HACIENDA OF SACCACAL. 



235 



half past nine we reached a large aguada, the banks 

 of which were so muddy that it was impossible to 

 get down to it to drink. A league beyond we 

 reached another, surrounded by fine shade trees, 

 with a few ducks floating quietly upon its surface. 

 As we rode up Dr. Cabot shot a trogan, one of the 

 rare birds of that country, adorning by its brilliant 

 plumage the branches of an overhanging tree. We 

 lost an hour of hard riding by mistaking our road 

 among the several diverging tracks that led from the 

 aguada. It was very hot ; the country was deso- 

 late, and, suflering from thirst, we passed some In- 

 dians under the shade of a large seybo tree eating 

 tortillas and chili, to whom we rode up, confident 

 of procuring water ; but they either had none, or, 

 as Albino supposed, hid it away as we approached. 

 At one o'clock we came to another aguada, but the 

 bank was so muddy that it was impossible to get to 

 the water without miring our horses or ourselves, 

 and we were obliged to turn away without relief 

 from our distressing thirst. Beyond this we turned 

 off to the left, and, unusually fatigued with the heat 

 and hard riding, although we had come but eight 

 leagues, to our great satisfaction we reached the ha- 

 cienda of Zaccacal. 



Toward evening, escorted by the major domo and 

 a vaquero to show the way, I set out for the ruins. 

 At the distance of half a mile on the road to Te- 

 kax, we turned off into the woods to the left, and 

 very soon reached the foot of a stone terrace. The 



