SCARCITY OF PROVISIONS. 



283 



barely enough for the season, and this turning out bad, 

 they were reduced to fruits, plantains, and roots in- 

 stead of tortillas. Each white family had about enough 

 for its own use, but none to spare. The shortness of 

 the corn-crop made everything else scarce, as they were 

 obliged to kill their fowls and pigs from want of any- 

 thing to feed them with. The alcalde, who to his other 

 offences added that of being rich, was the only man in 

 the place who had any to spare, and he was holding on 

 for a greater pressure. At Tumbala we had bought 

 good corn at thirty ears for sixpence ; here, with great 

 difficulty, we prevailed upon the alcalde to spare us a 

 little at eight ears for a shilling, and these were so 

 musty and worm-eaten that the mules would hardly 

 touch them. At first it surprised us that some enter- 

 prising capitalist did not import several dollars' worth 

 from Tumbala ; but on going deeper into the matter we 

 found that the cost of transportation would not leave 

 much profit, and, besides, the course of exchange was 

 against Palenque. A few back-loads would overstock 

 the market ; for as each white family was provided till 

 the next crop came in, the* Indians were the only per- 

 sons who wished to purchase, and they had no money 

 to buy with. The brunt of the famine fell upon us, and 

 particularly upon our poor mules. Fortunately, how- 

 ever, there was good pasture, and not far off. We 

 slipped the bridles at the door and turned them loose 

 in the streets ; but after making the circuit they came 

 back in a body, and poked their heads in at the door 

 with an imploring look for corn. 



Our prospects were not very brilliant ; nevertheless, 

 we had reached Palenque, and toward evening storms 

 came on, with terrific thunder and lightning, which 

 made us feel but too happy that our journey was over. 



