of unleavened bread. These tortillas were patted out until they were
as large as a dinner plate, and very thin; then thrown onto the
hot sheet-iron, where they baked. Each one of the family then got a
tortilla, the spoonful of beans was laid upon it, and so they managed
without the paraphernalia of silver and china and napery.

How I envied them the simplicity of their lives! Besides, the tortillas
were delicious to eat, and as for the frijoles, they were beyond
anything I had ever eaten in the shape of beans. I took lessons in the
making of tortillas. A woman was paid to come and teach me; but I never
mastered the art. It is in the blood of the Mexican, and a girl begins
at a very early age to make the tortilla. It is the most graceful thing
to see a pretty Mexican toss the wafer-like disc over her bare arm, and
pat it out until transparent.

This was their supper; for, like nearly all people in the tropics, they
ate only twice a day. Their fare was varied sometimes by a little carni
seca, pounded up and stewed with chile verde or chile colorado.

Now if you could hear the soft, exquisite, affectionate drawl with which
the Mexican woman says chile verde you could perhaps come to realize
what an important part the delicious green pepper plays in the cookery
of these countries. They do not use it in its raw state, but generally
roast it whole, stripping off the thin skin and throwing away the seeds,
leaving only the pulp, which acquires a fine flavor by having been
roasted or toasted over the hot coals.

The women were scrupulously clean and modest, and always wore, when in
their casa, a low-necked and short-sleeved white linen camisa, fitting
neatly, with bands around neck and arms. Over this they wore a calico
skirt; always white stockings and black slippers. When they ventured
out, the younger women put on muslin gowns, and carried parasols. The
older women wore a linen towel thrown over their heads, or, in cool
weather, the black riboso. I often cried: "Oh! if I could only dress as
the Mexicans do! Their necks and arms do look so cool and clean."

I have always been sorry I did not adopt their fashion of house apparel.
Instead of that, I yielded to the prejudices of my conservative partner,
and sweltered during the day in high-necked and long-sleeved white
dresses, kept up the table in American fashion, ate American food in
so far as we could get it, and all at the expense of strength; for our
soldier cooks, wh