12 



INCIDE?ITS OF TRAVEL. 



a village. The casa real, like that at Chack, was a 

 large hut, with mud walls and a thatched roof. It 

 had an open place in front about a hundred feet 

 square, enclosed bj a fence made of poles, and sha- 

 ded by an arbour of palm leaves. Around the hut 

 were large sejbo trees. The casa real is erected in 

 every rancho of Indians expressly for the reception 

 of the cura on his occasional or perhaps barely pos- 

 sible visits, but it is occupied also by small dealers 

 from the villages, who sometimes find their way to 

 these ranchos to buy up hogs, maize, and fowls. 

 The hut, when swept out, and comparatively clear 

 of fleas, made a large and comfortable apartment, 

 and furnished ample swinging room for six ham- 

 mocks, being the number requisite for our whole ret- 

 inue. 



This place was under the parochial charge of 

 our friend the cura of Ticul, who, however, owing 

 to the multiplicity of his other occupations, had vis- 

 ited it but once. The padrecito had sent notice 

 of our coming, and had charged the people to be in 

 readiness to receive us. Immediately on our arri- 

 val, therefore, Indians were at hand to procure ra- 

 mon for the horses, but there was no water. The 

 rancho had no well, and was entirely dependant on 

 that of Chack, three miles distant. For two reals, 

 however, the Indians undertook to procure us four 

 cantaros, one for each horse, which would serve for 

 the night. In the evening we had a formal visit from 

 the alcalde and his alguazils, and half the village be- 

 sides. 



