72 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO, 



through cultivated fields of poor sandy land 

 to a hacienda, a rich farm ; but, though a 

 fair building with a church,* we could not 

 procure any refreshment, not even milk. Our 

 carriage overtook us at this place, and we 

 entered a desert of arid sand, bounded on 

 the right by high rocks, or broken volcanic 

 mountains, similar to those we had seen the 

 day before. We observed here thousands of 

 dead and decaying trees of considerable di- 

 mensions; which gave the idea, that this 

 dreary tract had not long since been covered 

 with large timber. We continued our route 

 for five leagues, and came to a house, 

 where we intended to breakfast, but could 

 procure no provisions of any kind, and were 

 therefore obliged to proceed three leagues 



* By the laws, whoever builds a farm-house is compelled 

 to erect a church. These haciendas are of great extent ; 

 we here saw one single drove of pigs, consisting of (we 

 were told) 4000, and all belonging to one of these farms. 



