NOTICES OP PERU. 



363 



rently comfortless. In one corner was a bed, in which one 

 of Panehita's two sons was lying sick with a disease of the skin. 



Though the widow Panchita was so nearly alone, she re- 

 plied quietly to our salutation, while she continued her em- 

 ployment, nor did she evince the least surprise at our visit 



We had a letter for a Mr. C , and we inquired the way 



of reaching that gentleman's hacienda or estate. She told us, 

 that Guacatambo, the name of the hacienda, was at least three 

 leagues distant, and she had no bestias" to hire, nor had she 

 any body to send to the estate to bring us horses. We sug- 

 gested, that the boy, Jacinto, who was standing by, might go 

 on the <^btarro" that was tethered before the door, amusing 

 himself with a bundle of grass ; but Panchita said, that Jacinto 

 was the only aid she had ; and added, that we might get horses 

 at Guambacho, which was only a league and a half off, and 

 that we might walk there in a little while. After some per- 

 suasion, she consented that Jacinto should mount the donkey 

 and act as our guide, which the little fellow seemed right glad 

 to do. 



We acted on the widow's suggestion, and the whole party, 

 boat's crew and all, set off for the pueblo of Guambacho. The 

 sun was powerfully hot, and the road deep in sand, which in- 

 creased the heat by its reflection. The country is wild and 

 uncultivated, covered with thorn bushes and a few algarrobo 

 trees. 



We found the distance a long league and a half, and indeed 

 we were afterwards informed that it rather exceeded two. 

 When we entered Guambacho, the whole pueblo was assem- 

 bled at one rancho, drinking chicha and making merry, be- 

 cause it was Sunday. The houses, or rather ranchos, are some 

 six or eight in number, and the whole population cannot ex- 

 ceed fifty souls. The men had drunk enough to make their 

 speech a little thick, and to enlarge their hearts. The women 

 were less afiected by the drink, and all gave us a hearty wel- 

 come. We made known our desire to hire horses for Guaca- 

 tambo, which they told us was about a league distant, but all 

 said there were no horses to be had. There were two horses 

 and a mule standing by the rancho, and one of the men said 



♦ 



