222 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



out of a door for the casa real, and was directed to 

 a ruined hut on the same side, at the door, or, rath- 

 er, at the doorway of which I dismounted, but had 

 hardly crossed the threshold when I saw my white 

 pantaloons speckled with little jumping black in- 

 sects. I made a hasty retreat, and saw a man at the 

 moment moving across the plaza, who asked me to 

 his house, which was clean and comfortable, and 

 when Mr. Catherwood came up the women of the 

 house were engaged in preparing our dinner. Mr. 

 Catherwood had just experienced the same kind of 

 good feeling at an Indian hut. Water, in the Maya 

 language, is expressed by the word ha, but, being 

 that morning rather out of practice, Mr. Catherwood 

 had asked for ka, which means fire, and the woman 

 brought him a hghted brand. He motioned that 

 away, but still continued asking for ka, fire. The 

 woman went in, sat down, and made him a straw 

 cigar, which she brought out to him. Sitting in the 

 broiling sun, and perishing with thirst, he dropped 

 his Maya, and by signs made her understand what 

 he wanted, when she brought him water. 



Our host, who was a Meztizo and ex-alcalde, 

 procured for us another empty hut, which, by the 

 time our carriers arrived, we had swept out and 

 made comfortable. 



The situation of this rancho was on a fine open 

 plain ; the land was good, and water abundant, 

 though not very near at hand, the supply being de- 

 rived from an aguada, to which we sent our horses ; 



