422 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



end. The hut consisted of two parts, connected by 

 a thatched arbour, empty, and apparently begging 

 for a tenant. A string of fish hung on one of the 

 beams, and on the ground were a few smothered 

 coals. We swung our hammocks, kindled a fire, and 

 when the occupant arrived had a cup of chocolate 

 ready for him, and endeavoured to make him feel 

 himself at home ; but this was no easy matter. He 

 was a lad of about sixteen, the son of the proprietor, 

 who had gone away that day, the fishing season 

 being nearly over. He certainly was not expecting 

 us, and was taken somewhat by surprise ; he had 

 never seen a foreigner in his life, and was by no 

 means reassured when we told him that we had 

 come to shoot flamingoes and spoonbills. Our In- 

 dian gave him some indistinct notion of our object, 

 of which, however, he must have had a very imper- 

 fect notion himself; and seeming to intimate that we 

 were beyond his comprehension, or, at all events, en- 

 tirely too many for him, the boy withdrew to the 

 other division of the hut, and left us in full posses- 

 sion. Instead of a rough night we were well pro- 

 vided for, but, unfortunately, there was no ramon or 

 water for the horses. We made an affecting appeal 

 to our young host, and he spared us part of a small 

 stock of maize, which he had on hand for the ma- 

 king of his own tortillas, but they had to go with- 

 out water, as none could be procured at night. 



In the gray of the morning we heard a loud quack- 

 ing of ducks, which almost lifted us out of our ham- 



