EXPEKIENCE AT A POSADA. 23 



studies. A more hopeful student under such adverse cir- 

 cumstances we have seldom met with. 



From the long time which had intervened since our 

 order for dinner, we began to apprehend that, perhaps, 

 our host had forgotten the wishes of his hungry guest ; 

 but, upon inquiry, we were comforted with the assurance 

 that it would be ready luego. Another hour of waiting, 

 and again we seek the cause. " Paciencia, senores, 

 luego ; " but that was long since exhausted. A traveller 

 in this country will have abundant opportunity to exercise 

 his paciencia^ for luego and 7nanana, presently and to-mor- 

 row, are words in frequent requisition among the Span- 

 iards, and are used in their broadest signification. Never 

 punctual, never in a hurry, are prominent characteristics 

 of this people. The meal was finally announced. In a 

 small room, upon a small table, was the food, which had 

 cost them so much labor and us so miich patience. We 

 allow that the best had evidently been done to meet our 

 wants, but confess that we formed no very high opinion 

 of the ability displayed in the prej^aration of the meal. 



Early the following morning, having jjassed the night 

 in unsuccessful efibrts to jirotect ourselves from the per- 

 sistent attacks of fleas, we gave a consideration of throe 

 dollars, for the annoyance and suffering we had endured, 

 and, taking our guide, started for the Cave of Encantado. 

 Our road was simply a narrow foot-path, which led around 

 the base of densely-wooded hills, and then over a moun- 

 tain-range, the summit of which we reached just as the 

 sun was appearing over the top of Silla. We shall not soon 

 forget that glorious prospect. Clouds, with their upper 

 surface brilliant with the rising sun, filled the valleys 

 beneath us, while, piercing this sea of mist, the cragged 

 peaks of Silla rose majestically above the lower mountains, 

 which here and there scarcely pushed their summits above 

 the surface of the vapor-ocean. From the mountain we 



