Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/774

754 sufficient even to counteract the irritation created by certain other restrictive laws.

One result of the efforts for maintaining caste distinction, together with the prevalence of indolent and improvident habits, was the comparative absence of a middle class, so essential to the advancement of a country; and society could well be divided into rich and poor, noble and base, half-cultured and illiterate. This is readily understood from the concentration among the people of the wealth and refinement, and a mere glance at Mexico would confirm it with the extreme presented of nudity and glitter, grossness and refinement, profusion and squalor. This was here the more striking owing to the congregation of vagrants, beggars, and indigent sick, allured from all quarters by the fame of the capital for wealth, gorgeous displays, and liberality.

At the beginning of the century about one fifth of its inhabitants consisted of these classes known as zaragates, guachinangos, and zaramullos, the last being also termed léperos and corresponding to the lazzaroni of Naples; equally lazy and careless, but less vicious. Most of them depended for a livelihood on labor, but this was limited to a day or two in the week, sufficient to procure them a little food and liquor. The sky was their roof, and the bed their square mantle or blanket, which served also for almost sole raiment. Dress gave them indeed little concern, for as they lay basking in the sun the day long the covering was generally cast aside regardless of decency. Laws existed against such classes, and a special society had been formed, as we have seen, to discourage mendicancy and alms-giving, and provide for the deserving.