88 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



the provisions we had brought from Vera 

 Cruz. Mass was just over, and we were sur- 

 rounded by Indians of all ages and of both 

 sexes, whose curiosity was greatly excited by 

 our appearance and dining appurtenances. 

 They seemed an innocent and harmless people, 

 behaved themselves with great propriety, and 

 were highly delighted with some provisions 

 and wine which we gave them. One old man, 

 in particular, showed great inclination for my 

 hat, and made me an offer of four dollars for 

 it. In this village was an unfinished building 

 of considerable size and some architectural 

 beauty : all that I could learn of it was, that 

 it was called the fabric, that it had been begun 

 by a gentleman a few years since, and left 

 uncompleted. The road in this quarter, has 

 been made at vast expense ; it is part of the 

 great undertaking mentioned by M. de Hum- 

 boldt, who says, it will soon be finished ; but, 

 alas, after immense sums had been expended 



