206 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL, 



with three strings of beef, which, he said, had cost 

 him a medio and a half, and would be consumed at 

 a meal, and that Indian, he knew, had not a medio in 

 the world to pay his capitation tax. One of the 

 gentlemen present then suggested that the govern- 

 ment had lately passed an iniquitous law. that no In- 

 dian should be compelled to work unless he chose ; 

 if he refused, he could not be whipped or imprison- 

 ed, and what could be expected in such a state of 

 things 1 Another gentleman interposed with great 

 unction, declaring that the alcalde of a neighbouring 

 village did not mind the law, but went on whipping 

 the same as before. All this time a dozen Indians, 

 by the constitution free and independent as them- 

 selves, sat on the ground without saying a word, 

 merely staring from one to the other of the speakers. 



After this the conversation turned upon our own 

 party, and finally settled upon Doctor Cabot. I re- 

 gretted to find that, in a community which had pat- 

 ronised him so extensively, there was some diversity 

 of opinion as to his qualifications. There was one 

 dissenting voice, and the general discussion settled 

 down into a warm argument between the two broth- 

 ers of Don Juan, the alcalde and the keeper of the 

 gambling-table, the latter of whom held up an ugly 

 sandalled foot, with a great excrescence upon it, and 

 said, rather depreciatingly, that the doctor did not 

 cure his corns. The alcalde was stanch, and thrust 

 forward his cured child, but his brother shook his 

 head, still holding out his foot, and I am sorry to 



