io8 
RUBBER PLANTING ON THE 
make myself comfortable, as bad a half dozen Mexicans, each of whom 
had a similar resting place. 
All were not asleep, however; in fact, my nearest neighbor, a mus- 
cular young mozo, was just disrobing. While he undressed, his hat, 
which lay on the cot, showed that it was preempted. Everything was 
peaceful ; the snores of the sleepers, the stamping of the horses outside, 
the grunting of the pigs that had come in the open doorway and were 
seeking what they could devour, and the scratching of the flea tormented 
LA FLORENCIA. — TAPPING LARGE WILD RUBBER TREE. 
dogs, being the only sounds of life. Breaking in upon all this peace 
came the big Swede, with a very substantial “jag,” and took possession 
of the moso’s cot, throwing his hat upon the floor, whereupon the native 
drew his knife, preparatory to a pointed argument. Not that I cared 
particularly for the mozo, or for the Swede, but in the interests of fair 
play I interfered, telling the latter that if he insisted upon taking the 
cot, the mozo should have mine, whereupon he went out with some 
grumbling, and wrapping myself in my blanket I went to sleep, feeling 
