164 INCIDENTS OP TRAVEL. 



might know exactly our whereabout, Mr. Cather- 

 wood took an observation, by which he found the 

 latitude of Uxmal to be 20° 27' 30" N. 



Our Indians made a good beginning, and by the af- 

 ternoon we had the upper terrace cleared. Toward 

 evening they all left us, including Chaipa Chi, and 

 at night, while the moon was glimmering mournfully 

 over the ruins, we had a stroll along the whole front 

 of the Casa del Gobernador. 



We were in no hurry to retire, and when we did 

 so it was with some misgivings. Besides a little 

 general attention to what was going on out of doors, 

 the principal business of the day had been to pre- 

 pare our moscheto-nets, and for this we grudged no 

 time, labour, or ingenuity ; but our success was com- 

 plete. Throughout the whole long apartment there 

 was a continued singing and whizzing, lower or 

 louder as the musicians came near or retired, furi- 

 ous at being defrauded of their prey, but they could 

 not touch us. Our satisfaction went beyond that of 

 the mere prospect for the night, for we felt sure of 

 rest after labour, and of being able to maintain our 

 ground. 



The next day we made a valuable addition to our 

 household. Among the Indians who came out to 

 work was a lad who spoke Spanish. He was the 

 puniest, lankest, and leanest of any we had seen on 

 the hacienda, and his single garment was the dirti- 

 est. His name was Bernaldo. He was but fifteen, 

 and he was already experiencing the vicissitudes of 



