190 MEXICO. 
front another Sierra stretches along the horizon ; and in the foreground 
of the pictvire, a lake, near a mile in circuit, spreads out its silver sheet 
in the sunset, margined with wide-spreading trees and covered with water- 
fowl. 
The house is built of mud and reed's, matted together ; that is, there 
are four walls without other aperture but a door, while a thatch, supported 
on poles, spreads on either side from the roof-tree, forming a porch in 
front. This thatch is not allowed to touch the tops of the walls, but be- 
tween them and it, all around the house, a space of five or six feet has 
been left, by means of which a fi'ee circulation of air is kept up within. 
The interior (of one room,) is in perfect keeping with this aboriginal sim- 
plicity. Along the western wall there are a number of wretched engra- 
vings of saints, with inscriptions and verses beneath them ; next, a huge 
picture of the Virgin of Guadalupe, with tarnished gilded rays, blazes 
in the centre ; and near the corner is nailed a massive cross, with the 
%ure of our Saviour apparently bleeding at every pore. A reed and 
spear are crossed below it, and large wreaths and festoons of marigolds 
are hung around. Six tressels, with reeds spread over them, stand 
ao^ainst the wall ; and in one corner a dilapidated canopy, with a tattered 
curtain, rears its pretentious head to do the honors of state-bedstead 
The floor is of earth, and, in a corner, are safely stowed our saddles, bridles, 
guns, pistols, holsters, swords and spurs ; so that taking a sidelong glance 
at the whole establishment, you might well doubt whether you were in a 
stable, church, sleeping-room or chicken-coop ! 
Don Miguel Benito — the owner and proprietor of this valuable cata- 
logue of domestic comforts — received us with great cordiality. He is a 
man some fifty years of age ; delights in a shirt, the sleeves of which 
have been so long rolled up, that there is no longer anything to roll down , 
and a pair of those elastic leather-breeches that last one's life-time in 
Mexico, and grow to any size that may be required, as the fortunate 
owner happens to fatten with his years. Not the least curious part of 
Don Miguel's household, is his female establishment. He appears to be a 
sort of Grand Turk, as not less than a dozen women, of all colors and 
complexions, hover about his dwellings, while at least an equal number 
of little urchins, with light hair and dark, (but all with an extraordinary 
resemblance to the Don,) roll over the mud floors of the neighboring huts, 
or amuse themselves by lassoing the chickens. 
Q, J the caterer of our mess, thought it but a due compliment to Don 
Miguel, who does not disdain to receive your money, to order supper — 
though we resolved to fall back in case of necessity upon our own stores, 
and accordingly, unpacked some pots of soup and sardines. 
In the course of an hour, a board was spread upon four sticks, and in 
the middle of it M^as placed a massive brown earthen platter, with ^' 
stew. At the same time, a dirty copper spoon and a hot tortillia w. 
laid before each of us. Although we had determined to hol>i . urselv^s 
m reserve for our soups, yet there was but little left of the sa-vory mess. 
