56 



NARRATIVE OP A 



Mr. M. and myself almost felt ashamed of the plainness 

 of our appearance. Even my mule seemed uneasy at 

 the simplicity of her furniture ; and, in fact, as she had 

 nothing on but a common, though new, English saddle 

 and bridle, there was something strange and ludicrous 

 about her that did not fail to excite the risibility of the 

 natives. 



The baggage mules, and those that carried the goods 

 of Don Jose, being now laden arid ready, we took leave 

 of Don Valentin, and departed on our journey, preceded 

 by our guide, a tall, swarthy fellow, well mounted, with 

 dagger in belt, no shoes or stockings, and an awful pair 

 of spurs on his naked heels. Our road lay across the 

 mountain which overlooks the town, and over a rough 

 and rocky ground, the difficulties of which are increased 

 by the abruptness of the acclivity. Before commen- 

 cing the ascent, we had to follow for some time the chan- 

 nel of a mountain torrent, where, though there was not 

 much water at the time, there was such an abundance of 

 loose stones, that the mules scarcely knew where to set 

 their feet. We then proceeded iip the side of the moun- 

 tain by a narrow winding path, which the trunks of 

 fallen trees rendered almost impassable in some places, 

 while, in others, it was so steep, that our beasts were in 

 danger of rolling down the mountain : an accident which 

 was very near happening, for one of the mules actually 

 lost her footing, and fell back with her load to the 

 ground and her feet in the air. Fortunately she was 

 saved from further harm by an intervening tree, and pre- 

 vented from carrying the hinder animals along with her 

 in her fall. Sometimes the path would diverge into va- 

 rious ramifications, when the voice and the lash of the 

 muleteer were exerted to prevent the convoy from going 

 astray. Now and then, on coming to a rocky place, it 

 would assume the appearance of broken stairs. The 

 agility of the mules in clambering up these rugged places 

 Was remarkable, while the care with which they picked 



