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for the hunters to bring in the rats alive in sacks after breaking the [[strikethrough]] two lower [[/strikethrough]] front teeth in the lower jaws so to prevent [[strikethrough]] its gnawing at [[/strikethrough]] them from gnawing their way out. These rats are killed & dressed at the market, and the women hold them up & praise the whiteness of their flesh to the passers to draw customers. The game sells rapidly & is usually gone by 9 o'clock.

Passing back & forth at short intervals are the water-carriers with huge wheel-barrows bearing 4 large, curiously-shaped water jars 

Back & forth among all this is a constantly changing crowd in a variety of picturesque costume with hundreds of half-clad wretches whose tattered apologies for garments show the effect of the last three years of famine & drought.

The prevailing misery among the people has caused a host of beggars of all ages & sexes to congregate in San Luis & they importune one constantly upon the streets day & night.

Owing to the excellent police system, however, robbery or other crimes of violence are very rare here despite the pressing poverty.