Page:Our Sister Republic - Mexico.djvu/53

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A MEXICAN COACH AND SIX.
47

done the honors of his country house to the party Señor Huarte announced his intention of accompanying us to Colima, and acting the host there. As we left La Calera, the party consisted of Mr. Seward, Fred Seward and wife, Abijah Fitch, Señor Don Francisco, Javier Cueva, Governor of Colima, Senor Francisco Gomez Palencia, his Secretary, who is also "Diputado Suplente al Congreso de la Union" from Colima, Señor Damiar Garcia, "Capitan de buque y Director Politico de Manzanillo" Señor don Luis Rendon. "Administrador del Aduana Maritima del Departamento de Colima;" Señor Jacinto Cañedo, "Oficial 2º de la Aduana Maritima del Manzanillo;" Dr. Augustus Morrill, Consul of the United Sates at Colima, the writer, and about fifty followers of all classes, not forgetting to mention Mr. Seward's colored servant, John Butler, who condescendingly taught our language to the Mexican servitors down stairs, while Mr. Fitch did the same to our host above. If "Pigeon-English" did not break out as an epidemic at La Calera immediately after our departure. I can only account for the fact by assigning it to a special interposition of an All-Merciful Providence, in behalf of an afflicted people.

To each coach, four little mules were harnessed abreast at the lead, and two a trifle larger at the wheel. Half a dozen men held the six mules until ready to run, then we "cast off;" the "cochero yelled," the "postillion" cursed, and cracked his whip, and we went off like a railroad train. When we came to a particularly heavy place in the road the cochero hissed, "ist, i-s-a-h, i-i-i-s-s-s-t-a-a-a!" and shouted, "Aha, ha-ha-ha-ha, ha, h-a-a-a-a!" incessantly, while the postillion lashed the poor little panting mules furiously, and occasionally jumped off and varied