MASON'S PICTURES OF LIFE IN MEXICO.*
THESE volumes are not travels in Mexico, but a series of 4' sketches " intended to exhibit the scenery, the society, and the various classes of Mexicans, in a half-fictitious half-dramatic form. The book wants the interest of story, which a continuous narrative generally contains, and the specific information as well as the truthful character that particular observation and personal incidents usually possess. This want is not made up by the broader and more comprehensive pictures which generalization thrown into the fictitious or dramatic form ought to impart. Mr. Mason misses the solidity of matter- of-fact, without attaining the elevation or interest of fiction. He is not more absolutely false in reference to Mexican life, than any literary tyro can be said to be false who puts forward his home sketcheli as pictures of English life. The accessories are national, the incidents may be founded on fact, the prototypes of the persons probably have had a real existence ; but there is so much obvious invention that it is difficult to draw the line between the real and the imaginary, while the imaginary is by no means of a high class, and hardly capable of exciting interest for itself. Pictures of Late in Mexico is a succession of sketches, possessing a sort of freshness from the newness of their field to this kind of purpose, varied with some geographical and statistical information of a common kind.
Mr. Mason furnishes little new information. We have scarcely met with anything that has novelty apart from the artificial mode of presenting the matter,—unless it be some novelties in natural history, of a rather doubtful kind. It may be argued, indeed, that his pictures of Mexican society throughout are of a darker and harsher character than some travellers, quite as capable of judging as he seems to be, have left us. But society has pro- bably deteriorated, through the violence and anarchy consequent on the American war; or it may be that Mr. Mason correctly de- scribes the society that fell under his observation. The priests especially he pictures in the worst terms : yet Stephens, a man of wide experience, speaks of the American Padres as generally hos- pitable and liberal, and bears stating testimony to the hard-work- ing life of the remote village cura, though he does not disguise the moral laxity of many of them as regards their vow of chastity. Mr. Mason paints the whole of the Mexican priesthood as ignorant, licentious, gluttonous, and avaricious ; not only describing in one case the demands upon the dying, but reporting the dialogue,— which, as the priest had previously cleared the room, and was not likely to expose himself, would seem to have been a work of diffi- culty. An extract or two, from the more real parts will convey an idea of the book, and of the manner in which facts are as it were put in action. Such is or was for some time past the state of the police in the city of Mexico, that people were actually lassoed in the streets. Mx. Mason narrowly escaped on his first entry. "Entering the city of Mexico by the Puerto de San Lazaro, (gate of St. Lazarus,) with my moso, I was startled by cries of 'Stop, Senor ! the lasso— take curer Madre di Dios ! he is upon you.' 'The lasso ! To the left! Holy Virgin, stay ! '
"I had just time to wheel round the pony I was leading, when swift foot- steps approached from behind ; a sound as of rustling whipcord rushed past my ear; something appeared to hover for an instant over my right hand; and a wild and crouching figure on horseback thundered by me, with the curse of disappointed villany upon his lips. " 'I here is another on our track,' exclaimed my attendant. The plun- dering rascals! But no—blessed Mother ! now he turns away, discouraged by the ill success of his companion.' "We had, indeed, narrowly escaped being corded like a couple of pack- ages, thrown down and robbed on the highway ; for this second ruffian had doubtless intended to secure my fellow traveller, had his comrade suc- ceeded in rifling my person and saddle-bags.
"This system of lassoing in the public streets of the capital is still pur- sued; although the authorities pretend to prohibit riding on horseback at night, that the practice may be suppressed, and endeavour to persuade people that mounted videttes are posted at the corners of the streets for the same purpose. The crime and negligence continually lying at their doors are woful : yet they have the assurance to give out that every precaution is taken to prevent the depredations of both ladrones and 16peros."
The following description:of a natural phtenomenon is new to us.
"The prairies of Attakapas are neither more nor less than tracts of land formed in the course of ages by trees which have either fallen or floated upon lakes—since deserted by the rivers of which they once were portions.
• Pictures of Life in Mexico. By R. H. Mason. With Etchings by the Author. In two volumes. Published by Smith and Elder.
These deposits have in time formed a compact surface, and present the ap- pearance of portions of solid land ; so that lean-Los and &heaps may be built, and cattle reared, and men may reside upon them. The thinness of this coating is so remarkable, however, in some places, that a tremulous motion is given to it by the weight of a few oxen ; hence their title of quaking prairies; the earth occasionally falling in, especially round the outskirts, end small holes and crevices being formed, into which the salt water from the Gulf of Mexico eventually finds its way."
There is some cleverness, but we fancy some exaggeration, in this account of the patronizing meaner of the Mexicans.
"One feature of the Mexican character obtrudes itself forcibly upon the attention of a foreign resident at an early stage of his experiences—their braggart pride and lofty assertion of personal independence. You will sel- dom encounter a Mexican at all removed from the lowest grade who has not such an overwhelming idea of his own grandeur and importance that he will admit of superiority in no shape or form. If you meet him on equal terms and desire to enter into conversation, he immediately gives you to perceive that he patronizes you. Employ him in the meanest capacity, whether he waits upon you at table, feeds your mule, or furnishes you with boots, spurs, or wearing apparel, and you remunerate him fourfold, he is still your patron.
"Confer JUI obligation upon him, or put yourself to inconvenience to serve him, still he patronizes you; and his acceptance of your kindness is a con- descension. Nay, I verily believe, that if you were to save his life at the peril of your own, he would even then patronize you, and account you his debtor that he did you the honour to allow his life to be saved.
"Tins peculiarity, however, is more whimsical than offensive ; for no af- front is intended by it. But there is, however, a kind of drunken independ- ence, if I may be allowed the expression, in which an ignorant mind is apt to clothe itself as with a garment whenever the body is prostrated by in- toxication. I do not consider the Mexicans generally an intemperate people ; but their favourite liquors, drunk to excess, have as powerful an effect upon them as more fiery alcohol has on the natives of other countries ; and when a Mexican of the patronizing stamp has his natural independence augmented by his potations, he is a remarkable specimen of human nature indeed— sometimes very disagreeable, but often excessively whimsical and diverting."
Previous page
