CROSSING THE SALDANEA. 321 



Dec. 2] St. At ten o'clock saw Senor 

 Caycedo, and procured from him several in- 

 troductory letters, to enable me to view the 

 mines of the surrounding district. At two 

 o'clock I started, with my guide, who was 

 particularly loquacious, and whom I sooa 

 found to be quite drunk, presuming, I supr 

 pose, on the dollar which I had advanced to 

 him ; however, as he was obliged to swim a 

 river which impeded our way, to find the 

 shallows for the mules to pass, he was tole- 

 rably sobered when we reached the other 

 side of the ford. 



We crossed the river Salddnea thrice, 

 and after traversing an uninteresting tract 

 of country, arrived at Coyamo about nine in 

 the evening. On presenting a letter of in- 

 troduction to the curate, I was very kindly 

 received. I hung my hammock in the room, 

 and after a slight supper retired to rest. 



VOL. IT, 



V 



