198 



JOURNEY. 



sence of the ladies to whom it belonged, 

 and who, on their return from a walk, were 

 much surprised to find strangers there. 

 They, however, gave us chocolate and 

 sweetmeats, provided supper, and we be- 

 came, gradually, very good friends : about 

 twelve we bade our kind hostesses good 

 night, retiring to rest upon stretchers. The 

 following morning we rose at daylight, paid 

 for our board and lodging, which only cost 

 a dollar, and, leaving our baggage to be 

 brought after us by my servant, again set 

 out for the capital. 



We now proceeded along a plain entirely 

 level, the roads in many places covered 

 with water: the depth of inundation is, 

 indeed, sometimes so great, that adven- 

 turous travellers, who have endeavoured to 

 pass along these roads at night, during the 

 rainy season, have lost their lives in the 

 attempt. At half-past nine we obtained 



