RIDE TO CALLAO. 



113 



horses for mounting the troopers. I then 

 posted off to the commandant of Lima, to get 

 an order for passing mine without interruption. 

 I found him just mounting his own horse and 

 about to visit some posts in the town with two 

 dragoons after him. He spoke to me civilly, 

 but could give no order, he said, that would be 

 sufficient for my purpose. Salaverry was se- 

 veral leagues oflF, and the injunction to seize all 

 horses, unless countermanded by him, must be 

 obeyed. He recommended me to take mules. 

 I found the same difficulty in hiring mules, and 

 was obliged finally to put up with three asses, 

 which, towards the middle of the day, were 

 driven into the yard of the hotel, and one of 

 them loaded with my portmanteaus. As I 

 made sure of being robbed by somebody or 

 other, I got an order upon a merchant at 

 Callao for such money as I had occasion for to 

 take me to Payta. 



