patriots in Old Mexico, for hospitality, unaffected
kindness, good breeding and politeness. A Mexican village in autumn is
picturesque with crimson "rastras" of Chile pepper hung on the walls of
the adobe houses. To the Mexicans we owe, or rather through them to the
Aztecs, the delightfully tasty and delicious enchiladas and tamales.

Among native animals should not be forgotten the common jacket-rabbit
(hare). She affords capital coursing, and someone has said runs faster
than an ice boat, or a note maturing at a bank, so she must indeed be
speedy. It is interesting to recall that puss in Shakespeare's time was
_he_ and not _she_. Among our feathered friends the humming-bird was not
uncommon. These lovely but so tiny little morsels are migrants. Indeed
one of the family, and one of the tiniest and most beautiful, is known
to summer in Alaska and winter in Central America; thus accomplishing a
flight twice a year of over two thousand miles.

An interesting little note too may be made of the fact that the garnets
of Arizona are principally found on ant-heaps, being brought to the
surface by the ants and thrown aside as obstructions only fit for the
waste-basket. But they are very beautiful gems and are regularly
collected by the Indians.

There was little or no gold mining in our part of the territory; but
there were current many tales of fabulously rich lost Claims, lost
because of the miners having been massacred by the Indians or other
causes. In likely places I have myself used the pan with the usual
enthusiasm, but luckily never with much success.

The practice of that very curious custom, the "couvade," seems to be
still in force among some of the Arizona Indian tribes, among whom so
many other mysterious rites and customs prevail.

The loco-weed (yerba-loco) was common in our country and ruined many of
our horses, but more about it hereafter.

After ten years, a long period of this life in Arizona, an offer came to
me which, my partners consenting, was gladly accepted, viz., to take
charge of and operate certain cattle-ranches in New Mexico in the
interests of a Scottish Land and Mortgage Company. Things had not been
going well with us and the future held out no prospects of improvement.
Also I had been loyal to my agreement not to take or seek any share in
the management of affairs, and the natural desire came to me to assume
the responsibility and position of a boss. But dear me! had I foreseen
the nature