SIX MONTHS IK MEXICO. 75 



other birds of prey, some of which came so 

 near our carriage as to be easily shot without 

 our getting out* Towards the end of the desert, 

 and while occasional verdure was to be seen, 

 we noticed a house, with a row of cypress 

 trees ; and found a rivulet of water, of which 

 all our party drank freely. Mr. Hall in- 

 formed us that near this spot was a lake, 

 much frequented by aquatic birds, and he 

 and my son went off to endeavour to shoot 

 some. They had not left us many minutes, 

 when we observed two armed men gallopping 

 across the plain, and making for our vehicle ; 

 they were in appearance military, and as the 

 present disturbed state of the country ren- 

 dered travelling very unsafe, we prepared to 

 defend ourselves and our property in the 

 best manner we could. After they had re- 

 connoitered, they retired however, perhaps 

 upon observing that our companions were at 

 a small distance, and that they were armed. 



