The Gold-S.ekers.
Curious, fickle, cowardly, rash, distrustful, cruel,-and superstitious—such is t.,«
Mexican.
Ltt it not be supposed that we speak thus through a hatred of a people, among
whom we lived so long; on the contrary, we love the Mexicans, we pity them we
Should like to see them regard seriously their position, as a free nation, and behave
as men ; but we repeat it, they are terrible, stormy, and obstinate cbildien, from whom
no good can be derived, we are honestly afiaid.
One of the manias of this people is to attract, by the most handsome promises,
fallacious offers, and most friendly demonstrations, those strangers whom they rancv
may prove useful in any way. They leceive these foreigners with open aims, weep
with joy while embracing them, offer ttiem the most tendcily fiaternal care ses, and
give them more than they ever ventured to ask. Then one fine day, without any
reason, motive, or slightest pretext, thev change from white to black, begin hating
with their whole soul the foitigncrs they have so greatly petted, insult and betray
them lay snares for them, and eventually llltreat or assassinate them, and that, too,
while offering them a hand, and smiling on them.
If we wished to recriminate, ho* many names could we quote, how many shades
would it be easy for us to evoke in support of our statements, without counting the
noble and unfortunate De Raousset Boulbon, and the impetuous and genorous
Lapuillade, victims offered in a cowardly way to that hideous Mexican prejudice—a
prejudice which is the basis of the policy of this unlucky people, and which will ruin
j,__not through a hatred of the foreign r, for that is a noble and national feeling, but
thiough a hatred of Europeans, whom they despair of ever equalling, and to whom,
in their ignorance and carelessness, they feel a mortal jealousy and envy.
ltisividtnt that duting the ten years' stiuggle Mexico had to sustain against
Spain, ihe former country pioduced grand ami noble characters; but it seems that,
exhausted by that gigantic effort, it was incapable of casting others like them into
the crucible, tor since the firsr hour of its liberty to the prcsenr day, it has not pro-
dcr-td a single man worthy of walking, even at a distance, in the footsteps of the
illustrious founders of its independence.
This is very sad to say ; and yet, if we passed it over in silence, we might be
reproached for not stating the truth, and for recoiling from the task we impose I on
ourselves in writing this story, in which we have merely changed the names through
a feeling that will be appieciated.
The arrival of the French company, however, was anxiously expected ..i Guaymas.
The most absurd and contradictory repoits were sptead about it, its ci.itf, and the
object ot the expedition; and as is gencrauy the rule, the most absutd lumours
obtained the greatest and firmest credence. Even betore ihe arrival of the French,
nidevolcnce was watching in the shade, and seeking daikly to arouse the ill-will of
the populati n against the ne* arrivals.
What Colonel Florès stated in his conversation with Don Antonio Pavo was
perfectly correct. Hardly had the organisation of the Atravida company been
completed in San Francisco, ere two American houses, perfectly comprehend-
ing the advantages of this enterprise in wliich they were not allowed to join, for
reasons we will be silent about for their credit, treacherously established a rival
company, intended to impede the operations of the elder company by all means,
even the most dishonest.
Hatred never slumbers. The affair went on rapidly, so rapidly that the
secondary company had all its batteries prepared for effective ac'ion before the
French had quitted San Francisco. This operation was managed with sucii
Machiavellism, and the secret was so well kept, that the count, in spite of his
extensive relations, suspected nothing, and embarked for Sonora with his heart
full of hope and illusion*.