Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/48

26 must have been procured by plunder; yet the knavery is either winked at or deemed unworthy of notice. The eager and designing looks they cast upon the arriero who is unloading a large bale of merchandise on the right, and the sympathetic glances they interchange with each other from time to time, sufficiently shew their appetite for plunder. They have a great variety of portable and saleable goods and meet with numerous and ready purchasers.

The assortment of goods belonging to the glass, china, and earthenware merchant, proves to be rather curious on examination. There are some stylish-looking wine-glasses, vases and decanters—but when you take them up and hold them to the light, you see that every one is chipped as well as cut; and the few china ornaments of attractive shapes and colours are, without exception, either cracked or flawed internally. As for other more common crockery, cups and plates and water-jugs—not one of the whole collection will hold water. The fellow purchased them as refuse, and vends them as perfect; yet if you state an objection to his wares he scowls upon you most fearfully, and his hand is upon his knife in a moment.