trial condition constitutes one more of the numerous illustrations, drawn from the world's experience, of the proverb, that "mankind in general are about as lazy and inefficient as they dare to be." It is also interesting to note, in connection with this subject, that a general complaint exists in Mexico of the scarcity and dearness of labor. Thus, the "Mexican Financier," in a recent article, says:
"It is idle to hope for profitable culture in this country while labor is both scarce and dear, thus compelling the planters to look to Asia for cheap labor.
can at least equal them in this respect. A ball of maize paste, or masa half as large as a man's head, and a gourd of water, give him the chief part of his daily sustenance. When hunger presses, he detaches a portion of the paste, puts it in his ever-ready jicara or calabash-bowl, half filled with water, and with his not too clean fingers stirs it rapidly about until the milky pojol results, and is rapidly disposed of. Hot gruel of maize paste, or ortolle forms his morning meal; the cool pojol his noonday sustenance and a refreshing beverage between times. Sometimes after dusk, and when all work is over, he partakes of tortillas (thin cakes of maize) and an occasional chile or green pepper. When frijoles (the black beans of the country) or a small portion of cheap meat is added, he sits down to a sumptuous repast. Fruit costs him but the picking. The chile and calabazas cost him but little more. Thus it can be seen that the Yucatecan labrador is not an expensive creature to feed. Earning twenty-odd cents a day, and having a portion of that deducted by the planter in payment of the ever-present debt, a labrador can provide the coming week's provisions for his family and still have sufficient funds left to 'take a rest' all day Sunday and the following night. Getting stupidly intoxicated with anis or aguardiente they politely term 'taking a rest,' and often during a prolonged debauch many do indeed take their final rest."—Report by United States Consul Thompson, Merida, Yucatan, 1885.
