JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 



177 



they adhered. My attention was also attracted by a num- 

 ber of other curious and beautiful plants and wild flowers? 

 well deserving the notice of a florist or a botanist, that 

 bloomed there unseen and unadmired. 



We next proceeded along the channel of a mountain 

 torrent, which, though it contained but little water, was 

 so uneven and full of loose stones, that our progress 

 through it was painfully slow and difficult. 



Emerging from this torrent, we came in view of a little 

 plain, hedged in by rocks and thickets, and situated at the 

 foot of a mountain. In the centre was a cluster of huts, 

 surrounded by little plantations of maize and fruit trees. 

 The place was a rancheria, called el Patal, and had al- 

 together a most rural and picturesque appearance. The 

 huts were only six or eight, and were inhabited by 

 Indians. 



It being now 3 o'clock — the hour at which, in that sea- 

 son of the year, it usually rains — and there being no 

 probability of our finding a shelter further on for a con- 

 siderable distance, it was determined to make the ranche- 

 ria our resting-place for the night. I was loth to disturb 

 the quiet of this little fairy land — this Eden in miniature 

 — but there was no help for it, and we proceeded to take 

 possession of the place. The best of the huts, which 

 might more properly be called a large shed, (it being en- 

 tirely open on one side,) was occupied by the officer and 

 the escort ; another was selected by Don Ignacio for him- 

 self and his servant. The former was so crowded by the 

 soldiers, and the latter so completely destitute of any thing 

 like comfort, that I resolved on seeking my own accom- 

 modations elsewhere. 



Casting my eye around, I fixed upon a hut rather more 

 neat and respectable in appearance than the others, and 

 rode towards it. This hut was hemmed in by a milpa, 

 or corn plantation, and by a little kitchen-garden ; and I 

 saw no means of approaching it without injuring the 

 premises. An old Indian, with a young man, now made 

 23 



