k CARICOCHE. 



211 



the Indians, it was a rare thing to see a woman in 

 that state ; it was really an interesting spectacle to 

 see these poor women, with their children around 

 them, supporting and conducting homeward their in- 

 toxicated husbands. 



At four o'clock I set off with Don Lorenzo Peon, 

 a brother of Don Simon, for Maxcanu. Our mode 

 of conveyance, much used in Yucatan, but new to 

 me, was called a caricoche. It was a long wagon, 

 on two large wheels, covered with cotton cloth as a 

 protection against the sun, and on the bottom was 

 stretched a broad mattress, on which two persons 

 could recline at full length. If they would sit up, it 

 was large enough for three or four. It was drawn 

 by one horse, with a driver riding as postillion, and 

 another horse followed to change. The road was 

 broad, even, and level. It was the camino real be- 

 tween Merida and Campeachy, and would pass in 

 any country for a fair carriage-road. All along we 

 passed parties of Indians returning from the fair. In 

 an hour we came in sight of the sierra which trav- 

 erses at that point the whole peninsula of Yucatan 

 from east to west. The sight of hills was cheering, 

 and with the reflection of the setting sun upjii them, 

 they presented almost the first fine scenel^I had 

 encountered in the country. In an hour and ten 

 minutes we reached Maxcanu, twelve miles distant, 

 being by far the greatest speed at which I ever trav- 

 elled in Yucatan. 



The hacienda of Don Lorenzo was in this neigh- 



