338 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



ages along the coast, going and returning, and would 

 require, perhaps, a fortnight to reach Tancah, which 

 we had expected to arrive at in three days ; but 

 there were villages and ranchos on the road, and 

 the chance of a canoa was so much greater that, 

 under the circumstances, we were glad of such an 

 alternative. 



In the midst of the vexation attending this de- 

 rangement of our plan, we were cheered by the com^ 

 fortable appearance of the convent, and the warm 

 reception given us by the cura Garcia. The sala 

 was furnished with pictures and engravings from 

 Scott's novels, made for the Spanish market, with 

 Spanish lettering ; looking-glasses, with gilt frauies, 

 from El Norte, and a large hand organ, horribly out 

 of tune, which, in compliment to us, the cura set to 

 grinding out " God save the King !" And, besides 

 all this, the smiling faces of women were peeping at 

 us through the doors, who at length, unable to re- 

 press their curiosity, crowded each other into the 

 room. The cura sat with us till a late hour, and 

 when we retired followed us to our room, and stood 

 by us till we got into our hammocks. His cura- 

 cy extended to the coast. The ruins which we pro- 

 posed visiting were within it, but he had never vis- 

 ited that part, and now talked seriously of going 

 with us. 



The next day Dr. Cabot was taken with a fever, 

 which the cura said he was almost thankful for, 

 and we were glad of an excuse for passing the day 



