174 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



had been to his native place to solicit permis- 

 sion from his parents, and the blessing of 

 the padre, or priest ; which having obtained, 

 together with a good stock of advice respect- 

 ing his conduct among the people he was 

 about to visit, (whom I believe his friends 

 looked upon in little better light than we do 

 on the Esquimaux), he courageously set off to 

 join me ; and I was glad to accept of his ser- 

 vices, as he was the only one who could be 

 persuaded to cross the terrific " Green Wa- 

 ters" to the other side of the world. 



There was a military post stationed at the 

 hacienda, for the purpose of protecting the 

 roads. We supped with our host, an intelligent 

 old man, who entertained us for some time 

 with the history of the revolution, and the 

 severe losses he had in consequence sustained. 

 The next morning we slowly ascended the 

 mountains that enclosed the valley of Tenoch- 

 titlan,«and for the last time enjoyed the sub- 



