214 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



equal of these two in the way of drinking. 

 My stock of liquor for some days' journey 

 was three bottles of rum, two of which the 

 Indian carried in his 64 alforcas," or saddle- 

 bags, and one was in my own, which I gave 

 them, but it was emptied in a very short 

 time, and I was rather puzzled to know 

 where it had gone to, until the Indian told 

 me they had drunk it nearly pure, and with 

 only a little hot water, " para desenfriarlo," 

 to take the chill off. I had turned into my 

 hammock, but these two managed to get 

 possession of the saddle-bags, and with the 

 slightest assistance from the Indian, they 

 finished oiF the other two bottles, and went to 

 sleep on their saddle-cloths and sheep-skins, 

 I verily believe not a bit the worse for what 

 they had swallowed, though it must be told 

 the spirit was not exactly proof. 



The next morning broke with a drizzling 

 rain, and was very raw, owing to the height 

 we then were above the plains. A fire was 

 lighted, water boiled, and I then discovered 

 that the last bottle was empty, by my fellow- 

 travellers lamenting there was nothing to mix 

 with it. However, while they were sipping 

 their hot water, flavoured with a bit of orange- 

 peel and burnt sugar, and repeating how they 



