ISTHMUS OF TEHUANTEPEC 147 



two different street. Comodios and well ventiloted." Moreover, with the 

 true, up-to-date hotel spirit, he has the following card in each room: 



"The proprietors of this hotel are only responsable of lost of valu- 

 able objects or money when delivered to themselves by passengers." 



He handled the English language well, and knew it, and had a pro- 

 found pity for a physician nearby who put out the sign "Englische 

 Espoken." This hotel man was well worth the journey to Mexico to 

 meet. He is bv birth a Frenchman, who came over with Maximilian, 



DEL CORTE. LABORERS CAMP AND CLEARING. 



and after that unfortunate ruler lost his head, elected never to return. 

 He is very short, alert, and the picture of vigorous old age. Occasionally 

 he gets a bit overstimulated, and then puts on an immense pair of 

 cavalry boots, and strides about the place, giving orders in a thunderous 

 voice, and entertaining his guests with reminiscences of European wars, 

 that are full of thrill, dash, imagination, and doubtless some facts. 



The hotel was a large, rambling, one-story affair, with tiled floors and 

 small, cell like rooms opening out on an inner court that contained both 

 dining room and kitchen. The bed rooms contained two folding canvas 

 cots, each of which had one sheet, one red blanket, and one little striped 

 pillow that was as hard as if stuffed with shot. There were also two 

 chairs, a table, and a wash bowl and pitcher of agate ware. The one 



