128 



PASSAGE ACROSS 



six mules, we had only two spare ones, and these 

 unable to work ; whereas I learnt afterwards, that 

 the capataz was bound to provide a much larger 

 proportion of extra mules, but he was as greedy 

 after lucre as he was after food, and to save a few 

 dollars he would have worked his poor mules to 

 death. However, I was then ignorant of the cus- 

 toms of the country, and indeed did not know 

 what was required for the journey I was about to 

 take ; and anxious to be off, I ordered the mules to 

 be saddled. 



As soon as this was done, the baggage-mules 

 were to be got ready. The capataz said he could 

 not load them, until every article of baggage was 

 brought into the yard, and accordingly he made a 

 great heap of it. He and the peon then divided it 

 into six parcels, quite different from each other in 

 weight or bulk, but adapted to the strength of the 

 different mules. 



The operation of loading then began. The 

 peon first caught a great brown mule with his 

 lasso, and he then put a poncho over his eyes, and 

 tied it under his throat, leaving the animaFs nose 

 and mouth uncovered. The mule instantly stood 



