34 A NATURALIST IN MEXICO. 



Early on the morning of the 10th, we packed up our 

 specimens and left the Colonel's camp for Merida; the 

 Colonel and Mrs. Glenn accompanied us. From Merida 

 we took the Feri-o cari'il de Mei'ida e^ Calkini for Santa Cruz, 

 situated in the nortwestern part of Yucatan. Here we were 

 met by three volans which conveyed us to the hacienda of 

 Senor Escalente, where we expected to add very largely to 

 our collections, and also to visit a famous limestone cave. 



Our nine mile ride was most interesting. The drivers 

 whipped the mules into a gallop, and kept it up throughout 

 the entire journey. To urge the mules he uttered the words 

 *' moola, moola!" at the same time clucking loudly \a ith 

 his lips. As we approached the hacienda, cultivated fields 

 of henequen appeared on either side, stretching away in the 

 distance as far as the eye could reach A turn in the road 

 brought us in sight of the hacienda, and with a rush we 

 galloped through the open gatev/ay into the courtyard, and 

 drew up at the foot of a broad flight of steps. This was 

 one of the finest estates in Yucatan, employing several 

 hundred natives about the place. In addition to the haci- 

 enda building there were huts, cattle-yards, and a church 

 enclosed by a high stone wall. Here were native men and 

 women passing to and fro through the court, each busy with 

 his or her daily task. The henequen machines were busy 

 preparing the henequen for shipment, and everything 

 had an air of business which was quite new to us. 



The major-domo received us, Senor Escalente being 

 ill, and extended to us the hospitalities of the house. In 

 a short time a savory supper was prepared, to which we did 

 full justice. At sunset we heard the bells of the chapel 

 sounding the oracion, or evening prayer, and the natives 

 gathered around with uncovered heads. When it was 

 finished, they gave us, and each other, the salutation of 

 ^' Bucnas noches" before retiring. This was a beautiful 



