NIGHT AT A POSADA. 63 



ing our way over a wild, barren region, either winding 

 through rugged defiles, or mounting by circuitous paths 

 the ranges of the Cordilleras. The trail at one time 

 would lead down abrupt descents into deep and almost 

 inextricable ravines, not unfrequently between cliifs near- 

 ly closing above us, over ranges, furrowed deeply by 

 torrents, and so precipitous and slippery that our animal 

 could mount them only as he was lifted almost bodily up 

 the heights. After a day of wearisome climbing we 

 reached by 5 r. m. a posada, whose inviting apj^earance, 

 added to the uncertainty of finding another stopping- 

 place Avithin a convenient distance, induced us to make 

 this the terminus of our day's journey. Dinner being im- 

 mediately called for, was promised ^:)ro7i^o (quickly), which 

 meant any time before next morning. A familiar cry, 

 heard soon alter, prognosticating evil to a feathered 

 gamester, was suggestive of good things coming. For 

 three mortal hours, however, we waited for further de- 

 velopments, when at length came the summons, Venga d 

 coiner. Turning to the farther corner of the apartment, 

 where we had been reclining in our hammocks, the faint 

 glimmering of a light from a bit of rag burning in a cup 

 of fat revealed to us, upon a table spread with a dirty 

 cloth, the disjointed members of a half-cooked fowl, 

 which, judging from its toughness, must have enjoyed 

 the walks of life for a much longer period of years than 

 usually falls to the lot of his race. In addition, there 

 were three calabashes of soup to be eaten by means of 

 pieces of broken crockery used as spoons. 



In the morning, after the customary calabash of coffee, 

 we resumed our journey, winding along giddy heights, 

 where a traveller's sense of insecurity is not lessened by 

 the momentary prospect of meeting, at any turn of his 

 path, scarcely wide enough for his beast to tread, loaded 

 animals going in the opposite direction, which, rushing 



