Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/91

Rh the protection of the troop for herself and family.

The first act of this worthy trio was for the man to inform the company "that his name was Zarios—Señor Zarios—that the lady near him was his wife and that the child was their son; and furthermore that they were proceeding on a little social visit to some particular friends of theirs in Perote." I never saw a more comical expression of drunken gravity, than his face assumed as he favoured us with these particulars; and the wonder was, considering his tottering motion that he contrived to keep upon the back of his mule from one moment to another.

In the next place both the lady and her husband took upon themselves to declare patronisingly, that they were well acquainted with every individual of the party. They had seen us all before many times and were gratified to see us looking so well! Could we tell them how the health of Friar Rosen was? and whether his secular assistant was a chosen vessel of the Virgin? Also whether old Pedro Quonce was still alive? and if Aliza had not left the barber's? Ha! they had had many friends in their time; and had some still.