378 



JOURNEY. 



About three o'clock we came in sight of the 

 town of Cartago, situated at the base of the 

 mountain beneath us, on the left bank of the 

 river Vieja. The plain surrounding it was di- 

 vided by many hillocks, causing a great ine- 

 quality of the surface. We now rapidly ap- 

 proached the town, descending the mountain 

 by a much improved road, and arrived about 

 half-past four. My friend wetit to the Juez 

 Politico, and I proceeded to the house of Don 

 Luis Jordan, the administrator of the post- 

 office, and met with a kind reception. He 

 furnished me with a change of clothes, that is, 

 a shirt and pair of trowsers. As he was a 

 short, fat man, this garb made me look very 

 comically; the shirt hanging like a sack on me, 

 and his trowsers just serving as short breeches : 

 but a change was most agreeable ; and with a 

 warm dinner, and some old rum in addition, 

 which my host produced, I made myself very 

 comfortable, and was quite restored. At an 

 early hour I begged to retire to my bed, which 

 consisted of a blanket and sheet, spread on a 

 table, for bed and bedding, and a sheet to co- 

 ver me. I, however, slept very soundly, being 

 much fatigued with my day's journey. 



