182 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



lazy beggars were crouching on every projecting 

 stone, industriously engaged in looking at them. 

 Finally, one man came along with his machete, and 

 then others, until five were at work. They were 

 occupied the greater part of the day, but to the 

 last there were some trees, obstructing the view of 

 particular parts, which I could not get cut down. 

 All this time the spectators remained looking on as 

 if in expectation of some grand finale ; toward the 

 last they began to show symptoms of anxiety, and 

 during this time, through the unintentional instru- 

 mentality of Don Juan, I had made a discovery. 

 The fame of the Daguerreotype, or la machina, had 

 reached their ears, greatly exaggerated. They, of 

 course, knew but little about it, but had come out 

 with the expectation of seeing its miraculous pow- 

 ers exercised. If the reader be at all mahcious, he 

 will sympathize in my satisfaction, when all was 

 cleared and ready to be drawn, in paying the men 

 and walking back to the village, leaving them sitting 

 on the stones. 



The untoward circumstances of the morning 

 threw Don Juan into a somewhat anxious state ; he 

 had incurred the expense of preparations, and was un- 

 certain whether we intended to do him the honour 

 of dining with him ; apprehensive of another bofe- 

 tada, he was afraid to mention the subject, but on 

 reaching his house he sent to give notice that din- 

 ner was ready, and to inquire when he should send 

 it to us. To make amends, and again concihate, 



