Ch XIV.] THE CAPITAL OF SEGOYIA. 255 



square leagues. Over each of these there is an alcalde, 

 living in the small central town, and elected bv the in- 



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habitants of the townships. The boundaries are marked 

 by heaps of stones surmounted by wooden crosses, set up 

 on the roads leading from one town to another. 



After riding a few more leagues over rocky hills with 

 scanty vegetation, we came in sight, from the top of one 

 of the ranges, of the town of Ocotal, the capital of 

 Segovia, with its white walls and red-tiled roofs. De- 



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rcending a long rocky slope we forded one of the affluents 

 of the Rio Wanks, and half a mile further arrived at 

 the town, situated on a low dry plain. A heavy thunder- 

 storm broke over us as we entered the town, and the rain 

 came down in torrents whilst we were searching for a 

 house to put up at. In answer to our enquiries we were 

 directed to the best house in the town. It was- situated 

 at the corner of the plaza, had lofty well-built walls, 

 large doors and gateway, clean tiled floors, and in the 

 courtyard behind a pretty flower garden, with a tank to 

 hold rain water. We were received by two elderly 

 ladies, the sisters of the owner Don Pedro, who made us 

 welcome in a stately sort of way, and got some dinner 

 prepared, consisting of beans, tortillas, avocados, and 

 coffee. 



"YVe learnt that the present town was about seventy 

 years old and not very flourishing, as the land around 

 was dry and sterile. The old capital of Segovia was 

 situated five leagues further down the river, where the 

 land around was fertile. But the buccaneers came up 

 the river in their boats and sacked the town, and the site 

 was deserted for one more difficult of access, the river 

 being much shallower and obstructed by rapids higher 



