114 



RIDE TO CALLAO. 



I not only carried my purse empty^ but 

 covered my straw hat with a dirty old ragged 

 one of the donkey driver^s; and when I mounted 

 my ass at Lima gate^ without coat or waist- 

 coat^ equipped with nothing but a pack-saddle 

 and a halter, I felt no alarm at exciting the 

 rapacity of the monteneros. 



I took leave of my fellow traveller, the 

 doctor, not without great regret ; for we had 

 shared together all the fatigue and danger of a 

 long journey, in perfect kindness and harmony. 

 He, and Mr. Lang, a merchant, accompanied 

 me to the end of the town, and by the latter 

 gentleman I was intrusted with a letter, which 

 he dehvered, to be taken by me, or forwarded, if 

 I did not go myself to Guayaquil. I put it into 

 the breast of my shirt at the time ; and I men- 

 tion it here because it gave rise to some em- 

 barrassment before I got on board the Blonde. 

 As I was jogging down the avenue of poplars 



