HACIENDA OF MUCUYCHE. 147 



country ; if need be, to die for it. The Indians are 

 roused, but in the midst of his exhortations a stran- 

 ger enters in the dress of a Spaniard and armed 

 with a musket. The sight of this stranger throws 

 them all into consternation ; he fires the musket, 

 and they fall to the ground. He binds the chief, 

 carries him off captive, and the play is ended. 



After breakfast the cura left us to return to his 

 village, and we set out to continue our journey to 

 Uxmal. Our luggage was sent off by Indians of the 

 hacienda, and the major domo accompanied us on 

 horseback. Our road was by a bridle path over the 

 same stony country, through thick woods. The 

 whole way it lay through the lands of the provisor, 

 all wild, waste, and desolate, and showing the fatal 

 effects of accumulation in the hands of large landed 

 proprietors. In two hours we saw rising before us 

 the gate of the hacienda of Mucuyche. To the as- 



