CUE RN A VAC A, 



181 



the termination of a savage affray in the opposite house, 

 in which braining with clubs and stones was the fashion, 

 than we set about our inquiries in considerable confi- 

 dence, as there could be no question but the ruins, after 

 all, were to be found in this neighbourhood. Our host 

 and his neighbours were first applied to. Quien sabe 1 

 quien sabe f was all we got for our pains. We went to 

 a young merchant, the only European resident of any 

 standing here : he had never heard of the existence of 

 such a place. At length we determined to make use of 

 a note of introduction to the principal cura of the town^ 

 and here we were more successful. He knew that Xo- 

 chicalca existed, but he had never visited it. According 

 to him, it lay among a group of hills which he pointed 

 out to us from his window, across the great plain, called 

 the Cerro de Xochicalco; and he promised to furnish us 

 with a guide for the following day, and perhaps to ac- 

 company us himself. He stated the distance was per- 

 haps three, or at most four leagues. 



Jaded as we were, we set about our preparations withi 

 alacrity. As our speedy advance to the coast was now 

 a matter of absolute necessity, we determined to spare 

 our horses as far as practicable : and, with infinite pains, 

 borrowed two others, in order to leave them to their re- 

 pose for the time of our absence. We decided to set off 

 at daybreak, leaving Garcia and the arriero to proceed 

 with the mules to the town of Yautepec, six leagues dis- 

 tant : with the intention, on our parts, after our anticipa- 

 ted return from our excursion in the course of the after- 

 noon, to take our fresh horses and follow them thither. 

 Wise and good projects, but, like many human ones, vain 

 nevertheless ! 



That a restless night should follow a day of excite- 

 ment and exposure like the last, w T as not to be wondered 

 at. The doubt which hung over our whole projects of 

 advance to Vera Cruz, and our fate there, did not per- 

 haps mend the matter ; and for my part I own, that at 

 dawn, I arose from the floor of the chamber where we 



