A WELL-STORED HUT. 



127 



in front, we saw a woman within mashing maize for 

 tortillas, which promised a speedy supper. She said 

 her husband was away ; but this made no differ- 

 ence to us, and, after a few more words, we all en- 

 tered, the woman at the moment bolting for the door, 

 and leaving us in exclusive possession. Very soon, 

 however, a Httle boy, about eight years old, came 

 down and demanded the maize, which we were loth 

 to give up, but did not consider ourselves authorized 

 to retain. Albino followed him, in hopes of persua- 

 ding the woman to return ; but as soon as she caught 

 a glimpse of him she ran into the woods. 



The hut of which we thus became the sudden 

 and involuntary masters was furnished with three 

 stones for a fireplace, a wooden horse for kneading 

 maize upon, a comal for baking tortillas, an earth- 

 en olla, or pot, for cooking, three or four waccals, 

 or gourds, for drinking-cups, and two small Indian 

 hammocks, which also were demanded and given 

 up. Besides these, there was a circular dining-ta- 

 ble about a foot and a half in diameter, supported 

 by three pegs about eight inches high, and some 

 blocks of wood about the same height for seats. 

 Overhead, suspended from the rafters, were three 

 large bundles of corn in the husk and two of beans 

 in the pod ; and on each string, about a foot above 

 these eatables, was half a calabash or squash, with 

 the rounded side up, like the shade over a lamp, 

 which, besides being ornamental, filled the office of 

 a rat-trap ; for these vermin, in springing from the 



