MEXICO, 



81 



city. He was of course followed by the valorous little 

 Raphael. Our horses, and a fat saddle mule pertaining 

 to our stud, were safely housed at a livery stable in the 

 vicinity, yclept the " Washington where a tall, raw- 

 boned Kentuckian, from the backwoods, presided, under 

 the dignified and dulcet title of Don Floresco ! 



Garcia, a new equery and valet, knowing in the 

 streets and resources of the capital, and in the most ap- 

 proved ways of emptying the purses of los signores es- 

 trcmgeros, had been hired to be our attendant. 



Against honest Miguel w T e had no complaint to make, 

 except that he was ill looking, and a borrachio, a title 

 which may be applied without offence to many respect- 

 able gentlemen in the western hemisphere, as well as to 

 a poor Mexican mestizzo. He had now exacted from us 

 a precise document, bearing witness to his qualifications 

 and character, and mounting his active pad, had turned 

 his face towards the coast. 



A fresh skin, the brush, and an English tailor, had done 

 something towards making us presentable — -in our own 

 opinion. Letters of credence and introduction had been 

 delivered ; the proper visits made ; and we were now 

 at liberty, each to follow his own devices. 



De Pourtales being somewhat indisposed, took it into 



his head to consult Dr. C , to take exceeding care of 



his health, and to remain a great deal within doors, phi- 

 losophizing and discussing unknown fruits — the sapote 

 prieto, the sapote chico, the sapote borrachio, and the sa- 

 pote bianco — the lucious avocate and marnei, the vaunted 

 chirimoya, and the sweet grandita. He took siestas 

 both before and after dinner, and he received visits. 

 M'Euen also got a most unaccountable fit of the fine 

 gentleman ; reclined a great deal, and read considera- 

 bly ; and, for some days, except on extraordinary occa- 

 sions, a lounge on the Alameda, or under the Portales de 

 las Flores, was very hard to put in motion. 



As for your humble servant, he was never in better 

 health and spirits in his life ; and knowing that the time 

 was circumscribed, thought to make the best use of the 

 opportunity. Being* in a great degree left to chalk out 



