CHAPTER XVIII. 



WILD DAHLIAS. A PAINFUL MISADVENTURE. THE EUPHOR- 

 BIA PLANTS. THE WASHER RACCOON. SURPRISED BY A 



TORRENT. L'ENCUERADO TURNED HAT-MAKER. NEW 



METHOD FOR DRIVING OUT EVIL SPIRITS. THE ANHINGA. 



THE next day, which was the nineteenth since our de- 

 parture from Orizava, we examined and compared our 

 compasses, and the course of our journey was changed. 

 Hitherto we had proceeded in a north-easterly direction, 

 skirting the provinces of Puebla and Vera Cruz, but still 

 without leaving the Cordilleras, the numerous valleys and 

 forests of which are still unexplored. According to my 

 calculations, and also those of Sumichrast, we were then 

 abreast with the province of Mexico, and we agreed to move 

 westward, as if going towards its capital. 



