"
employes of the mines, and a few merchant dandies of the town. Her
choice may be some one of these. _Quien sabe_?

Let us on through the crowd!

We see the soldiers of the garrison, with tinkling spurs and long
trailing sabres, mingling fraternally with the serape-clad tradesmen,
the _gambucinos_, and _rancheros_ of the valley. They imitate their
officers in strut and swagger--the very character of which enables one
to tell that the military power is here in the ascendant. They are all
dragoons--infantry would not avail against an Indian enemy--and they
fancy that the loud clinking of their spurs, and the rattle of their
steel scabbards, add greatly to their importance. They have their eyes
after the poblanas, and the sweethearts of the poblanas keep their eyes
after them in a constant vigil of jealousy.

The "poblanas" are the pretty girls of the place; but, pretty or plain,
all the girls are out to-day in their best and gayest apparel. Some
wear _enaguas_ of blue--others of scarlet--others of purple; and many of
them tastefully flounced at the bottoms with a trimming of narrow lace.
They wear the embroidered chemisette, with its snow-white frills, and
the blueish _reboso_, gracefully arranged, so as to conceal neck, bosom,
arms, and, in some cases of coquetry, even the face! Ere night this
jealous garment will have lost half its prudery. Already the prettier
faces peep forth; and you may see, from the softness of the complexion,
that they have been just washed free of the "allegria" that for the last
two weeks has rendered them hideous.

The "rancheros" are in their full and beautiful costume--velveteen
trousers, wide at the bottoms and open up the sides; _botas_ of
unstained leather; jackets of tanned sheepskin; or velveteen richly
embroidered; fancy-worked shirts underneath; and scarfs of rich red silk
around the waist. Over all the broad-brimmed _sombrero_, of black
glaze, with silver or gold band, and tags of the same, screwed into the
crown. Some have no jacket, but the serape, hanging negligently from
their shoulders, serves in place of one. All of these men have horses
with them; and on their feet may be seen spurs full five pounds in
weight, with rowels three, four, and even five inches in diameter!

The "gambucinos," and young men of the town, the smaller tradespeople,
are very similarly attired; but those of higher class--the officials and
"comerciantes"--are clad in broad-cloth jackets and