224 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



undergo another sweeping. After some deliberation, 

 it was decided in the affirmative, and about two 

 bushels more of dirt were carried out, which dis- 

 couraged us from carrying the process of cleaning 

 any farther. 



During my absence an addition had been made 

 to our household in a servant forwarded from Mer- 

 ida by the active kindness of the Dona Joaquina 

 Peon. He was a dark Mestizo named Albino, 

 short and thick, and so near being squint-eyed that 

 at the first glance I thought him a subject for Doc- 

 tor Cabot to practise on. Bernaldo was still on 

 hand, as also Chaipa Chi, the former under the doc- 

 tor's instructioi||^ as chef de cuisine, and Chaipa 

 still devoting all her energies to the business in 

 which she shone, the making of tortillas. 



In the afternoon we were comfortably settled in 

 our new quarters. We continued the precaution 

 of kindling a fire in one corner, to drive away ma- 

 laria, and at night we had a bonfire out of doors. 

 The grass and bushes which had been cut down on 

 the terrace, parched and dried by the hot sun, were 

 ready for the fire ; the flames lighted up the facade 

 of the great palace, and when they died away, the 

 full moon broke upon it, mellowing its rents and 

 fissures, and presenting a scene mournfully beau- 

 tiful. 



