Character of Mexican cities--Value of Mexican civilisation--Types of Mexican architecture--Mexican homes and buildings--The _Plaza_--Social relations of classes--The City of Mexico--Valley of Mexico--Latitude, elevation, and temperature--Buildings--Bird's-eye view--The lakes-- Drainage works--Viga canal and floating gardens--General description-- The cathedral--Art treasures--Religious orders--Chapultepec--Pasco de la Reforma--The President--Description of a bull-fight--Country homes and suburbs--Colleges, clubs, literary institutions--Churches and public buildings--Army and Navy--Cost of living--Police--Lighting and tramways--Canadian enterprise--British commercial relations--The American--United States influence--A general impression of Mexico. CHAPTER XI MEXICAN LIFE AND TRAVEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 Travel and description--Mexican cities--Guadalajara--Lake Chapala-- Falls of Juanacatlan--The Pacific slope--Colima--Puebla--Cities of the Great Plateau--Guanajuato--Chihuahua--The Apaches--The _peones_-- Comparison with Americans--_Peon_ labour system--Mode of living--Houses of the _peon_ class--Diet--_Tortillas_ and _frijoles_--Chilli-- _Pulque_--Habits of the _peon_ class--Their religion--The wayside crosses and their tragedies--Ruthless political executions--The fallen cross--Similarity to Bible scenes--_Peon_ superstitions--The ignis fatuus, or _relacion_--Caves and buried treasure--Prehistoric Mexican religion--The Teocallis--Comparison with modern religious systems-- Philosophical considerations. CHAPTER XII MEXICAN LIFE AND TRAVEL (_continued_) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 Anthropogeographical conditions--The Great Plateau--The tropical belt-- Primitive villages--Incidents of travel on the plateau--Lack of water-- Hydrographic conditions--Venomous vermin--Travel by roads and _diligencias_--A journey with a priest--Courtesy of the _peon_ class-- The curse of alcohol--The dress of the working classes--The women of the _peon_ class--Dexterity of the natives--The bull-fights--A narrow escape--Mexican horse equipment--The _vaquero_ and the lasso--Native sports--A challenge to a duel--Foreigners in Mexico--Unexplored Guerrero--Sporting conditions--Camp life--A day's hunting. CHAPTER XIII MINERAL WEALTH. ROMANCE AND ACTUALITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255