MY FELLOW-TEA TELLER. 95 



occupants are varied with numerous brilliant colours. 

 The town is skirted by a belt of green vegetation, 

 and the high distant hills are soft and dreamy in 

 their outline. 



' We saw abundance of fruit, which our country- 

 men on such occasions would always find it safer 

 to gaze at than indulge in. Several representa- 

 tives of the military service of Mexico were walking 

 about, whose arms, accoutrements, and clothing 

 excited astonishment, if not admiration. The town 

 done I wandered off, with the vain hope of finding 

 some pretty lane or handsome homestead. 



' After traversing half a mile of sandy waste 

 difficult walking from the looseness of the material 

 the prospect became more inviting. On each side 

 of me was a high fence of prickly aloes. I was at 

 the commencement of one of the paths leading to 

 the hills. To avoid irregularities in the surface of 

 the land it was very tortuous ; and on turning 

 a corner, to my surprise I met my fair fellow- 

 traveller. With a smile of pleasure and with out- 

 stretched hand she welcomed me, saying archly, 

 " We have not here to fear the violence of Monsieur ; 

 no, he is in Acapulco, playing. As usual, the stakes 

 are very high ; but it matters not, he always pre- 

 ferred gamblers' society to mine an eccentricity of 

 taste," she added, " I am glad of." Then, turning 

 sharply to me, she exclaimed, "But you have lost 

 your tongue. Where are you going ? Possibly you 

 have business, and I am an impediment ? " 



