customs and characteristics

“a land of lutes and witching tones,

of silver, onyx, opal stones;

a lazy land, wherein all seems

enchanted into endless dreams;

and never any need they know,

in mexico,

“of life’s unquiet, swift advance,

but slipped into such gracious trance,

the restless world speeds on, unfelt,

unheeded, as by those who dwelt

in golden ages, long ago,

in mexico.”

—evaleen stein.

it is always interesting to know how the rest of the world lives, but an experience with the customs and characteristics of a people impresses travellers in widely different ways. mexico is a land of strange customs and strong characteristics which are deeply interesting to the sympathetic tourist. “oh! the charm of the semi-tropical spanish life!” says f. hopkinson smith. “the balconies above the[202] patios trellised with flowers; the swinging hammocks, the slow plash of the fountains; the odour of jasmine wet with dew; the low thrum of guitar and the soft moonlight half-revealing the muffled figures in lace and cloak. it is the same old story, and yet it seems to me it is told in spanish lands more delightfully and with more romance, colour and mystery than elsewhere on the globe.” on the other hand many matter-of-fact, unsympathetic travellers see only the impractical ways, annoyances and inconvenient customs like the writer who describes mexico as “a land of lace and lice and love, of flowers and fights and fleas; of babies and bull-fights where pillow slips are open at both ends and where passengers get off the front end of the street-cars; where keys often six inches in length are fitted in keyholes turned upside down and invariably turned backward; where the weather forgets to change from day to day and people sleep under the same bed cover the year around.”

the mexican has learned the secret of daily contentment. this is true generally of the creole class as well as of the peon. the fact that some seven thousand families practically own the entire landed estate of the country does not inspire envy in the bosoms of the other[203] millions. it is a question whether the anglo-saxon and the teuton can give these people more than mere mechanical contrivances. home does not necessarily consist in an open fire, drawn curtains and frequent visits of curious neighbours. here homes are found where privacy is respected, family affection is strong and there is respect for elders, love for parents and kindly relations between masters and servants. such a country is not uncivilized and barbarous. there may be many odd and nonsensical customs but a reason can generally be found for them. when studying the natives it is enough to know that they are “an unselfish, patient, tender-hearted people; a people maintaining in their every-day life an etiquette phenomenal in a down-trodden race; offering instantly to the stranger and wayfarer on the very threshold of their adobe huts a hospitality so generous, accompanied by a courtesy so exquisite, that one stops at the next doorway to re-enjoy the luxury.”

if one has absolutely nothing to do or suffers from the constitutional ailment of having been born tired, mexico is the place for him to rest. nor will he be lonesome in the occupation of loafing for on every bench is a wayfarer for company. there is no mexicanism[204] more pronounced than that of procrastination. never do to-day what can be put off until to-morrow is the revised motto. nothing is so important that it cannot wait until ma?ana (to-morrow). an american, whom i met in mexico, and who had lived there a number of years characterized the country as the land of ma?ana, esperase and poco tiempo, or the land of “to-morrow” and “wait-a-while.” time is idled away. nobody expects you to be punctual and you are not censured should you fail to keep an engagement. in fact, “you will probably be designated as a bore should you insist on scrupulously and punctually keeping all your appointments, for the man who always meets you on the dot is a nuisance in this southern land. if you have an appointment with a mexican at noon, go at four o’clock in the afternoon and you will probably find him waiting for you. had you gone on time, he might have been absent. never be in a hurry, for constant hustle and bustle are the unpardonable sins. respect the native customs and doze or read for a couple of hours after lunch and get busy as the sun nears the horizon.” the mexican pays a compliment to anglo-saxon push by adding a la inglesa to an appointment which is intended to be kept punctually[205] or “after the english fashion.” it is impossible to educate the mexican to american methods, so it behooves the foreigner who goes to mexico to make up his mind to do business after the standards of that country. however lax or disappointing they may be he must remember that in mexico his methods are the strange ones and not theirs, which are centuries old. in society calls lengthen to visits and last hours and the hurried five-minute calls are happily unknown. the longer the stay, the greater the compliment for it means that the visitor is enjoying herself.

in a country where, until recently, the purchase of a foreign draft was an all-day operation one cannot expect to do business in a very strenuous way. the people have breathed the somnolent atmosphere so long that they cannot be hurried. in fact, in some of the towns, the buzzards that encircle the town seem to be the only living creatures actually looking for something to do, for even the dogs would sneak down the alley to avoid trouble. and yet in the face of all this the yankee drummer arrives in a town and scarcely takes time to brush the dust of travel from his clothes before he starts out to visit his prospective customers. he expects to round up his orders and take the train[206] on the following morning for the next town. after running against a few ma?anas from day to day without an opportunity to show his goods he feels about as disgusted as the enterprising american who, intending to revolutionize agriculture, took down a large stock of the latest american farming implements, but after a year’s effort had made no sale. the salesman who will succeed is not the one who tries to introduce the hurry-up methods of his own land, but the one who adapts himself to the country and does not attempt to rush things. it will require days and perhaps weeks to work a large city.

i met an englishman in one of these large spanish-american towns who was a fair example of the successful european drummer. he had made this route for years and was thoroughly conversant with the language and understood the ways of the people. his methods were a good illustration of the reason why english and german houses have for many decades controlled trade in spanish america. they keep their old men on the route as long as possible, for a new man will not do much on his first trip. we stopped at the same hotel and i had a good opportunity of observing his business methods. for several days[207] after arriving in the town he did nothing but make social calls on his customers, take them to the theatre and entertain them in a general way. during the next few days he invited them to his rooms to inspect his stock which was large and varied. then he began to take orders. this method seems like a waste of time but the orders secured were large and well repaid for the time taken. the american drummer could not have controlled his impatience to be on the move and would have made a failure. many who drop into mexico on a flying trip, jump to the conclusion that the mexican merchant is not so shrewd a business man as the american. they are apt to mistake the deliberate methods of the latin race for poor methods. he consumes more time in placing his order and there is less rush and bustle about his store, but an experienced man will tell you that in the end he drives a pretty hard bargain for he knows the market price of the goods and wants the best discounts and longest credit.

even the legal customs are peculiar and have proven decidedly embarrassing to many americans. a number of years ago, before railroads were so numerous, the local officers always arrested the engineer and conductor in[208] the event that any one was killed, and they were thrust into jail “incommunicado.” this means that you are to be incarcerated seventy-two hours in solitary confinement without bail, at the end of which time a judicial examination is given. an american whom i met there told me of his “incommunicado” experience. he was arrested because he had witnessed an affray and was held as witness, in solitary confinement, but was released by the official after the judicious use of thirty dollars. their theory is that after a man has been kept in confinement for three days, with only his own thoughts for company, he is much more likely to tell the truth than if he had been in communication with his lawyers, friends and the reporters all that time. and who can deny the truth of their claim?

it is always best to keep out of the neighbourhood of trouble, or get out of it as quickly as you can if it comes your way, especially if in the remote districts, for offender and victim are both liable to arrest and imprisonment. most cases are put off from day to day until one party or the other is weary of the proceeding. an instance which illustrates this was related to me by a man who was arrested for misdemeanour. knowing the custom prevalent[209] in the courts he hired an attorney to appear each day for him. when the case was called the judge would ask “que quiere” (what do you want). after the case was explained he would dispose of it with the simple word ma?ana. the other man appeared each day until disgusted with the procedure and then dropped the matter. lawyers charge so much per word and are paid for each article as it is written. mexican notaries are very important personages. they take the place to a great degree of the old-fashioned, family lawyer. they are regarded in much the same light as the family confessor and are told the family secrets. to their credit, be it said, that the notary is usually a man worthy of the confidence placed in him.

the ceremonial and punctilious politeness of the mexican, be he don or peon, is interesting and oftentimes amusing. the spaniard on meeting a friend on the street will stop and inquire one by one after the health of his wife, each of his children and the various other members of his household and then in turn will submit to the same interrogations from his friend. after witnessing such a scene between two men in silk hats you can turn down a side street and see a meeting between a poor indian in rags[210] and an old withered woman selling lottery tickets. removing his tattered sombrero he bows gravely, and, in the softest of spanish, says, “a los pies de usted, se?ora” (at your feet, lady). this is done with a grace and ease of manner worthy of any station in life; and her answer “my hands are for your kisses, se?or,” is said in the same gracious way worthy of a duchess. should you ask the man for his name he would be sure to add “su criado de usted” (your servant).

the mexicans are very proud and exclusive, and suspicious of the newcomer. seldom indeed is it that an american gains the entree into their homes but, if he succeeds, they will be found among the most charming hosts in the world. this reserve is probably very natural. the mexican has been educated in the strict catholic schools and is a victim of custom old as his country, while the american coming to mexico is a mercenary, ambitious person engaged in commercial strife and in the race for the almighty dollar. then, the american is of a more matter-of-fact temperament and does not appreciate the impulsive nature of the mexican. money does not appeal to him except for the pleasure of spending it, and no person is more lavish in the expenditure of[211] money, if he has it, than a mexican gentleman.

the mexican is a home lover and yet there is no word in the spanish language that corresponds to our word for home. casa, or house, is the nearest to it and the mexican always speaks of his house when he means his home. the exaggerated conventionalities are often carried to the verge of the absurd. perhaps there may be as much truth in their expressions as in the polite but oftentimes meaningless civilities of our own land. an american, on being introduced to a stranger, will feel that he has satisfied the etiquette of the occasion by simply expressing his pleasure in the acquaintance. the mexican goes a step further and presents the newly-made acquaintance with his house.

“su casa es numero ——,” he says with a graceful bow giving the street and number of his own house, which literally means “your house is number ——,” and usually adds, “it is entirely at your disposal; make yourself at home.” it is simply a polite way of saying “i am glad to meet you.” perhaps five minutes later the incident is forgotten by the giver. one writer has said that he met fourteen men at a club in mexico and was presented with[212] thirteen houses. the fourteenth man was unmarried and not a householder. occasionally some one not familiar with the emptiness of the phrase has presumed on its literal interpretation and called at one of the houses presented to him but has been turned away without the least sign of recognition.

if one expresses admiration for some article worn by another, he is quickly informed that the article is “at his disposal.” if you happen upon a mexican at the dining hour, he will probably offer you his dinner. if you decline it, the occasion requires that you should do so with polite wishes for his digestion. these forms of hospitality are derived from spanish ancestors and were by them probably copied from the moors, after the open hand and open tent customs of the sons of the desert who meant these expressions literally. it has an empty meaning now, for nothing is left but the words. with all this seeming inconsistency and insincerity, the mexicans are exceedingly kind hearted and will willingly do favours if approached in the right way; no service is too great towards those for whom they have formed an attachment. they will often accompany the departing guest for a long distance[213] over hard roads as a mark of courtesy and friendship.

we are all victims of habit more or less. but, whereas the american welcomes innovations and adapts his habits to them, or forms new ones, the mexican does not want any change from the customs of his ancestors. the expression “no es costumbre,” meaning it is not the custom, is a final and decisive answer that does not admit of argument. you might as well try to change the colour of the native as his habits. americans who keep mexican servants are for ever running contrary to the customs or prejudices of their help. for instance an american woman[2] who lived here a number of years relates the trouble she had to induce her servant to use a cook stove which she had imported from the united states. she refused because “it would give her disease of the liver.” in all seriousness she believed that such would be the result and nothing could induce her to have anything to do with the new-fangled thing. a peripatetic merchant came around selling eggs at six for a real. he refused to sell two dozen for four reals because “no es costumbre,” as eggs are always sold at six for a real, an incontrovertible argument.

making tortillas

[214]

a household will have difficulty in getting along with only one servant for it is customary to employ three or four in a small family and from twenty to forty in a large house. each servant will do his or her own particular work cheerfully and will move about so lightly and airily that you hardly know any one is around. however, ask the man mozo to scrub the floor, or the cook to make the beds, and you will see a regretful look of the eye and be met with the ready answer, “no es costumbre.” marketing is a right jealously guarded too, for es costumbre (it is the custom) and one of the perquisites of the man servant, since he receives a small fee from each person of whom purchases are made. the indian servants are not accustomed to beds and want nothing but a mat to sleep upon. the traveller can see these in the halls at the hotel if he comes in a little late. here these dusky natives sleep more soundly than do most americans on the most luxurious of beds. an american lady in oaxaca took pity on her girl servant and bought a comfortable iron bed for her to occupy. she then explained to her how the bed was used. several days later she asked the servant how she liked her bed. the girl said it was fine—to lay her clothes on. the[215] american woman finally gave up trying to change the habits of her maid. servants become very devoted to their employers and their attachment is sometimes embarrassing. in case of a death in the family they immediately don black and mourn as though the lost one was a near relative of their own.

the economy of housekeeping and especially of the kitchen, even among the rich, is remarkable. the indian or mestiza women rule here and the customs of a thousand years ago are the customs of to-day. the tortillas, cakes made of maize, are the bread of the country. for centuries these dusky women of mexico have ground the corn for their daily bread between two stones, the grains having first been soaked for several hours in a solution of lime water. this smoothed, dished-out stone is called a metate, an aztec word, and the women work for hours in beating the softened grains to a fine paste. small pieces of the dough are then worked between the hands, tossed and patted, and flattened out until very thin. after this they are thrown upon a flat, iron griddle over a charcoal fire. they are never allowed to brown and are without salt or seasoning of any kind. after becoming used to them they[216] prove very palatable and many prefer them to the ordinary corn bread.

frijoles, or beans, and generally black ones, are also invariably served and are eaten twice every day without intermission on the table of rich or poor. the chili, a pretty hot sort of pepper, is a favourite dish that had better be avoided by the americans, for the ability to relish it can only be approached by degrees. tamales are relished by the mexican and can be found for sale in almost any of the markets. i never see tamales without thinking of the description given of them by a big texan in his bread dialect, in answer to a question from me as the train was speeding across the mesquit prairies near san antonio. “you take cawn meal, some hawt (heart), livah and a little peppah and you make a tamahle, suh.”

the use of sacred names or names of great personages among these people is often astonishing. the names of porfirio diaz, juarez and hidalgo are as numerous as the george washingtons among the negroes of the south. however, when the american stumbles upon a pius fifth, st. john the evangelist or even jesus, in a dirty-face brown man clothed in rags, it seems a strange incongruity. talk with this humble bearer of a sacred name or[217] offer him a gratuity, and, as you depart, he will say, “vaya usted con dios” (go, and god be with you), in such a simple and benign manner that you almost feel as though a benediction were following you.

we are told by the early writers that the aztecs had few stores, but that nearly all the trading was done in the markets which were found in every city, or by the great merchant princes who traversed the country with their large army of burden-bearers and retainers, compelling trade as well as seeking it. it is interesting to note the description of the market in the capital in the time of cortez written by bernal diaz, one of his followers, and the historian of his expedition. he expresses his astonishment at the great crowds of people, the regularity which prevailed and the vast quantities of merchandise on display. “the articles consisted of gold, silver, jewels, feathers, mantles, chocolate, skins dressed and undressed, sandals, and great numbers of male and female slaves, some of whom were fastened by the neck, in collars, to long poles. the meat market was stocked with fowls, game and dogs. vegetables, fruits, articles of food ready dressed, salt, bread, honey and sweet pastry made in various ways, were also sold here.[218] other places in the square were appointed to the sale of earthen ware, wooden household furniture such as tables and benches, firewood, pipes, sweet canes filled with tobacco mixed with liquid amber, copper axes and working tools, and wooden vessels highly painted. numbers of women sold fish and little loaves made of a certain mud which they find in the lakes, and which resembles cheese. the entire square was enclosed in piazzas under which great quantities of grain were stored and where were also shops for various kinds of goods.”

a mexican market

this description would answer very well to-day except as to slaves and feathers. it is to be regretted that the beautiful feather work of that race is a lost art. the market of the capital is located but a short distance from the plaza and is an excellent place to study life. the outer portion is occupied by small shops covered with protecting piazzas but the central part is wholly occupied by the indian merchants. during the morning hours it is so closely packed that it is almost impossible to force one’s way through the dense throng of humanity. the native, squatted on the ground on a rush mat, with another mat suspended over him for protection from the fierce sun, and his stock in trade spread before him, is a picture[219] worth studying. many tribes are represented, as their dress indicates, as well as the products of many different zones from the cocoanut of the hot lands to the inferior pears of the cold zone. the pottery from guadalajara can be distinguished from that of guadalupe or aguas calientes by its colour and design. each piece might tell a history of an art passed down from father to son for countless generations, for the son usually follows the occupation of his father. they never think of changing method of manufacture or design. it is quite probable that the pottery seen in the market to-day is the same as that viewed by cortez. many of the vessels are curious and fantastic in form but always ornamental in decoration. when one considers that much of this pottery is made with no tools but pieces of broken glass and a horsehair, the result is a marvel. with the hair they trim the top and with the glass smooth off the rough places. the pottery market is an important one, for articles used in the kitchen and on the tables of the poorer classes are exclusively of this ware. for a small sum an entire kitchen outfit can be purchased.

there are few jewish merchants in mexico for the mexican is even more persuasive in[220] his mode of selling and his prices are fully as elastic. in purchasing native articles on different occasions i tried several dealers in order to discover whether they had a uniform bottom price. they would invariably ask at least twice as much as they were willing to accept. i found that if one would only show surprise at the price asked, the question “what will you give” would immediately follow. they were perfectly willing to get as much from you as possible but the lowest price quoted by the various dealers was almost identical. some persons have facetiously characterized mexico as the land of “no hay” (pronounced eye) because it is such a common answer in marketing and means “there is none.” in fact, the answer will always be “no hay” or “si, hay” (yes, i have).

candy boy and girl

there are many quaint and curious characters that one will find around the market place. the candy man, or, boy, moves around with noiseless tread crying his wares in a song which never varies any more than his stock, which is always the same and arranged in exactly the same way. his dulces, however, have merit and it is not necessary to change anything already good. the evangelista, or letter writer, is here with a jug of ink and pen on a[221] little table ready to write a business letter, or a billet doux flaming with passion and extravagant phrases for the unlettered lover. on the corners of the street may be seen the cobblers ready to cut and fit sandals “while you wait.” his whole stock in trade consists of a pile of scraps of sole leather and some leather thongs, while his only tool is a curved, sharp knife.

in and out of the crowd the faithful aguador, or water-carrier, winds his way bringing the refreshing water to thirsty mortals. he is not only a very necessary person in this land of little rain, but is a person of importance and knows the inner life of the household of his customers. his costume and water vessels vary in the different cities but he is the same honest character who ingeniously carries the love messages from the “bear” to his inamorata. after a morning of hard work his faithful wife brings his dinner of tortillas and frijoles to the fountain or well, and there he sits and eats his humble meal while she watches her lord and master until he has finished. later in the day, tiring of his work or feeling the burden of prosperity as his stock of copper coins increases, he resorts to the pulque-shop and there shows his contempt for the beverage[222] he has been distributing by imbibing large quantities of his favourite liquor.

perhaps in no way is the general superstition and ignorance of the indian shown to better advantage than in their ideas of disease and medicine. the curandera, usually a woman, admits having great knowledge of anatomy and chemistry, and has a pharmacop?ia all her own. the accounts given here are vouched for by a writer in modern mexico who is a native of the country, understands these people and is entitled to belief. aire (air), when introduced into the system through blows or unusually forcible sneezing, causes swellings, sore eyes and nervous tremblings. it is treated with plasters and bandages and lotions. when the alimentary canal is obstructed it is empacho, which means that undigested food has adhered to the stomach or the food has formed into balls and marbles that rattle around inside the stomach or intestines. this disease demands immediate and heroic treatment, and a drop of quicksilver swallowed at a gulp is prescribed and will generally dislodge it or kill the patient. tiricia is indicated by homesickness, melancholia or insomnia, and is caused by a subtle vapour produced by the action of the moon on the dew[223] and is absorbed through the pores. change of climate, good company and tonics are a sensible prescription. mal de ojo, or the evil eye, causes the sufferer to fade away or die of inanition, and is a common disease of children. bright attractive objects are hung up to draw away the attention of the “evil eye.” if a child is slow in talking, a diet of boiled swallows is prescribed. one writer positively asserts that blue and red beads ground fine and mixed in equal portions have been given to persons suffering with paralysis, and the sufferers survived the treatment. the curandera is also called upon to mix love potions and poisons that will cause delirium or even insanity and death.

another instance is told in the same periodical of a woman who was very sick with a disease from the effects of which she was practically helpless. a curandera had told the husband to get a white turkey and tie it in the house and his wife would get well. when the turkey had failed to cure her an old man curandero was procured, who promised to make her well if supplied with plenty of aguardiente (brandy). four dollars worth was supplied him, and four dollars will buy a great deal of poor brandy in mexico. the old man laid himself[224] down on the ground, after filling himself up with the fire-water, pounded his head and kept repeating weird incantations which could be heard a long distance away. this was continued for several days until the supply of spirits gave out. in the meantime the patient had improved somewhat and could use her arms and body as far as the waist. the shrewd old man shrugged his shoulders and said, “i have cured her as far as i can. you will have to get a curandera to complete the cure.” the poor woman soon died, because, as the husband declared, she had been bewitched.