A ROVING AMERICAN. 



295 



as, though only twenty-five miles from it, the climate is 

 so different that they produce two crops in each season. 



Approaching the town, I remembered that Mr. Han- 

 dy, who had travelled from the United States through 

 Texas and Mexico with a caravan of wild animals, had 

 told me in New- York of an American in his employ, 

 who had left him at this place to take charge of a cochi- 

 neal plantation, and I was curious to see how he looked 

 and flourished in such employment. I had forgotten 

 his name, but, inquiring on the road for an American 

 del Norte, was directed to the nopal of which he had 

 charge. It was one of the largest in the place, and con- 

 tained four thousand plants. I rode up to a small build- 

 ing in the middle of the plantation, which looked like a 

 summer-house, and was surrounded by workmen, one of 

 whom announced me as a Spaniard," as the Indians 

 generally call foreigners. Dismounting and giving 

 my mule to an Indian, I entered and found Don Hen- 

 riques sitting at a table with an account-book before him, 

 settling accounts with the workmen. He was dressed 

 in the coton or jacket of the country, and had a very 

 long beard ; but I should have recognised him any- 

 where as an American. I addressed him in English, 

 and he stared at me, as if startled by a familiar sound, 

 and answered in Spanish. By degrees he comprehend- 

 ed the matter. He was under thirty, from Rhinebeck 

 Landing, on the Hudson River, where his father keeps 

 a store, and his name was Henry Pawling ; had been a 

 clerk in New- York, and then in Mexico. Induced by 

 a large offer and a strong disposition to ramble and see 

 the country, he accepted a proposal from Mr. Handy. 

 His business was to go on before the caravan, hire a 

 place, give notice, and make preparations for the exhi- 

 bition of the animals. In this capacity he had travelled 



