20 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



being the headquarters of the military. The building, 

 too, did honour to the city ; it was only open on Sun- 

 days ; but he knew the proprietor, and could at any 

 time make an arrangement for a match. He made 

 many inquiries about the state of the science in my 

 country ; told me that he had imported two cocks from 

 England, which were game enough, but not sufficiently 

 heavy for theirs ; and gave me, besides, much valuable 

 information on this subject, of which I neglected to 

 make any memorandum. 



Before dark we reached Pueblo Nuevo, and all went 

 to the same posada. His companion was not so much 

 of a sportsman, though he knew the qualities of a good 

 bird, and showed a familiarity in handling them. It 

 was the first time I had fallen in with travellers for the 

 night. I have avoided details in all places where I was 

 partaking of private hospitality, but this was like a ho- 

 tel at home, in the main point that all were expected 

 to pay. We had for supper poached eggs and beans, 

 without plate, knife, fork, or spoon. My companions 

 used their tortillas to take up an egg, and also, by turn- 

 ing up the edges, to scoop out frigoles from the dish ; 

 withal, they were courteous and gentlemanly. We had 

 a species of chocolate, made of pounded cocoa and 

 sweetened, and served in hickories, which, having bot- 

 toms like the butts of large eggs, could not stand on the 

 table. My companions twisted their pocket-handker- 

 chiefs, and winding them on the table in circular folds, 

 set the hickories inside the hollow, and one of them did 

 the same with my handkerchief for me. After supper 

 the younger of the two dressed the birds in their robes 

 de nuit, a cotton cloth wound tight around the body, 

 compressing the wings, and then, with a string fastened 

 to the back of the cloth, so that the body was balanced, 



