Juigalpa 123 
better look at us, others with their backs arched like cats, 
were amusing. Though quite ready to run away, they stood 
all: quite still, watching us, and looked as if they had been 
grouped for a photograph. A few steps towards them sent 
them scampering off, barking as they went. 
Soon after this, I got severely stung by a number of small 
wasps, whose nest I had disturbed in passing under some 
bushes. About thirty were upon me, but I got off with 
about half-a-dozen stings, as I managed to kill the rest as 
they made their way through the hair of my head and beard, 
for these wasps, having generally to do with animals covered 
with hair, do not fly at the open face, but at the hair of the 
head, and push down through it to the skin before they 
sting. On this and on another occasion on which I was 
attacked by them, I had not a single sting on the exposed 
portions of my face, although my hands were stung in killing 
them in my hair. It is curious to note that the large black 
wasp that makes its nest under the verandahs of houses and 
eaves of huts, and has had to deal with man as his principal 
foe, flies directly at the face when molested. 
Without further adventure we reached Juigalpa at dusk, 
and took up our quarters not far from the plaza, in a house 
where one large room was set apart for the accommodation 
of travellers. We found we should have to stay for a couple 
of days before our business was concluded; and whilst wait- 
ing for some law papers to be made out, I determined to try 
to see some of the Indian antiquities in the neighbourhood. 
We had hard leather stretchers to sleep on, the use of 
mattresses being almost unknown. 
Next morning I was up at daylight, and, after getting a 
cup of coffee and milk, started off on horseback on the lower 
road towards Acoyapo. This led over undulating savannahs, 
with grass and jicara trees, and small clumps of low trees 
and shrubs on stony hillocks. Wild pigeons were very 
numerous, and their cooings were incessant. On the rocky 
spots grew spiny cactuses, with flattened pear-shaped joints 
and scarlet fruit. I reached the Juigalpa river about two 
miles below the town. Near the crossing it ran between 
shelving rocky banks, with here and there still reaches and 
pebbly shores. Shady trees overhung the clear water; and 
behind were myrtle-leaved shrubs and grassy openings 
