Chap. VI.—B. S.] RIDE THROUGH CHONTALES. 
87 
but as time is not considered of importance by the 
natives of Central America, it was not until the 24th 
that the necessary number of horses could be pur¬ 
chased. 
At 9 a.m. on the 24th the travellers were able to 
make a start for their long ride through Chontales. 
The cavalcade consisted of a guide, with a led horse, 
or rather one tied to the tail of his own animal, car¬ 
rying the baggage; next, Captain Pirn himself, with 
a spare horse tied to his horse’s tail in like manner, 
then Mr. George Chambers, the well-known painter, 
and lastly Mr. Paul; it being necessary to maintain 
single file, as the roads were only narrow tracks. The 
country was low, and in some places swampy, covered 
with high grass, and dotted all over with clumps of 
trees and shrubs, very much resembling an English 
park, but in certain places next to impassable in the 
wet season. About one o’clock they arrived at the 
Camastre, a broad estero, over which an enterprising 
native had thrown a bridge composed entirely of 
bamboo, and which, though fragile enough, served its 
purpose admirably. At three o’clock they reached 
the river Tepinaguasapa, emptying itself into the 
lake. Here they stopped to dine, and afterwards, 
pushing on, reached a casera about five o’clock, where 
they remained the night. Sleep, however, was out 
of the question. A tiger entered the enclosure and 
nearly caused a stampede amongst the cattle, whilst 
smaller animals, scarcely less active, gave the ex¬ 
plorers no rest until daylight. 
They started soon after dawn, having breakfasted 
