256 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



ising to keep him till he died ; and the only thing that 

 relieves me from self-reproach in not securing him such 

 pasture-grounds is the recollection of the padre's weight. 



At four o'clock on the third day we reached Ocosin- 

 go, likewise in a beautiful situation, surrounded by 

 mountains, with a large church ; and in the wall of the 

 yard we noticed two sculptured figures from the ruins 

 we proposed to visit, somewhat in the same style as those 

 at Copan. In the centre of the square was a magnificent 

 Ceiba tree. We rode up to the house of Don Manuel 

 Pasada, the prefet, which, with an old woman-servant, 

 we had entirely to ourselves, the family being at his 

 hacienda. The house was a long enclosure, with a 

 shed in front, and furnished with bedsteads made of 

 reeds split into two, and supported on sticks resting in 

 the ground. 



• The alcalde was a Mestitzo, very civil, and glad to 

 see us, and spoke of the neighbouring ruins in the most 

 extravagant terms, but 'said they were so completely 

 buried in El Monte that it would require a party of men 

 for two or three days to cut a way to them ; and he laid 

 great stress upon a cave, the mouth of which was com- 

 pletely choked up with stones, and which communica- 

 ted by a subterraneous passage with the old city of Pa* 

 lenque, about one hundred and fifty miles distant. He 

 added that if we would wait a few days to make prep- 

 arations, he and all the village w'ould go with us, and 

 make a thorough exploration. We told him that first 

 we wished to make preliminary observations, and he 

 promised us a guide for the next morning. 



That night broke upon us the opening storm of the 

 rainy season. Peals of crashing thunder reverberated 

 from the mountains, lightning illuminated with fearful 

 flashes the darkness of night, rain poured like a deluge 



