Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

A MEXICAN FANDANGO, 63
mistake of one of our volunteers, who gravely insisted with
his comrades that these swimmers were dressed in c" yallar
buckskin tights."
Some of these borderers were quite friendly, and often
hailed our boat, desiring to sell chickens, eggs, melons, and
milk. With the view of obtaining supplies of these rare delicacies, we generally stopped at dark in the vicinity of a
rancho; though, sometimes, we were compelled to I" tie up
at places where, apparently, the foot of man had never trod.
Near one of the landing places between Matamoros and Reynosa, our soldiers had an opportunity of witnessing that novel
scene of revelry-afandango. Such social assemblies are of
frequent occurrence, and afford the common people their chief
amusement. A smooth, well-beaten circle in the open air is
generally the sclle de de nse on these festive occasions. This
is illuminated with torches, and surrounded by tables for
gaming, to which the Mexicans seem passionately addicted.
There are tables also for the sale of the vile liquors, and other
products of the country, which are pleasantly termed refreshments. A swarthy and sweating crowd, of both sexes, engaged
in waltzing, gambling, smoking, drinking, etc., I understand
to be afandango.
One night our boat was moored near a solitary hut, in
which dwelt an old Mexican fiddler. As soon as the musical
talents of its occupant were discovered, the men sought permission to spend the evening ashore, for the purpose of enjoying, what is termed in our western parlance, " a stag
dance." Accordingly, the whole detachment landed-except
the sick, and a few elderly men who had no taste for such