142 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



CHAPTER VII. 



An Accident. — Journey continued. — Hacienda of Xcanchakan. — 

 An Indian Dance. — Whipping an Indian. — Hacienda of Mucuy- 

 che'. — A Bath in a Senote. — Hacienda of San Jose. — Arrival at 

 Uxmal. — First Sight of the Ruins. — Changes since last Visit. — 

 House of the Dwarf. — House of the Nuns. — Casa del Goberna- 

 dor. — Residence at the Ruins. — Unpromising Appearances.— 

 How to make a Fire. — Instance of Perseverance. — Arrival of 

 Luggage on the Backs of Indians. — First Night at Uxmal. 



The interest of our day at Mayapan came near 

 being marred by an unlucky accident. Just as we 

 were leaving the ruins a messenger came to inform 

 us that one of our pistols had shot an Indian. 

 These pistols had never shown any particular antip- 

 athy to Indians, and had never shot one before ; but, 

 hurrying back to the hacienda, we found the poor 

 fellow with two of his fingers nearly shot off. The 

 ball had passed through his shirt, making two holes 

 in it, fortunately without hitting bis body. The In- 

 dians said that the pistol had gone off of itself while 

 they were only looking at it. We felt sure that this 

 was not exactly the case, knowing that pistols are 

 not free agents, and laid the blame upon them ; but 

 it was a great satisfaction that the accident was no 

 worse, and also that Doctor Cabot was at hand to 

 dress the wound. The Indian seemed to think less 

 of it than we did. 



It was late when we left the hacienda. Our road 



