CHAPTER XII

MEXICAN LIFE AND TRAVEL (_continued_) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230

Anthropogeographical conditions--The Great Plateau--The tropical belt-- Primitive villages--Incidents of travel on the plateau--Lack of water-- Hydrographic conditions--Venomous vermin--Travel by roads and _diligencias_--A journey with a priest--Courtesy of the _peon_ class-- The curse of alcohol--The dress of the working classes--The women of the _peon_ class--Dexterity of the natives--The bull-fights--A narrow escape--Mexican horse equipment--The _vaquero_ and the lasso--Native sports--A challenge to a duel--Foreigners in Mexico--Unexplored Guerrero--Sporting conditions--Camp life--A day's hunting.