Page:Appleton's Guide to Mexico.djvu/157

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LOTTERIES.—STORES.
129

the underbrush, chaparraleros, or loose leathern trousers, are worn over the ordinary pantaloons. Except in the large cities, swords or machetes are usually attached to the saddle-bow.


XLVI.

Lotteries.

Following the example of Spain, lotteries were introduced into Mexico many years ago, and are now an important source of revenue. Lottery-tickets are sold in all the cities by men, women, and children. They are found on the portales of the plazas, at the doors of hotels and cafés, and on the street corners. The Government receipts from lotteries were:

In 1880-'81 $32,856.
In 1881-'82 60,000.
In 1882-'83 800,000.

XLVII.

Stores.

According to Prescott, there were no shops in the Aztec Empire. Goods and wares were sold in the marketplace. Fairs were held at short intervals, and the merchants were itinerant traders. Under the Spanish domination, the system was greatly modified. With the importation of merchandise from the mother-country came the gradual introduction of shops. They have undergone a great change since 1870. The shops usually have fanciful names, such as "The City of Paris," "The Azure Boot," "The Red Gown," etc.

While household ornaments, books, hardware, crockery,