i6o 
CAVE AND CLIFF DWELLERS. 
to do it, that is, to erect corner towers at 
the four corners of the mud box, and con¬ 
vert it into a building of defense. In the 
picturesque mountain scenery it looked 
at a short distance away like an old 
castle, and only a nearer inspection dis¬ 
pelled the illusion. 
While at Cusihuiriachic we had looked 
with some contempt on the primitive 
accommodations of its forlorn and di¬ 
lapidated hotel, and had rather scouted 
the idea of its being possible to find 
a worse place or greater disregard for 
the common necessities of life in any 
habitable town. The little cell-like room, 
with its wooden bench, tin wash basin, 
and bare brick floor on which to stow 
one’s bedding, seemed to be the ex¬ 
treme of simplicity; therefore we be¬ 
lieved that Carichic could hardly do less 
