HOMES ON THE RIO GRANDE.
The Mexican Indian huts in the villages and upon the ranches of thelower Rio Grande border region of Texas have a style of architectureand construction that is distinctly their own. This type of primitivebuildings is rapidly passing out of existence. Modern structures aretaking their places. At many places on the border families of Mexicanshave abandoned their jacals and moved into more pretentious homes.
One thing that recommended the old style of residence to the poorerMexicans was its cheapness of construction. No money outlay isnecessary in erecting the picturesque structures, neither is aknowledge of carpentry needed. A double row of upright poles firmly setor driven into the ground forms the framework for the walls. Betweenthese two rows of poles are placed other poles or sticks of shorterlength, forming a thick and compact wall. At each of the four cornersof the building posts are set, reaching to a height of about eightfeet. Roughly hewn stringers are laid from one post to another and tothese stringers are tied the other poles that form the framework of thewalls. The strong fibre from the maguey plant or strips of buckskinare used to tie the poles into position. The rafters are tied to theridgepole and stringers in the same manner. At one end of the buildingis built the opening through which the smoke of the inside fire mayascend. Stoves are unknown among these Mexicans and the cooking is alldone upon the ground.
When the rafters are in position the thatched roof is put on. Palmleaves form the most satisfactory roof, both as to durability andeffectiveness in shedding the rain, but owing to the scarcity of thismaterial on the Texas side of the international boundary stream,grasses and the leaves of plants are used for the purpose. The roofingmaterial is tied to the rafters in layers. Some of the Mexican housebuilders exercise great ingenuity in putting on the thatched roofs.
The only opening in most of these Mexican jacals is the door whichextends from the ground to the roof. The floor is the bare earth. Theventilation is obtained through the crude chimney opening. The dooritself is seldom closed. The Mexican Indian is usually a man of largefamily. A one-room house accommodates all. Perhaps several dogs anda pig or two may share the comforts of the room with them on cool ordisagreeable nights.