328 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



den among the cornstalks was the stately figure of 

 Chaipa Chi. She seemed to be regarding us with 

 a mournful gaze. Alas ! poor Chaipa Chi, the 

 white man's friend ! never again will she make tor- 

 tillas for the Ingleses in Uxmal ! A month after- 

 ward she was borne to the campo santo of the ha- 

 cienda. The sun and rain are beating upon her 

 grave. Her bones will soon bleach on the rude 

 charnel pile, and her skull may perhaps one day, by 

 the hands of some unscrupulous traveller, be con- 

 veyed to Doctor S. G. Morton of Philadelphia. 



Our departure from Uxmal was such a complete 

 rout, that it really had in it something of the ludi- 

 crous, but we were not in condition to enjoy it at 

 the time. Notwithstanding the comparatively easy 

 movement of the coche, both Mr. C. and I suffered 

 excessively, for, being made of poles hastily tied to- 

 gether, the vehicle yielded under the irregular steps 

 of the carriers. At the distance of two leagues they 

 laid us down under a large seybo tree, opposite the 

 hacienda of Chetulish, part of the domain of Uxmal 

 As if in mockery of us, the Indians were all out of 

 doors in holyday dresses, celebrating the opening 

 of the new year. We remained a short time for 

 our carriers to rest, and in two hours we reached 

 the village of Nohcacab, and were laid down at the 

 door of the casa real. When we crawled out, the 

 miserable Indians who had borne us on their shoul- 

 ders were happy compared with us. 



The arrival of three Ingleses was an event with- 



