46 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



out into the courtyard and buried it. There it 

 would have remained till this day but for a mali- 

 cious dog which accompanied them on their next vis- 

 it ; he passed into the courtyard, rooted it up, and, 

 while we were pointing to the empty platters as our 

 acknowledgment of their kindness, this villanous dog 

 sneaked through the sala and out at the front door 

 with the pie in his mouth, apparently grown bigger 

 since it was buried. 



The fetes were now ended, and we were not sor- 

 ry, for now, for the first time, we had a prospect of 

 having our clothes washed. Ever since our arrival, 

 our linen, &c, accumulated during the voyage, had 

 stood in gaping bundles, imploring us to do some- 

 thing for them, but during the continuance of the 

 fiestas not a lavandera in Merida could be found to 

 take in washing. 



