222 



REACH A I AZENDA. 



began to paw, and attempted to press forwards 

 to drink. We had brought no vessel with which 

 to take up any of it, and were under the neces- 

 sity of using our hats to satisfy the horses and 

 dogs. The rest of the party came up after some 

 time ; Feliciano was acquainted with the spot, 

 but if the dogs and horses had not pointed it 

 out to Julio, he and I should have missed it. 

 We were delayed considerably in giving water 

 enough to all the horses, as we had no large 

 vessel in which to take it up. I heard from 

 Feliciano, and subsequently from other persons, 

 that these clefts in the rocks are common ; but 

 that they are known to few, and those prin- 

 cipally of his rank and occupation in life, and 

 that this knowledge enabled him to find plenty 

 of water when others were in great distress. 

 He said, *' we never refuse to give information, 

 but we say as little about it as possible." I tra- 

 velled until ten o'clock at night, wishing to 

 reach some Jazenda, and not to remain in the 

 open air, as there were several heavy clouds 

 flying about, from the look of which we well 

 knew that if the wind abated, rain would come 

 on. We reached a Jazenda, and applied for a 

 night's lodging, which was granted j but upon 

 a survey of the interior of the house, I pre- 

 ferred the open air with all its disadvantages. 

 The place was full of persons who had assembled 

 from the neighbouring estates, in expectation of 



