Life in Mexico | Page 7

introduction to the public.
WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT.
Boston, December 20, 1842.

GLOSSARY
OF
SPANISH OR MEXICAN WORDS WHICH OCCUR IN THE COURSE OF THE WORK, WHICH ARE GENERALLY EXPLAINED WHEN FIRST USED, BUT WHICH BEING REPEATED, THE READER MIGHT FORGET AND WISH TO REFER TO.
_Administrador_-Agent. _Alameda_-Public walk with trees. _Aquador_-Water-carrier. _Alacran_-Scorpion. _Anquera_-Coating of stamped gilt leather, edged with little bells, which covers the back of the horses. _Arriero_-Muleteer. _Arroba_-Spanish weight of twenty-five pounds. _Azotea_-The flat roof of a house. _Barranca_-Ravine. _Botica_-Apothecary's shop. _Calle_-Street. _Cargadores_-Men who carry loads. _Chinguirito_-Spirit made from sugar-cane. _Chile_-Hot peppers. _Compadre and Comadre_-Godfather and Godmother; names by which two persons address each other, who have held the same child at the baptismal font, or have been sponsors together at a marriage, etc. _Canonigo_-Canon or prebendary. _Comicos_-Actors. _Camarista_-Lady of honour. _día de Anos_-Birthday. _Dulces_-Sweetmeats. _Díario_-Daily newspapers. _Frisones_-Large horses from the north. _Función_-Solemnity-festival. _Frijoles_-Brown beans. _Galopina_-Kitchen-girl. _Garbanzos_-Chick-peas Cicer Arietinum. _Gachupin_-Name given to the Spaniards in Mejico. _Garita_-City-gate. _Goleta_-Schooner. _Gentuza_-Rabble. _Honras_-Funeral honours. _Hacienda_-Country-place. _Ingenio de Azucar_-Sugar plantation. _Invalidos--Disabled soldiers. _Jarro_--Earthen jar. _Ladrones_--Robbers. _Léperos_--Beggars, low persons. _Litera_--Litter. _Monte Pio_--Office where money is lent on security. _Mezcal_--Brandy distilled from pulque. _Manga_--Cloak made of cloth, with a hole in the middle for putting the head through. _Novios_--Betrothed persons. _Nuestro Amo_--Our Master, used in speaking of the Host. _Ojo de Agua_--Spring of water. _Portales_--Covered portico supported by columns. _Pulqueria_--Shop where pulque is sold. _Paseo_--Public walk. _Paso_--Pace, pacing. _Padrino_--Godfather. _Plaza_--Square. _Patio_--Courtyard. _Petate_--Matting. _Poblana_--Woman of Puebla. _Pronunciamiento_--A revolution in Mexico. _Pronunciados_--Those who revolt. _Rancho_--A farm. _Ranchero_--Farmer. _Rebozo_--A scarf that goes over the head. _Reja_--Iron grate. _Sopilote_--Species of carrion vulture. _Sarape_--A woollen blanket more or less fine, with a hole for the head to go through. _Traspaso_--Conveyance, transfer. _Tilma_--Indian cloak. _Tierra caliente_--The hot land. _Tertulia_--An evening party. _Toreador_--Bull-fighter. _Tortilla_--Species of thin cake. _Tortillera_--Woman who bakes tortillas. _Vaca_--Joint stock in gambling. _Vomito_--Name given to the yellow fever. _Venta_--Inn.

LIFE IN MEXICO

LETTER THE FIRST
Departure of the Norma--Last look of New York Bay--Fellow-passengers --Contrary Winds--Deceitful Appearances--Sunset in Southern Latitudes --Seas passed over by Columbus--Varied Occupations on Shipboard--Berry Islands--Bahama Banks--Evening in a Tropical Sea--L. E. L.--Pan of Matanzas--Morro Castle--Bay of Havana--Arrival--Handsome House in Havana--Sights and Sounds.

PACKET SHIP "NORMA,"
Oct. 27th, 1839.
This morning, at ten o'clock, we stepped on board the steamboat Hercules, destined to convey us to our packet with its musical name. The day was foggy and gloomy, as if refusing to be comforted, even by an occasional smile from the sun. All prognosticated that the Norma would not sail to-day, but "where there's a will," etc. Several of our friends accompanied us to the wharf; the Russian Minister, the Minister of Buenos Ayres, Mr. -----, who tried hard to look sentimental, and even brought tears into his eyes by some curious process; Judge -----, Mr. -----, and others, from whom we were truly sorry to part.
The Norma was anchored in one of the most beautiful points of the bay, and the steamboat towed us five miles, until we had passed the Narrows. The wind was contrary, but the day began to clear up, and the sun to scatter the watery clouds.
Still there is nothing so sad as a retreating view. It is as if time were visibly in motion; and as here we had to part from -----, we could only distinguish, as through a misty veil, the beauties of the bay; the shores covered to the water's edge with trees rich in their autumnal colouring; the white houses on Staten Island--the whole gradually growing fainter, till, like a dream, they faded away.
The pilot has left us, breaking our last link with the land. We still see the mountains of Neversink, and the lighthouse of Sandy Hook. The sun is setting, and in a few minutes we must take our leave, probably for years, of places long familiar to us.
Our fellow-passengers do not appear very remarkable. There is Madame A----, returning from being prima donna in Mexico, in a packet called after the opera in which she was there a favourite, with her husband Se?or V---- and her child. There is M. B---- with moustaches like a bird's nest; a pretty widow in deep affliction, at least in deep mourning; a maiden lady going out as a governess, and every variety of Spaniard and Havanero. So now we are alone, C---n and I, and my French femme-de-chambre, with her air of Dowager Duchess, and moreover sea-sick.
28th.--When I said I liked a sea life, I did not mean to be understood as liking a merchant ship, with an airless cabin, and with every variety of disagreeable odour. As a French woman on board, with the air of an afflicted porpoise, and with more truth than elegance, expresses it: "Tout devient puant, même l'eau-de-cologne."
The wind is still contrary, and the Norma, beating up and down, makes but little way. We have gone seventy-four miles, and of these advanced