SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 143 



floods to the Mexican lake, where depositing 

 the earthy parts, it must in a short time be 

 filled up. Upon descending the mountain 

 we first caught a view of the two pyramids on 

 a plain in front of us, at about five or six 

 miles distance, and another hour brought us, 

 drenched with rain, just before dark, into 

 Otumba, the first place reached by Cortez 

 after his defeat. At this place, after being 

 refused admittance at several houses, we with 

 some difficulty procured shelter in an empty 

 carpenter's shop, where, in our wet clothes, 

 having no fire, upon a bare floor of mud, 

 without food, though not without appetite, we 

 had a prospect of passing the night ; but ob- 

 serving a fire in a cottage near, I ventured to 

 enter, and finding only an old woman and 

 some children, I seated myself. . The old 

 lady was not at all pleased at my intrusion, 

 but a few medias given to the children, and a 

 dollar to herself, soon procured us bread and 



