230 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



We inquired for the casa real, and were directed to 

 a miserable thatched house, where a gentleman step- 

 ped out and recognised Mr. Catherwood's horse, 

 which had belonged to Don Simon Peon, and 

 through the horse he recognised me, having seen 

 me with Don Simon at the fair at Jalacho, on the 

 strength of which he immediately offered his house 

 for a posada, or inn, which offer, on looking at the 

 casa real, we did not hesitate to accept. 



We were still on the great burial-ground of ruined 

 cities. In the corridor of the house were sculptured 

 stones, which our host told us were taken from the 

 ancient buildings in the neighbourhood ; they had 

 also furnished materials for the foundation of every 

 house on the plaza ; and besides these there were 

 other memorials. In the plaza were eight wells, 

 then furnishing an abundant supply of water, and 

 bearing that stamp which could not be mistaken, of 

 the hand of the ancient builders. Below the plaza, 

 on the declivity of the hill, was water gushing from 

 the rocks, filling a clear basin beneath, and running 

 off till it was lost in the woods. It was the first 

 time in our whole journey that we had seen anything 

 like a running stream, and after the parched regions 

 through which we had passed, of almost inaccessi- 

 ble caves, muddy aguadas, and little pools in the 

 hollows of rocks, it was a refreshing and delightful 

 spectacle. Our Indian carriers had taken up their 

 quarters under a brush fence, in sight and within 

 reach of the stream, and to them and the muleteers 



