facatativa'. 197 



tains at the other extremity of the plain, 

 upon the rise of which the capital stands, 

 though too far distant to be distinguished. 

 The pleasure of thinking all our pains nearly 

 at an end, inspired us with fresh spirits, 

 which, by means of our spurs, we commu- 

 nicated to our poor tired animals, and en- 

 tered Facatativa at a round pace, a little 

 after sunset. This place is seven leagues 

 from the capital. My friend, who was ac- 

 quainted with the Alcalde, waited upon him, 

 and requested him to procure for us a 

 night's lodging ; to this he agreed, and took 

 us to a variety of different houses, but the 

 occupiers, on some pretext or other, all 

 refused to afford the requisite accommo- 

 dation, or at least, made excuses. The 

 Alcalde apologized for not taking us to his 

 own house, alleging his inability to ac- 

 commodate us, in consequence of having 

 two daughters ill with fever. We at length 

 obtained a lodging in a house, in the ab- 



