PUEBLO VIEJO, 



35 



fully draped figures passing to and from, with their bur- 

 dens poised on their heads, or a sturdy peasant, with his 

 mule laden with two gigantic bottles of baked earth, 

 waiting patiently for his turn in the deep cool shade, 

 formed pictures of the most beautiful description. At 

 the extreme termination of the little dell, a few ancient 

 sibyls were ordinarily employed over a caldron sup- 

 ported by poles, and simmering from the wood fires 

 kindled under it, and the light blue smoke hovered among 

 the branches of the aged trees, which rose from the 

 thicket beyond. The Fuenta was evidently the lounge 

 and trysting place of the town, and many a youthful 

 dark-eyed gallant might be seen at times lolling upon the 

 stone wall which hemmed in the reservoir. Occasion- 

 ally a mounted cavalier in all his bravery would dash up 

 the little vista at full career, till within a foot of the en- 

 closure, when a check from the powerful bit would bring 

 his horse upon its haunches. He would pass a moment 

 in the cool shade, quaff a gourd of the fresh water from 

 the hand of one of the laughing group, perhaps get a 

 plentiful sprinkle over his gay mantle in return for some 

 saucy speech, and disappear as rapidly as he came. 



In short, I shall never forget la Fuenta de Pueblo Vi- 

 ejo, though my enjoyment of its beauties was always 

 qualified by the knowledge, that I never quitted it with- 

 out carrying off a goodly colony of garapatos, besides 

 sundry ants, with which the whole country about Tam- 

 pico swarms. There is a species called the arriero or 

 carrier, from its peculiar habits, and 1 have frequently 

 been tempted to observe them minutely. Their nests 

 are formed below the surface, and must be very exten- 

 sive, judging from the immense length of the trains which 

 may be observed proceeding to and from them upon the 

 surface, and the quantity of vegetable matter introduced 

 into them. The labourers are seen moving in two dis- 

 tinct columns, strictly adhering to the rule of the road, 

 upon pathways of even breadth throughout, as nicely in- 

 dicated and beaten from the incessant passage, as those 

 of busy men. They lead frequently into the bushes, to 

 some tree or shrub, which has been fixed upon by com- 



