Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1867-01-31
CHAPTER FIRST.

CHAPTER FIRST. ' -
We landed, my travelling com
Epanion and 1, at the dirty little
port of Sisal, and after following
half naked fellow driving two
bullocks attached to a truck-cart
Floaded with raw-hides about half
a mile, at last found ourselves in
the 'AIeson de San Ignacio." 1t
was a dirty howell, built of the un-
burnt brick or "adobes" Of that
country, apd used for every pur-
pose pertaining to the occupation
Iof ''mine host" in that halfcivil-
lied land. 1t had but one room,
long, narrow and without light,
except from the door, and in one
corner was built little fire, where
a short fat woman in white chemise
and red flannel petticoat was
making tortillas, while we were
shown to the other end of the
room and told to make ourselves
at home on a long bench covered
with sheep-skins. The "Mgor-
Domo" tumbled two of the. raw
hides down at our feet, and with
manv sscarrachos" tramped the
wrinkles out to make them lie
flat, and then piled the rest OF
them in the middle of the room.
Coffee, tortillas and dried mutton
furnished our repast, and soon
afterwards we wrapped our "sera-
pes" around us and betook cur
selves to the sheep-skins, having
previously made arrangements for
seats in the "diligencia" for Merl-
da on the following day. :
About day-break we were reused
| by a tremendous numbering at
the door, and after volley of
quaint Spanish curses, addressed
to several mules, each of which
he addressed by thename of some
saint, parchment-faced fellow
with jingling spurs, a broad SOM
brero, a thick blanket and a heavy
whip, made his appearance, call
ing for his breakfast.
+ BY this time OFarrol, my COM
panion, was dressed and out to in
spect our conveyance. .tatrs
"Como Sc llama esta, Senor?'
he asked of the major-domo in
Spanish which, as he said, was
reasonable, considering"
"La diligencia, Senor," said the
host, touching his sombrero.
'Is that the Spanish for cart?''
said Jerry turning to me.
SIN this case, certainly" | re.
piled "though not usually ! be.
llieve.' .4..fa . .-.r 8
Farther comments were pre-
vented by an imposing summons
from our host, and In ten. minutes
we had disposed of a reasonable
quantity Of the goat's-fesh and
tortillas, washed it down with
some strong coffee, and returned
to the street, where by this time
were assembled several Senores
with their blankets covering halt
their faces and their sombrero.
the other hall, gravely inspecting
what Jerry irreverenay yinsinuatee
should be called a cart.
eTres reales, Senor," said th'
don to my question for his bill
and he received the money witt
a lofty bow, which no doubt wa
meant to impress upon US tn
Iheightfrom which he condescendet
to accommodate us at all.
! "Cheap enough, ,"said ], handing
him the money
"And dear enough too," sail
Jerry, jumping into the "cart,
and making it groan piteously.
4 l"Ista! Mulas! Santa Maria
Santa Catharina! Santa Ursula!
etc., screamed the little courier
the crowd of Senores gravel.
raised their hats, the n,@or-dom'
bowed like a hidalgo, and we wer
OFF. y looked back and saw To
crowd close eagerly round "min
host" to inquire about the strar
gers; and the noble keeper OF tn
!, "Meson" drew himself mp proud
ly to give an account Of his 81
l,ustrious guests" A turn in tn
II -