their smuggling vessel; they had received the money, together with an unlimited allowance of native-