File:The ancient cities of the New World - being travels and explorations in Mexico and Central America from 1857-1882 (1887) (14596463697).jpg

Identifier: ancientcitiesofn00char (find matches)
Title: The ancient cities of the New World : being travels and explorations in Mexico and Central America from 1857-1882
Year: 1887 (1880s)
Authors: Charnay, Désiré, 1828-1915
Subjects: Indians of Mexico Indians of Central America
Publisher: London : Chapman and Hall
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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ver superior, be im-posed upon them, they seem only to stultify and dishearten apeople they were not intended for. Meztizas are one of the chief attractions of Merida; theyare looked upon as an inferior caste, but this they seemto accept with indifference, revenging themselves on societyby their attractive ways, which it is not given to man to resist;for even those who are not beautiful, and they are few, havea winning grace, a peculiar charm all their own. Toa certain extent this Is due to their becoming costume, Yucatan, Merida, and the Maya Race. 28 which consists in a loose tunic with short sleeves and squarebody, leaving arms and neck bare ; this tunic, uipil, is tastefullyembroidered at the neck, arms, and bottom with red, blue, orgreen devices ; the under-skirt, fustan, is trimmed with richlace, while their clustering black hair is set off by a silver arrow ;they wear rings on their fingers, and chains of gold dependfrom their lovely necks, often constituting their whole dowry.
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MEZTIZOS HOUSE. Meztizos have a quarter at the outskirts of the town allottedto them, where they inhabit oblong thatched cottages decoratedoutside with a diamond pattern showing where the lines join.It is probable that these huts are identical with those ofthe Mayas of ancient days, while there is no doubt asto the decorations being like the mouldings of the old palaces.A hamac, one or two trunks to put their clothes in, a butaca orlow leather arm-chair, compose the sole furniture of these poordwellings. From a little distance, the Meztizo quarter looks 284 The Ancient Cities of the New World. like a cool, pleasant grove, for each hut stands on groundcovering a quarter of an acre planted with ramon. Meridanladies are never seen out of doors except at church, or duringtheir evening drive. Church hours are unusually early here,beginning at three a.m., when all the bells of the town areset ringing, to awake, I suppose, a slumbering population. Meridans are sociable and more conversant wi

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