128 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



The village consisted entirely of huts, or casas de 

 paja. The church had been commenced on a large 

 scale, under the direction of a former cura, w^ho af- 

 terv^ard became dissatisfied v\^ith the people, and 

 discontinued the building. One end w^as covered 

 over, and fitted up rudely as a chapel ; beyond w^ere 

 two high w^alls, but roofless. 



In the square of this little village v^^as a great se- 

 note, or subterraneous w^ell, which supplied all the 

 inhabitants with water. At a distance the square 

 seemed level and unbroken ; but women walking 

 across it with cantaros or water-jars suddenly disap- 

 peared, and others seemed to rise out of the earth. 

 On a nearer approach, we found a great orifice or 

 opening in the rocky surface, like the mouth of a 

 cave. The descent was by irregular steps cut and 

 worn in the rocks. Over head was an immense 

 rocky roof, and at a distance of perhaps five hun- 

 dred feet from the mouth was a large basin or res- 

 ervoir of water. Directly over the water the roof 

 was perhaps sixty feet high ; and there was an 

 opening above which threw down a strong body 

 of light. The water had no current, and its source 

 was a mystery. During the rainy season it rises a 

 little, but never falls below a certain point, and at 

 all times it is the only source of supply to the in- 

 habitants. Women, with their water-jars, were 

 constantly ascending and descending ; swallows 

 were darting through the cave in every direction, 

 and the whole formed a wild, picturesque, and ro- 

 mantic scene. 



