THE CUR A OF TICUL. 257 



With great difficulty I dragged myself to our apart- 

 ments. My thirst was unquenchable. I threw my- 

 self into my hammock, and in a few moments a 

 fiery fever was upon me. Our household was 

 thrown into consternation. Disease had stalked all 

 around us, but it was the first time it had knocked 

 at our door. 



On the third day, while in the midst of a violent 

 attack, a gentleman arrived whose visit I had expect- 

 ed, and had looked forward to with great interest. 

 It was the cura Carillo of Ticul, a village seven 

 leagues distant. A week after our arrival at the 

 ruins, the mayoral had received a letter from him, 

 asking whether a visit would be^ acceptable to us. 

 We had heard of him as a person who took more 

 interest in the antiquities of the country than almost 

 any other, and who possessed more knowledge on 

 the subject. He had been in the habit of coming to 

 Uxmal alone to wander among the ruins, and we 

 had contemplated an excursion to Ticul on purpose 

 to make his acquaintance. We were, therefore, 

 most happy to receive his overture, and advised him 

 that we should anxiously expect his visit. His first 

 words to me were, that it was necessary for me to 

 leave the place and go with him to Ticul. I was 

 extremely reluctant to do so, but it was considered 

 advisable by all. He would not consent to my go- 

 ing alone, or with his servant, and the next morning, 

 instead of a pleasant visit to the ruins, he found him- 

 self trotting home with a sick man at his heels. In 



Vol. I.— K k 



