Mexico, unlike other Cordilleran countries, lends itself to travel in certain directions by means of roads and vehicles. The _diligencias_ which give communication from remote places to the wayside stations of the railways, where the nature of the topography admits of roads for wheeled vehicles, are canvas-topped carriages drawn by half a dozen mules. Over the dusty plains of the tableland and through the rugged scenery of hill-passes these somewhat crazy vehicles perform their journeys, starting often before sunrise and arriving after sunset in order to accomplish their toilsome trajectory. Jolting over the ruts and _arroyos_ of the scarcely-tended "roads"--if by courtesy they may be termed such--and baked by the sun blazing upon the carriage-hood, the traveller would often prefer to exchange his uncomfortable seat for that of the saddle. Often a more agreeable method is by alternating these methods. [Illustration: LIFE AND TRAVEL IN MEXICO: MULES, PEON, AND CACTUS.] I journeyed, on one occasion, with a _padre_, or village priest; not, however, in a public _diligencia_, but in a vehicle of similar nature which I had chartered to convey me to a distant point. As I was starting some Mexican friends of a neighbouring _hacienda_ approached the vehicle, accompanied by a stout _padre_. "Would I do them and the _padre_ the great favour of taking the latter in my coach, which would save the worthy representative of the Church a long, hot ride?" they asked. "Of course I would; nothing would afford me greater pleasure," I replied, although in strict truth this was an expression of courtesy rather than of actual fact, for the _padre_ looked very heavy, and I had desired to journey rapidly without a change of mules. The reverend gentleman was of a type commonly met with in Spanish-America, of little education and predominant native physiognomy, but jovial withal. A basket containing good and liberal provisions to sustain the _padre_ upon his arduous journey was put into the coach by his friends, and simultaneously put at my service, as a matter of course. From the covering of the basket protruded the tops of various bottles of wine and beer, which my travelling companion eyed with satisfaction, and indeed before we started he insisted upon opening one--of cognac--and giving us a _copa_ all round. This habit of drinking brandy in the early morning is a common one in Latin America--it is said to ward off malaria!--but is not an acceptable one to the temperate Briton.