A FIELD OF TAH. 



29 



CHAPTER 11. 



Visit to a ruined Building near Chack. — A Field of Taje.— Descrip- 

 tion of the Building. — Hornet's Nest. — Young Vulture. — Pictu- 

 resque View from the Terrace. — Well of Chack. — Exploration 

 of its Passages.— Return to the Rancho. — Departure from Scha- 

 wilL — The Camino Real. — Rancho of Sennacte. — Wild Appear- 

 ance of the Indians. — Continued Scarcity of Water. — Another 

 ruined City. — Two ruined Buildings. — Apartments, Columns, 

 &c. — High Wall. — Journey continued. — Rancho of Sabachshe. 

 — Casa Real. — Well. — Hut of the Alcalde. — The Senora. — Ruins 

 of Sabachshe. — Picturesque Edifice. — Alacrity of the Indians. — 

 Facade. — Pilasters, Cornices, &c. — Encounter with an Iguana. — 

 Another Ruined Building. — The Agave Americana. — More 

 Ruins. — The Red Hand. — The Red Hand used as a Symbol by 

 the North American Indians. — Conclusions to be deduced from 

 this Circumstance. — Delicate Manner of doing a Service. 



The next morning, while Mr. Catlierwood was 

 engaged in drawing tlie building represented in the 

 last engraving, Dr. Cabot and myself set out to visit 

 the one which we had passed in coming from the 

 rancho of Chack. 



In the suburbs of the rancho we turned off to the 

 right by a path, which we followed for some distance 

 on horseback, when it changed its direction, and 

 we dismounted. From this place our guides cut a 

 path through the woods, and we came out upon a 

 large field of taje, being long stems growing close 

 together, eight or ten feet high, straight, and about 

 half an inch thick, having a yellow flower on the 



