DEPARTURE FOR THE COAST. 335 



coast in another direction. Upon the information 

 we received, we determined on going to the village 

 of Chemax, from whicli, we were advised, . there 

 was a direct road to Tancah, where a boat was on 

 the stocks, and probably then finished, which we 

 could procure for a voyage down the coast. 



Before our departure Doctor Cabot performed 

 an operation for strabismus, under circumstances 

 peculiarly gratifying to us, and, with the satisfac- 

 tion arising from its complete success, on Satur- 

 day, after an early dinner, we mounted for our 

 journey to the coast, going first to the house of 

 Don Pedro Baranda, and to the factory to bid 

 farewell to Mr. Burke. The road was broad, and 

 had been lately opened for carretas and calesas. 

 On the way we met a large straggling party of In- 

 dians, returning from a hunting expedition in the 

 forests along the seacoast. Naked, armed with 

 long guns, and with deer and wild boars slung on 

 their backs, their aspect was the most truculent of 

 any people we had seen. They were some of the 

 Indians who had risen at the call of General Iman, 

 and they seemed ready at any moment for battle. 



It was some time after dark when we reached 

 the village. The outline of the church was visible 

 through the darkness, and beside it was the con- 

 vent, with a light streaming from the door. The 

 cura was sitting at a table surrounded by the offi- 

 cials of the village, who started at the clatter of our 

 horses ; and when we appeared in the doorway, if 



