VOLCANO OF EL AGUA. 



273 



other fiddler. The puppet was in an adjoining room, 

 and when the door opened it disclosed a black chamar 

 hanging as a curtain, the rising of which discovered the 

 puppet^player sitting at a table with his little figures 

 before him. The sports of the puppets were carried 

 on with ventriloquial conversations, in the midst of 

 which I fell asleep. 



We did not get off till seven o'clock the next morn- 

 ing. The day was very unpromising, and the whole 

 mountain was covered with clouds. As yet the side 

 of the volcano was cultivated. In half an hour the road 

 became so steep and slippery that we dismounted, and 

 commenced the ascent on foot. The Indians went on 

 before, carrying water and provisions, and each of us 

 was equipped with a strong staff. At a quarter before 

 eight we entered the middle region, which is covered 

 with a broad belt of thick forest ; the path was steep 

 and muddy, and every thretj or four minutes we were 

 obliged to stop and rest. At a quarter before nine we 

 reached a clearing, in which stood a large wooden cross. 

 This was the first resting-place, and we sat down at the 

 foot of the cross and lunched. A drizzling rain had 

 commenced, but, in the hope of a change, at half past 

 nine we resumed our ascent. The path became steeper 

 and muddier, the trees so thickly crowded together that 

 the sun never found its way through them, and their 

 branches and trunks covered with green excrescences. 

 The path was made and kept open by Indians, who go 

 up in the winter-time to procure snow and ice for Gua- 

 timala. The labour of toiling up this muddy acclivity 

 was excessive, and very soon my young companion be- 

 came fatigued, and was unable to continue without 

 help. The Indians were provided with ropes, one of 

 which was tied around his waist, and two Indians went 

 Vol. I.— M m 



