40 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



supporting himself by his cane, he hobbled on to the 

 casa real, had it swept out, and assigned Indians to 

 attend upon us. If he wanted alacrity himself, he 

 infused it into his people, and made up for all defi- 

 ciencies by unqualified personal deference and re- 

 spect. It was a fine evening, and we spread our 

 supper-table under the arbour. The old alcalde re- 

 mained with us, and a group of Indians sat on the 

 steps, not like the proud and independent race of 

 Schawill, but acknowledging themselves criados, or 

 servants, bound to obey the orders of their mistress. 

 La senora was, in their eyes, a miniature print of 

 Queen Victoria, but skill in the use of figures may 

 arrive at the value of at least this part of her pos- 

 sessions. There were fifty-five labradores, or la- 

 bouring men, under an obligation to plant and har- 

 vest ten micates of maize for her benefit Each 

 micate produces ten cargas, or loads, making in all 

 five hundred and fifty, which, at three reals per car- 

 ga, gives as the revenue this lady comes regularly to 

 collect, about two hundred dollars per annum ; but 

 this gives more power than lands or money to any 

 amount in our country could give ; and the labra- 

 dores being all free and independent electors, fifty- 

 five votes could always be calculated upon in an 

 emergency for the side of principle and la senora. 



Having made our arrangements for the next day, 

 we went into the hut and shut the door. Some 

 time afterward the old alcalde sent in to ask permis- 

 sion to go home, as he was very sleepy, which we 



