File:Where to spend the winter months. A birdseye view of a trip to Mexico, via Havana (1880) (14561912508).jpg

Identifier: wheretospendwint00wine (find matches)
Title: Where to spend the winter months. A birdseye view of a trip to Mexico, via Havana
Year: 1880 (1880s)
Authors: Wineburgh, M. (Michael)
Subjects:
Publisher: New York, M. Wineburgh & co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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he city ofMexico; a visit to this mining town will amply compensate our traveler. Pa-chuca can be reached by two routes, but as yet no railroad communication hasbeen made to it; we are consequently obliged to travel in diligencias; only,4^those who have already experienced the peculiarities of this style of travelingcan appreciate its various phases. We take the stage or diligenciaat Ometusco, a station on the Vera Cruz and Mexico railroad; the diligenciaruns only three times a week. The second line runs from Cuantitlan, on theVera Ciuz railroad; they start at seven oclock A. M. Here we are suppliedwith an excellent cup of coffee; while we indulge in this early breakfast, themules are being harnessed to the diligencia. The driver is worthy of notewith his tight leather trousers, ornamented with rows of silver buttons, his shortcut roundabout d, la inode bull fight, and his large white sombrero; he cutsa bold figure and drives excellently; by his side an assistant is serving his ap- 50
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51 prenticeship. Hanging on each side of the coach we perceive quite an assort-ment of whips of various sizes and weights, devoted to the service of eachrespective mule; besides these instruments of torture a collection of stones maybe seen behind the drivers assistant who pelts the foremost mules whichcannot be reached with the whip. When night sets in this assistant runs aheadof the team with a pine torch in each hand. Behind the driver is tjie pes-cante; we prefer this position, which is the cheapest, to the garlicy and pul-que atmosphere of the inside. At last all is ready, the mules are set atliberty and away we go rattling over the pavements, until we strike the mainroad to Pachuca. On either side of us broad fields of wheat and corn, andmaguey meet our gaze. The natives are plowing with very primitive appli-ances and oxen that move like snails. This picture is bordered with moun-tains in the horizon which resemble clouds of a neutral tint; we are now travel-ing through dust onl

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