TO THE RIO FLORIDO. 463 
the occupants to possess cultivated minds, as well as 
taste. Our gentlemanly host very politely invited us 
to remain to breakfast ;* but we were obliged to ex- 
euse ourselves, on the ground that we had breakfasted 
before leaving, and that it was necessary to rejoin our 
party on the Rio Florido without delay. 
Taking leave of our polite friends, we pursued our 
journey across the plateau, and reached the Hacienda 
del Rio Fliorido, nine miles distant, at three o'clock, 
where we found the party already encamped. 
Several mules were taken sick to-day in conse- 
quence of the greenness of the corn (maize) they had 
eaten; and one of them died; notwithstanding every 
effort to save him. 
This place consists of a large hacienda with a col- 
onnade of stone, the capitals of the columns being in 
the Moorish style. It stands on the margin of the 
plateau, overlooking the valley of the river, and has a 
very picturesque appearance. Adjoining this building 
is a church, well constructed of stone, and of a better 
description than any we had seen since leaving Chi- 
huahua. These buildings were erected by Juan Ce- 
réra, a Spanish priest, at which time it was considered 
one of the richest haciendas in Mexico. At his death 
it was divided among three of his nephews. A con- 
siderable village, with about a thousand inhabitants, 
now surrounds the hacienda. Twenty-six tolerably 
* The usual hour for breakfast among the higher classes in Mexi- 
co is twelve o’clock. On rising in the morning a cup of coffee or choco- 
late only is taken, sometimes with the addition of a cracker. Dinner is 
taken about five, and supper at ten. Many take but two meals, the 
second one, answering for dinner and supper, at seven in the evening. 
