My Little Burro

Next to the ox that pulls his plow, the Mexican peon's most valued possession is his wistful little burro. Last week, the sturdy little beast that carries the nation's backland freight, causes many of its automobile accidents, adorns its literature and enriches its profanity, supplied the theme for the song leading Mexico's hit parade. It was called My Little Burro Doesn't Want to Go, and it was written by a young man named Ventura Romero who had never ridden a burro in his life.

In the rhythmic patter of a burro's feet, mariachis (street singers), gathered around cafe tables, tell the story.

I've got to go to Chimuchu

And my burro's very mad,

Nightclub singers continued it,

Because he didn't get alfalfa,

Because he didn't get his corn.

And even the peon himself, jolting along on the burro's poop deck, muttered,

He goes a few steps forward

And takes a few steps back.

Forward or backward, everyone admitted that the burro had come a long way since Friar Juan Zumarraga (who converted the Aztecs to Christianity) brought the first pair from Spain 400 years ago. At the start, the burro served as replacement for the Indian runners who daily brought fresh fish from the coast to the rulers in Mexico City. Later, it carried the silver & gold of Mexico's mines. Now, 1,325,000-strong, Mexico's burro force still brings huge loads of charcoal down from the hills, jugs of pulque from farms to railheads, drags great beams into Mexico City. Often as not, after a Saturday night, the burro carries home a bleary-eyed master who these days bawls drunkenly:

Do not make me angry now,

For soon we will arrive

And I will give you corn.

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