RETURN TO XUL. MORE RUINS. 91 



execution as promptly as it was made, and, leaving 

 our luggage to the care of Albino, in half an hour, 

 to the astonishment of the Indians and the mortifi- 

 cation of the proprietor, we were on our way to the 

 village. 



It was late in the evening when we arrived, but 

 the cura received us as kindly as before. Du- 

 ring the evening I made inquiries for the place of 

 which the Indians at the rancho had told me. It 

 was but two leagues distant, but of all who happen- 

 ed to drop in, not one was aware of its existence. 

 The cura, however, sent for a young man who had 

 a rancho in that direction, and who promised to ac- 

 company me. 



At six o'clock the next morning we started, nei- 

 ther Mr. Catherwood nor Doctor Cabot being able 

 to accompany me. At the distance of about two 

 leagues we reached an Indian rancho, where we 

 learned from an old woman that we had passed the 

 path leading to the ruins. We could not prevail on 

 her to go back and show us the way, but she gave 

 us a direction to another rancho, where she said we 

 could procure a guide. This rancho was situated 

 in a small clearing in the midst of the woods, en- 

 closed by a bush fence, and before the door was an 

 arbour covered with palm leaves, with little ham- 

 mocks swinging under it, and all together the picture 

 of Indian comfort. 



My companion went in, and I dismounted, think- 

 ing that this promised a good stopping-place, when, 



