sh red colour, somewhat like that of
blackberries. Some travellers allege that it is done for ornament, as
the Indians use vermilion and other pigments. This is not a correct
explanation. The "allegria" is used by the New Mexican belles to
preserve the complexion, and get it up towards some special occasion,
such as a grand _fiesta_ or "fandango," when it is washed off, and the
skin comes out clear and free from "tan." The "allegria" is the well
known "poke-weed" of the United States (_Phytolacca decandra_.)

"_Sombrero_."--Page 11. The black _glaze_ hat with low crown and broad
leaf is a universal favourite throughout Mexico. It is often worn
several pounds in weight, and that, too, under a hot tropic sun. Some
sort of gold or silver lace-band is common, but frequently this is of
heavy bullion, and costly.

"_Pueblos_."--Page 11. There are many towns in New Mexico inhabited
exclusively by "Pueblos," a name given to a large tribe of civilised
Indians,--_Indios mansos_ (tame Indians) such tribes are called, to
distinguish them from the _Indios bravos_, or savages, who never
acknowledged the sway of the Spanish conquerors.

"_Peons_."--Page 12. The labouring serfs of the country are _peons_.
They are not slaves by the wording of the political law, but most of
them are in reality slaves by the law of debtor and creditor.

"_Petates_," etcetera--Page 12. A "petate" is a small mat about the
size of a blanket, woven out of palm-strips, or bulrushes, according to
the district; it is the universal bed of the Mexican peasant.

_Tunas_ and _pitahayas_ are fruits of different species of cactus.

_Sandias_ are water-melons.

_Dulces_ are preserves.

_Agua-miel_ and _limonada_, refreshing drinks peculiar to Mexico.

_Piloncillos_, loaves of coarse brown sugar, met with in all parts of
Mexico, and very much like the maple-sugar of the States.

_Tortillas_, the often-described daily bread of the Mexican people.

_Chili Colorado_, red pepper.

_Ollas_, earthen pots of all sizes--almost the only sort used in the
Mexican kitchen.

_Atole_, a thin gruel resembling flour and water, but in reality made
out of the finer dust of the maize, boiled and sweetened.

_Pinole_, parched maize mixed with water and sweetened.

_Clacos_, copper cents, or half-pence,--the copper coin of Mexico.

_Punche_, a species of native-grown tobacco.

_Aguardiente_, whisky distilled from maize, or sometimes from the aloe--
literally,