SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 33 



cage, and freely admitting the air ; — so little 

 barricadoed as to allow whatever passes within 

 to be seen from without ; — and the roof pro- 

 jecting very considerably over the sides. 

 Under this projection, and in the open air, 

 several travellers had laid themselves down 

 for the night. Our baggage was placed in 

 the interior : and when we inquired where we 

 were to lodge, we were conducted to the same 

 place, and told that unless we had beds of our 

 f own, we must repose on the floor; indeed 

 nothing was furnished but shelter from the 

 rain, and Indian corn for the cattle. For 

 ourselves, we with difficulty procured some 

 planks on which to place our mattresses, and 

 after making a scanty meal of what we had 

 brought, for bad water and a little bread 

 were all the house afforded, we prepared to 

 go to rest, hoping that the fatigue we had 

 gone through would act as a soporific. Se- 

 veral persons of both sexes, with some children, 



VOL. I. D 



