MODE OF LOADING. 355 



who finding that the corn was superior, and 

 preferred to that of his own kingdom, sent 

 a mandate for the whole to be destroyed, 

 and the mills dismantled. I saw many of 

 the mill-stones lying about the plain ; and 

 the very materials with which Senor Losano 

 has built his two new mills are from the 

 ruins of the old ones, destroyed by the 

 Spanish tyrant's despotic command. 



Dec. 30tL About eight o'clock the guide 

 and peons made their appearance with two 

 mules, one for me to ride, the other to con- 

 vey part of the provisions, — the peons carry- 

 ing the bed and baggage. The general load of 

 dipeon is from seventy-five pounds to a hun- 

 dred weight, though some have been known 

 to carry as much as one hundred and se- 

 venty-five pounds. The machine on which 

 they carry their load is made of split bam- 

 boo, about three feet in length, with hori- 

 2 A 2 



