ENGENHO NEAR MAMANGUAPE. 



^251 



into the house, and was tied fast upon a long 

 bench with his face downwards, and the cord 

 was passed round his arms and legs several 

 times ; this was done in the room which I was 

 to inhabit for the night. The whole of the 

 family retired to rest, and left us together ; I 

 had my knife with me, but naturally soon fell 

 asleep. In the morning the bench and the 

 cords remained, but the man was gone ; he had 

 crept through a small window at the opposite 

 end of the room. The young men of the house 

 were sadly vexed, but I told them it was their 

 own fault, for some of them should have kept 

 watch, as they could not suppose that I should 

 remain awake, who had come in fatigued from 

 travelling. We were now afraid that he might 

 have taken one of our horses for his more con- 

 venient escape, but this was not the case. 



Our journey took us again through the village 

 of Mamanguape ; and a little distance beyond 

 it, I left the road, accompanied by the guide, 

 and went to the principal house of a sugar-plant- 

 ation, where we asked for a night's lodging. 

 1 was told that the master was not at home, and 

 great doubts seemed to be entertained of taking 

 us in. Whilst we were talking at the door, a 

 young man of dark colour came up, mounted a 

 horse which was standing there without a saddle, 

 and rode off, seemingly avoiding to observe that 

 there Were any strangers present. One of the 



