MORE PRACTICE IN SURGERY. 237 



as because it interfered with his other pursuits, the 

 doctor had avoided entering into general practice. 

 He was willing to attend to cases that might be 

 cured by a single operation, but the principal dis- 

 eases were fevers, which could not be cut out with 

 a knife. The day before, however, a young Indian 

 came to the ruins on an errand to Don Simon, who 

 had a leg swollen with varicose veins. He had a 

 mild expression, meek and submissive manners, and 

 was what Don Simon called, in speaking of his best 

 servants, muy docil, or very docile. He stood at 

 that time in an interesting position, being about to 

 be married. Don Simon had had him at Merida 

 six months, under the care of a physician, but with- 

 out any good result, and the young man was taking 

 his chance for better or worse, almost with the cer- 

 tainty of becoming in a few years disabled, and a 

 mass of corruption. Doctor Cabot undertook to 

 perform an operation, for which purpose it was ne- 

 cessary to go to the hacienda ; and, that we might 

 return with Mr. Camerden, we all went there to 

 breakfast. 



Under the corridor was an old Indian leaning 

 against a pillar, with his arms folded across his 

 breast, and before him a row of little Indian girls, 

 all, too, with arms folded, to whom he was teaching 

 the formal part of the church service, giving out a 

 few words, which they all repeated after him. As 

 we entered the corridor, he came up to us, bowed, 

 and kissed our hands, and all the little girls did the 

 same. 



