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PICTURES OF LIFE IN MEXICO.
CHAPTER II.
A MESON; OR BOARDING HOTEL.
A traveller's greeting on entering the city of Mexico.—Narrow escape.—Lassoing.—Apathy of the authorities.—Suburb of San Lazaro.—A shocking sight.—"The Hotel of the Blood of Christ".—The host's welcome.—Don Concho.—A meson, or boarding-house.—A "spare room" and its contents.—A swarm of beggars.—The public room.—Dancing girls and other visitors.—The Fonda.—Mexican cookery.—Tortilla cakes.—Adventure of an Indian beggar.
Entering the city of Mexico by the Puerto de San Lazaro (gate of St. Lazarus), with my moso, I was startled by cries of "Stop Señor—the lasso—take care! Madre di Dios! he is upon you." "The lasso! To the left—Holy Virgin—stay!"
I had just time to wheel round the pony I was leadings when swift footsteps approached from behind, a sound as of rustling whipcord rushed past my ear, something appeared to hover for an instant over my right hand, and a wild and crouching figure on horseback thun-
