TO THE RIO FLORIDO. 453 
We obtained water at a well here, for which we 
had to pay three cents a head for our animals. There 
was a large hacienda near, the people of which seemed 
to have no other means of living than what they obtain- 
ed from this tax on their water. This is not an unusual 
practice where wells have been sunk at a great ex- 
pense, and where men are kept to protect them. This 
was formerly a large stock estate; but being far from 
any town, its cattle have all been stolen by the Indians. 
The plain is here about twenty-five miles wide, 
being limited by ranges of mountains that distance 
apart. At the south, no mountains were visible. 
November 8th. Twelve miles brought us to the old 
town of Guajuquilla (pronounced Wa-hu-ke-yah). It 
is also known as Jémenes (after the patriot of that 
name) on the maps; but in no instance did I hear it 
called by any other than its primitive Indian title. 
This town is situated near the river Florido, and is the 
cleanest looking place we had thus far seen in the 
State, the capital only excepted. Its population is 
about seven thousand; but for so large a place, it 
shows very little activity, there being but three or 
four small shops, containing altogether less goods than 
would be found in a village store in the United States, 
where the population did not exceed one thousand. 
[t is altogether an agricultural town, being in the midst 
of a broad and fertile valley extending along both sides 
ofthe river. As it 1s off the main road, few travellers 
pass through it. Our little train, therefore, conducted 
by about forty armed men, brought out to their doors 
the occupants of the houses in the streets through 
which we passed. The people were more fair and 
