456 CHIHUAHUA 
more closely, the fellow acknowledged that he had 
not been there in twenty years, and had forgotten 
their precise locality. He also pretended to be much 
alarmed on account of the Indians, and declared that 
it was not safe to go further. The Doctor, however, 
compelled him to lead them about for miles in every 
direction, but to no purpose. 
Yn the afternoon we resumed our journey, intend- 
ing to reach Zotonzlco, about ten miles distant; but 
we had not proceeded far before we found the road 
overflowed by the bursting of an acequia which ran 
by its side. The wagons sank deep in the mud, ren- 
dering it extremely difficult to get along. On both 
sides of the road were hedge fences, so that we could 
not turn out. Mr. Flotte’s large carriage got mired; 
and in the struggle to extricate it, the tongue and 
hounds were broken. In consequence of this delay, 
night overtook us before we had completed our day’s 
journey, and rendered it difficult to find our way. 
Finally, in crossing a bridge over a large acequia near 
the Hacienda blanca, our large provision wagon, ‘‘ the 
ark,” broke through a hole, which was not perceived 
by those in advance, upset, and precipitated its con- 
tents into the water. This accident was a serious one, 
as the vehicle contained all our provisions for forty 
days. There was no alternative, therefore, but to stop 
where we were, directly in the road, closely hemmed 
in with mezquit bushes. Our men were obliged to 
jump into the water, which was three feet deep and 
about fifteen wide. Many things sank to the bottom. 
Our flour, which was in sacks, sugar, coffee, rice, etc., 
were thoroughly wet. 
