CHAPTEE XVIII. 



WILD DAHUAS — A PAINFUL MISADVENTURE— THE EUPHORBIA PLANTS 

 — THE "WASHER RACOON — SURPRISED BY A TORRENT — L'eNCUERADO 

 TURNED HATMAKBR — NEW METHOD FOR DRIVING OUT EVIL SPIRITS 

 — THE ANHINGA. 



J HE next day, which was the nineteenth since our de- 

 parture from Orizava, we examined and compared our 

 compasses, and the course of our journey was changed. 

 Hitherto we had proceeded in a north-easterly direction, skirting 

 the provinces of Puebla and Vera Cruz, but still without leav- 

 ing the Cordilleras, the numerous valleys and forests of which are 

 still unexplored. According to my calculations, and also those 

 of Sumichrast, we were then abreast with the province of Mexico, 

 and we agreed to move westward, as if going towards its capital. 



