68 



THE HACIENDA ZOQUITAL/ 



marks of volcanic eruption, and after a difficult climb of 

 the extreme and precipitous ridge, gains the level of the 

 plain above mentioned. Though partly under careful 

 cultivation, its surface also bears many signs of the vol- 

 canic origin of the country, in the beds of scoria, the 

 deep and perpendicular rifts and barrancas which mark 

 the path of the earthquake, or the combined effects of 

 alternate heat and torrents, and the fearful-looking pits, 

 half full of black water, which are dispersed over it. 

 There was much to remind me of the country about 

 Civita Castellana. 



The day came to an end by our arrival at the great 

 Hacienda Zoquital, where we took possession of one of 

 a great range of unfurnished rooms, which, according to 

 the custom of the country, are let at a fixed price for the 

 occupation of travellers, while stabling is furnished for 

 their horses and mules. It is seldom that these night 

 quarters are furnished with windows. 



This was one of the most considerable haciendas we 

 had seen ; and in truth, its massive walls might have al- 

 most stood a siege, and maintained a considerable gar- 

 rison within their circuit. 



Many parties of arrieros were here passing to and 

 from the capital. The attention of all seemed to be a 

 little excited by the fact, that a troop of banditti had been 

 plundering a party that very day on the road between 

 the Hacienda and Real del Monte ; and it was quite amu- 

 sing to see the determination with which loading and pri- 

 ming were carried on the next morning at daybreak in 

 our party in particular, as we were destined to be the 

 first to advance in the direction of the supposed danger* 

 What with guns, horse pistols, and pocket pistols, we 

 calculated the three dons could fire ten shots without 

 reloading for their own share, which w T as not so much 

 amiss, supposing every shot told. We could not count 

 upon Miguel's blunderbuss, which was quite as likely to 

 hit one of the party as an enemy. As to Espindola, he 

 was perfectly unarmed, and made no secret of his Qua- 

 ker principles and steady determination not to fight ; as 

 he said very coolly, " Why should I, even if I had any- 



