376 



JOURNEY. 



were obliged to dismount and walk, to the 

 great annoyance of my companion, who was 

 gaily attired in uniform, in order to make his 

 appearance in Cartago ; as to myself, it was of 

 no consequence, being all in the rough, having 

 determined not to quit my travelling dress be- 

 fore I should arrive at that place. — At noon 

 came to the river Vieja, which we crossed in 

 a canoe, swimming our mules alongside. From 

 hence to Cartago is only two hours' passage ; 

 but not a canoe is kept for that purpose. Hav- 

 ing crossed the river, we continued our route ; 

 being frequently obliged to alight and walk 

 through the terrible mire of the road. To add to 

 our misery, a tremendous thunder-storm came 

 on, attended with a deluging rain. Traversing 

 some part of the road was exactly like walking 

 through waterfalls, where the mules, when left 

 to themselves, could scarcely obtain secure foot- 

 ing. I remained for some time under a very 

 thickly-leafed tree : my friend went on. Short- 

 ly after I was about to follow him, perceiving 

 that there was no prospect of an abatement of 

 the storm, when my ears were assailed by what 

 I imagined the hideous roar of a tiger, who 

 appeared to have taken up his position in 

 the very road I had to pass. The roaring ap- 



