RANCHO OF NOHCACAB. 



87 



sejbo tree, that seemed inviting the traveller to re- 

 pose under its branches. We watered our horses 

 from the same v^accal, or drinking cup, that we used 

 ourselves, and felt strongly tempted to take a bath, 

 but, with our experience of fever and ague, were 

 afraid to run the risk. This fountain was a league 

 from the rancho to which we were going, and was 

 the only watering-place for its inhabitants. 



At nine o'clock we reached the rancho, which 

 showed the truth of the Spanish proverb, "La vista 

 del amo engorda el caballo ;" " The sight of the mas- 

 ter fattens the horse." The first huts were enclosed 

 by a well-built stone wall, along which appeared, in 

 various places, sculptured fragments from the ruins. 

 Beyond was another wall, enclosing the hut occu- 

 pied by the master on his visits to the rancho, the en- 

 trance to which was by a gateway formed of two 

 sculptured monuments of curious design and excel- 

 lent workmanship, raising high our expectations in 

 regard to the ruins on this rancho, and sustaining the 

 accounts we had heard of them. 



The proprietor was waiting to receive us, and, 

 having taken possession of an empty hut, and dis- 

 posed of our horses, we accompanied him to look 

 over the rancho. What he regarded as most worth 

 showing was his tobacco crop, lying in some empty 

 huts to dry, which he contemplated with great sat- 

 isfaction, and the well, which he looked at with as 

 much sorrow. It was three hundred and fifty-four 

 feet deep, and even at this great depth it was dry. 



