DEPARTURE FROM PALENQUE. 365 



tials from Mr. Russell he should bring back plaster of 

 Paris, and, while the proceedings for completing the 

 purchase were pending, should occupy himself in this 

 new branch of business. 



On the fourth of June we took our final departure 

 from Palenque. Don Santiago sent me a farewell let- 

 ter, enclosing, according to the custom of the country, 

 a piece of silk, the meaning of which I did not un- 

 derstand, but learned that it was meant as a pledge of 

 friendship, which I reciprocated with a penknife. The 

 prefect was kind and courteous to the last ; even the old 

 alcalde, drawing a little daily revenue from us, was 

 touched. Every male inhabitant came to the house, to 

 bid us farewell and wish us to return; and before start- 

 ing we rode round and exchanged adios with all their 

 wives: good, kind, and quiet people, free from all agi- 

 tating cares, and aiming only at an undisturbed exist- 

 ence in a place which I had been induced to believe 

 the abode of savages and full of danger. 



In order to accompany us, the cur a had postponed 

 for two days a visit to his hacienda, which lay on our 

 road. Pawling continued with us for the purpose be- 

 fore mentioned, and Juan according to contract. I had 

 agreed to return him to Guatimala. Completely among 

 strangers, he was absolutely in our power, and follow- 

 ed blindly, but with great misgivings asked the padre 

 where we were taking him. His impression was that 

 he was setting out for my country, and he had but little 

 hope of ever seeing Guatimala again. 



From the village we entered immediately upon a 

 beautiful plain, picturesque, ornamented with trees, and 

 extending five or six days' journey to the Gulf of Mex- 

 ico. The road was very muddy, but, open to the sun 

 in the morning, was not so bad as we feared. On the 



