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PICTURES OF LIFE
IN
MEXICO.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE ARRIERO, OR CARRIER.
Varieties of Mexican scenery.—Difficulties of travelling.—A wayside cross.—Tropical trees and snowy mountains.—The Valley of Mexico.—Transmission of goods.—Newspapers.—Postal communication.—Mexican carriers.—Adventure of an arriero.—A discovery.—An escape.—A band of ladrones.
Away over narrow precipitous mountain roads; down among pleasant valleys; out upon the rocky high-ways; beside gray and dreary ruins; or in the shade of feathery woods; that border ravines thundering with the roar of cataracts plods the faithful arriero beside his laden mule. Through misty dells; by long-deserted haciendas; passing stacks of oca and charcoal-burners' huts beside fields
