the termination of a savage affray in the opposite house, in which braining with clubs and stones was the fashion, than we set about our inquiries in considerable confidence, as there could be no question but the ruins, after all, were to be found in this neighbourhood. Our host and his neighbours were first applied to. Quien sabe? quien sabe? was all we got for our pains. We went to a young merchant, the only European resident of any standing here: he had never heard of the existence of such a place. At length we determined to make use of a note of introduction to the principal cura of the town; and here we were more successful. He knew that Xochicalco existed, but he had never visited it. According to him, it lay among a group of hills which he pointed out to us from his window, across the great plain, called the Cerro de Xochicalco; and he promised to furnish us with a guide for the following day, and perhaps to accompany us himself He stated the distance was perhaps three, or at most four leagues.
Jaded as we were, we set about our preparations with alacrity. As our speedy advance to the coast was now a matter of absolute necessity, we determined to spare our horses as far as practicable: and, with infinite pains, borrowed two others, in order to leave them to their repose for the time of our absence. We decided to set off at daybreak, leaving Garcia and the arriero to proceed with the mules to the town of Yautepec, six leagues distant: with the intention, on our parts, after our anticipated return from our excursion in the course of the afternoon, to take our fresh horses and follow them thither. Wise and good projects, but, like many human ones, vain nevertheless!
That a restless night should follow a day of excitement and exposure like the last, was not to be wondered at. The doubt which hung over our whole projects of advance to Vera Cruz, and our fate there, did not perhaps mend the matter; and for my part I own, that at dawn, I arose from the floor of the chamber where we
