THE MULE ROAD AND GUADUAS. 



97 



which was paved with small brown and hlack cobblestones arranged 

 in a very gracefnl arabesque pattern. This opened into the first 

 court, whence a staircase led up to the second floor. All of the 

 back rooms on the lower floor were used as storerooms and stables, 

 and above were the bedrooms. The dining-room was in the portion 

 separating the two courts. It was with a sensation of great relief 

 that we rode in through the passageway and dismounted. Upon 



OUR HOTEL AT fiUADUAS. FROM THE PLAZA. 



asking for the proprietor, we found that he and his wife had gone 

 oft' to take a bath in some stream near the town, and they did not 

 return until towards sundown. There was an entire lack of system 

 and order in the house, and things seemed just to run themselves, 

 but after a while we managed to get some rooms, and in about an 

 hour and a half we had some eggs and coffee. Our rooms were 

 perfectly plain, and with no other furniture than canvas cots. After 

 trying to rest awhile, Cabell and I went out for a short walk to look 

 around. We saw a good many birds, flycatchers, swallows, turkey- 



