UPSET OF THE CARRIAGE. 



55 



to the next post, Tegua ; which was very bad, and a 

 dreaiy road. From thence we skirted along to the 

 southward, by the side of the high hills of the Sirra 

 de Cordova. It reminded me much of being at sea, 

 with land in sight ; the inhospitable and barren 

 plain we were driving through, could scarcely 

 persuade me that I was on shore. While I was 

 enjoying the joke against my companions at not 

 being in the carriage when it upset, and they 

 were relating to me the scramble they had to get 

 out of it, we were passing through a large, 

 deep swamp, and galloping up its banks, 

 when away it went right over, completely 

 on its beam ends. This accident truly displayed 

 to me the excellent plan of harnessing the horses 

 in this country ; for the peons instantly cast off^ 

 and were to our assistance in a moment. Really 

 they are clever fellows; having always their 

 wits about them : I never saw a dull, stupid man 

 during my journey. We soon put the carriage 

 to rights, having suffered no damage, and pro- 

 ceeded slowly on, on account of the roads, or, I 



