Tulancingo. 165 



abvove the sea ! Vie were quartered there in the house of a 

 Dr. Griftin, 



On the T2th of November we came to Huasca, which the 

 Liberals had left only an hour before our arrival. The wea- 

 ther was splendid, and v/e all were in a very good humour, fur 

 our quarters were pleasant. 



Next day we arrived at the end of our march, at Tulancin- 

 go, where the Austrian detachment ot Colonel Pollack's corps 

 came to meet us, for we were to relieve them, and they marched 

 off towards Pachuca. 



Tulancingo is quite a considerable town, and the seat of a 

 bishop, who has there a palace. The v.-hole gar-ison consisted 

 ot onlv sixteen hundred men, of whom one half were unreliable 

 Mexicans. As we expected to be attacked every day by very 

 superior forces. Colonel van der Smissen sent to I^ieutenant- 

 Colonel Pollack, requesting him to reinforce the garrison by 

 his Austrians, but all our officers were very indignant when 

 that worthy refused to come. He had had enough of tightingv 

 and wanted to go home. As the garrison was too weak to 

 undertake anything outside against the Liberals, who were in 

 force in the neighbourhood, Salm was very busy wiih fortifying 

 the open place, and taking all kinds of precautions, not only 

 against an attack from outside, but also against treachery in- 

 side, for the Mexican troops were not to be trusted at all. 



We were very agreeably quartered in the house of Mr. Gayon, 

 the Spanish Vic^-Consul, a very wealthy man, with a pretty 

 well-educated wife, who had been in Europe, and to whom 1 be- 

 came quite attached. 



The country is very fine, and the mountain near tempted us 

 to make excursions ; but as the Liberals were always on the 

 look-out we did not venture far, and amused ourselves as well 

 as we could in the town, which had a nice theatre. 



As it is the fashion there to dance every night during the 

 two weeks preceding Christmas, we had quite a lively time. 

 These tertullas always .take place at the same private house, 

 designated that year for that purpose. The entertainment of 

 the guests falls, however, to the charges of all the ladies, taking 

 part alternately, so that every night a different lady performs 

 the duties of hostess. 



Carpets are not usual in private houses, but people there 

 imagine that thev cannot dance on the bare floor, and for :i 

 ball or tertulla carpets are hired. 



