164 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



when the assemblage of Indians is very nume- 

 rous, and their conduct religious, decent, and 

 becoming; they are here very unlike those 

 of Mexico, I would as soon trust myself 

 alone in their cottages for the night, and 

 could repose in as much security, as in that 

 of an English peasant. The respect and 

 civility with which they treat strangers bor- 

 der almost on servility. On going to and re- 

 turning from Themascaltepec, I have passed 

 four nights in the Indian town of St. Miguel 

 de las Ranchos, in which there is not a white 

 inhabitant, and I never met with more kind- 

 ness, honesty, and hospitality in any country. 

 I have spent some delightful hours in this little 

 hamlet, which is about eighteen miles from 

 Themascaltepec, and situated in one of the 

 most enchanting valleys in the world, and 

 the inhabitants seem to be the most contented 

 and happy of mankind. I wished much to 

 have brought one of them to England, but 



