GAMBLING. 



175 



giving an indication of life and activity not usual in 

 the older villages ; but drawing nearer, w^e noticed 

 that the crowd was stationary, and, on reaching it, 

 we found that, according to an afternoon custom, 

 all the principal inhabitants were gathered around a 

 card-table, playing monte ; rather a bad symptom, 

 but these hardy pioneers exhibited one good trait of 

 character in their close attention to the matter in 

 hand. They gave us a passing glance and contin- 

 ued the game. Hanging on the outskirts of the 

 crowd, however, were some who, not having the 

 wherewithal to join in the stakes, bestowed them- 

 selves upon us. Among them was one who claim- 

 ed us as acquaintances, and said that he had been 

 anxiously looking for us. He had kept the " run" 

 of us as far as Bolonchen, but had then lost us 

 entirely, and was relieved when we accounted for 

 ourselves by mentioning our disappearance in the 

 woods of Labphak. This gentleman was about fifty, 

 dressed in the light costume of the place, with straw 

 hat and sandals, and it was no great recommenda- 

 tion to him when he told us that he had made our 

 acquaintance at Nohcacab. He was an emigrant 

 from that place, and on a visit when he saw us there. 

 He claimed Dr. Cabot more particularly as his friend, 

 and the latter remembered receiving from him some 

 really friendly offices. He apologized for not being 

 able to show us many attentions at that place ; it 

 was his pueblo, but he had no house there; this was 

 his home, and here he could make amends. He 



