it, with large ditches to convey the water through the fields. They employ a man to take charge of its distribution, and during the farming season he must be on hand both day and night, to turn the water on and off, as may be necessary.
Lands rent for one-third and one-half of the crop. The proprietor furnishes no teams, and the yield of corn is from thirty-five to forty bushels per acre.
A hacienda, it must be understood, is a large plantation, and not a ranch for cattle, although one proprietor may own both. In this case, the farming is kept separate from the cattle raising. A church and store are inseparable adjuncts to the well-kept hacienda. The peons buy the necessaries of life from the store, which of course keeps them always in debt, thus securing their services. Unless the proprietor of some other hacienda pays the debt, they of course cannot leave.
There are two classes of peons, those who are in debt and those who are not. The former are by far the more numerous, and are called calpaneros or gañanes. The names and salaries of the principal employés are as follows:
Administrador, who is paid from $70 to $100 per month.
Mayordomo, """ 30 " 60"”
Ayudante. """ 15 " 30 "”
Sobre saliente, "" 8 " 25 "”
Capitan, """ 8 " 20 "”
Trojero, who has charge of the keys and keeps the
accounts of the hacienda; paid from $15 to $30 per
month; and a doctor, who is also paid by the
month.
The priest is paid for his services as they are rendered. The founder, wheel-wright, and carpenters are paid by the job.
The mayordomo and the capitan are allowed horses and certain perquisites from the hacienda.
These capitans are rare characters in and of themselves. Though
