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Show 174 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY always carried when mounted and afforded the wearer good protection from the elements. The furniture of his mount was in perfect keeping with that of the rider. The style of saddle was peculiar; the pommel was high and the tree deep, which afforded a firm and easy seat. The stirrups were of wood, at least four inches in width, and were suspended from the tree by a broad strip of leather, carved and otherwise ornamented, sometimes with rosettes of silver; hanging down at the sides were two long leathern flaps with a piece of stiff leather in front which gave protection to the feet. A quilted cushion of leather, oftentimes wrought in silver, covered the seat of the tree, and attached to the rear tree was an ornamented housine of leather of deer or wild-cat skin, tanned with the hair on. This was called the cola de pato, and was made to correspond with the coraza or cushion. The saddles were richly trimmed with sulver, the head of the pommel being entirely covered with it. The bridle was fairly loaded down with ornaments of silver and sometimes the bit was also made of this metal. The bit was of a barbarous Sort and of such power that the rider could guide the most restive horse with ease, and could with small effort bring him - his knees. The spurs were made of steel inlaid with silver, with ‘he rowels two or three inches long. The equipment of man and ant a“ completed with the armas de palo, which were made of ‘ ins, tanned with the shaggy hair on. These were drawn over gS In case of falling rain and buckled around the waist and afforded complete protection to the lower extremities. ee cuneate inlet preaen cama ia Mexicans in the early days knew little of the mechanic ere were a few carpenters, blacksmiths, and some jewellers. The last named excelled all the other LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF workmen, and some specimens of their MECHANIC ARTS workmanship, in point of ingenuity and skill, would compare with any in other parts of the world. N early all of the lumber used for cabinetmaking and building on burros, piece. wae The a + Aaa two or tang a ‘ial ny and. and carried 40 aay heavie . : boards at a time, and sold by the er pieces of timber were dressed with axes and * “sed © manner. in husbandry Saw-mills were unknown. were All the im- of the rudest description, and, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE 175 until about the middle of the nineteenth century, the hoes and spades, like the plows, were made entirely of wood. There were no wagons, other than those brought to the country by the Santa Fé traders. The Mexicans used carts— carretas.1* Among the ricos there were a few old-fashioned Spanish carriages, which were drawn by four or six mules, with outriders and _ postillions. When a Mexican traveled he carried with him both bed and board and camped upon mountain or plain wherever night overtook him. He and his attendants always went armed. There were no public houses, and the traveler, unless he reached a settlement where he had friends or relatives, was obliged to camp out. The New Mexicans were not agriculturists. They were essentially a pastoral people. What little agriculture existed was of a very primitive sort. Their fields were small and MEXICANS NOT irregular; cultivation was done with the hoe; the AGRICULTURISTS plow was used only in soft mellow ground. plow was a wooden affair fashioned from of an oak tree; a section of the trunk of a tree, usually feet long, with a small branch projecting upward for served for this implement; with it was connected a beam on Were yoked; - =! Davia, W. W, The the trunk about two a handle, to which the block, with its fore-end sloped downwards H., El Gringo, p. 212, says: ‘‘The vehicles in common use for farm purposes, and for hauling produce to market when burros and packmules are dispensed with, are called carretas, a rude cart, made in the style of two centuries ago among the first settlers. If exhibited in the with bolt in states they would attract as much attention as the hairy horse or the sea-serpent. They are senerally made without iron, being fastened together with strips of rawhide or wooden pegs. The wheels are frequently solid pieces of wood, being a section of a large eottonwood tree, with a hole through the center for the axle. Sometimes they consist of three parts, the middle one a it, and the ome sides, segments of a circle pegged on to the first. An undressed pole of Proper length is fastened to the axle for a tongue. The body of the carreta Consists of a frame-work of poles, much like a crockery-ware crate, which is made fast by being tied to the tongue and mi when necessary to prevent the load - The machine has no bottom, axle. falling out, a bull-hide is spread These carts are universally drawn by oxen, and sometimes three OF yoke are hitched to one at the same time. The ox-yoke 1s in keeping with ‘ie vehicle, and consists of a straight piece of wood laid across the head of the oxen behind the horns, lashed fast with raw-hide, and is secured to the tongue In the same manner. c. every purpose, ag family pleasuring nasi Wheels are never 2 ‘arthly sound, which “Spectable tenor for a For the peasantry of the country these primitive carts and on feast and holy days you will often see the in them, or driving to the nearest town to attend mass. greased, and as they are driven along they make an echoes through the mountains far and near, being a double-bass horse-fiddle.’’ |