DELAY THROUGH ILLNESS. 395 



head and limbs. Having used all my own re- 

 medies, without producing the desired effect, I 

 . allowed the two women of the rancha to try 

 an experiment on me, which, they said, would 

 remove the fever. This was by chewing tal- 

 low, then rubbing and anointing my back, and 

 placing bay-leaves on it. I cannot say that 

 I found much benefit from this application, 

 though a considerable quantity of my candles 

 disappeared in the operation. 



I sent early next day to the Alcalde, re- 

 questing he would exert his influence to pro- 

 cure me the aid of one of the phlebotomists ; 

 and accordingly, in the afternoon, the Juez 

 Politico arrived, bringing with him one of these 

 operators. He certainly looked, as he said he 

 was, excessively ill : — his long thin visage was 

 wan and pallid, from the effects of intermittent 

 fever — he scarcely seemed to have strength 

 sufficient to perform the operation, which 

 however, after tying my arm up so tight as to 

 cause me much needless pain, and pulling and 

 jerking me about for a long time, he effected, 

 by cutting a tolerable-sized gash in the vein, 

 which bled profusely ; and desirous of check- 

 ing the fever, I allowed it to flow for some 



