SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



41 



general observation. We experienced, how- 

 ever, nothing but civility ; and some officers 

 who spoke French gave us every information 

 we required. We had a pleasant ramble 

 along the borders of the beautiful river in 

 which we bathed with that delight those 

 only can appreciate, who, like us, had been 

 long pent up on ship board, had then landed 

 at Vera Cruz, and traversed a sandy tract, 

 parched by heat, and with only bad water to 

 quench our choking thirst. Grateful for the 

 refreshment the delicious stream afforded, we 

 would willingly have recorded its name, but the 

 only designation the inhabitants could give was 

 that of River of the Bridge. Passing rather 

 a better night than before, we departed at 

 day-light by a good road ; and at the end of 

 the village saw some fine cows, the first we 

 had seen in America. On a rising hill, a 

 couple of large deer crossed our path within 

 half gun shot. At two o'clock we reached a 



