JOURNEY TO BOLONCHEN. 



137 



CHAPTER VIIL 



Journey to Bolonchen. — Bad Road. — Large Hacienda. — Impo- 

 sing Gateway.— An inhospitable Host.— Ruins of Ytsimpte. — 

 Ruined Edifice. — Staircase with sculptured Stones. — Square 

 Building. — Facade decorated with Pillars. — Ruined Walls. — 

 Remains of a sculptured Figure. — Character and Aspect of 

 the Ruins. — Departure. — Arrival at the Village of Bolonchen. 

 — Scene of Contentment. — Wells. — Derivation of the Word Bo- 

 lonchen. — Origin of the Wells unknown. — The Cura. — Visit to 

 an extraordinary Cave. — Entrance to it. — Precipitous Descents. 

 — A wild Scene. — Rude Ladders. — Dangers of the Descent. — 

 Indian Name of this Cave. — A subterranean Ball-room. — Cav- 

 ernous Chamber. — Numerous Passages. — Great Number of 

 Ladders. — Rocky Basin of Water. — Great Depth of the Cave. 

 — A Bath in the Basin. — Its Indian Name. — Return to the 

 Rocky Chamber. — Exploration of another Passage. — Another 

 Basin. — Indian Stories. — Two other Passages and Basins. — 

 Seven Basins in all. — Indian Names of the remaining five. — 

 Want of Philosophical Instruments. — Surface of the Country. 

 — This Cave the sole Watering-place of a large Indian Village. 

 — Return. — Visit to the Cura. — Report of more Ruins. 



At daylight the next morning the woman was on 

 the spot to remind us of om* promise. We gave her 

 a cup of coffee, and with a small present, which 

 amply satisfied her for our forcible occupation of 

 her hut, left her again in possession. 



Our party this morning divided into three parcels. 

 The carriers set out direct for Bolonchen ; Mr. 

 Catherwood went, under the guidance of Dimas, to 

 make a drawing of the last building, and Doctor 

 Cabot, myself, and Albino to visit another ruined 



Vol. IL— S 



