Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-27

In fact he regarded their presence al
quite a tribute 10 our fine playing. He
would grow so nervous with excite
ment over the game at times as TO be
unable to make the plainest caroom.
In this manner FIVE days rolled by SC
delightfully."- as to make us forget hat
we had many days of travel before us.
We had now traversed a distance Of
337 miles. Our mules were ~necessari-
" taxed BY the heavy burdens they
had carried so willingly for such a dis
lance. Already one mule had be-
come disabled and we were compelled
to purchase another. This accident
developed to us the
ENORMOUS SUMS
for which these mules sell. The ordi-
nary price for a little stunted animal
is from $l25 to $3.50, though we heard
of several bringing the fabulous sums
Of $500 and 300. Though very small
in size and unprepoSsessing in appear
ance, these little mules stand the bur-
den of travel here much better than
those larger ones. which have been
imported from the United States.
Over roads, which a person acquainted
with good thoreughfares would regard
as almost impossible, these little ami
mails will easily carry a burden of 200
pounds or more for number of sue
cessive days.
Though we had contemplated push
ing our journey as far as San Salvador
city, we changed our mind and from
this city we turned our faces nee
more towardSan Pedro and the north
ern coast.
HOMEWARD BOUND"
Desiring to visit the mining dis
tricts of Gradias and Erandique, we
concluded to come back through that
part of Honduras, Though this i'm
mediate section had just been the
scene of a rebellion it had about been
quelled. This was the reason of our
not taking this route at first instead
of the one we had come.
Leaving San Vincente on the Both
we took an almost due north course,
but we were soon windingabout among
hills and mountains, until | think we
had travelled toward all the points of
the compass. For several DAYS our
progress was exceedingly slow, owing
to a rough mountainous road, and to
add to our discomfort and further re-
tard our movements, | was stricken
down with fever. We had reached a
little city called Victoria, neal the
border of Honduras, and owing to my
fever we were compelled to stop at
this place nearly all day until it wore
of. Late in the afternoon we saddled
our horses and had commenced our
journey up a steep mountain, at the
foot OF which this city is situated.
we had not gone halfway up when swo
policemen came running after us.
armed with long maehetes, bringing
us the intelligence that we were want
ed before the alcalde at the cabilda.
All persons in this country have a
horror for the cabilda such and as
great, | imagine, as the Protestants had
for the lnquisition. 1t is a pretended
court Of justice, where some ignorant
alcalde is judge of the law and the
facts, and oftener decides a grave case
upon mere caprice or within than 9TH
erwise. Imagine, then, our feelings.
when We we're summoned to this in
stltutiOn to answer we knew not what.
We appeared, however, before his
honor, and to our great relief his only
object was to search our baggage for
eOntraband goods.
The government having assumed
control Of all the tobacco and whisky
trade, is very strict in regard to SNUG
Cling, and to this end its officials
throughout the State have been in
structed to watch closely for those
selling or carrying contraband mer-
chandise.
We dragged along until we reached
krandique, when | had to take to bed.
Medicines were scarce and hard to get.
and, as to a physician, | don't suppose
one was ever heard Of in the town.
Thanks to Mr.. Peacock, who is a large
opal miner here, who came to my as
slstance with a few medicines he had
for family use, giving as we'll his ex-
p%erience in the treatment of fever. and
at the end Of six days | was able to
travel again.
This is the great opal mining dis
trict Of Honduras. Mr.. Peacock told
US that he had mines which were in
exhaustable-that a thousand years
could not gather all the opals in the
vicinity ofthe city.
THE CAVE OF BLOOD.
Not very far from here is the Cave
Of Blood, of which we had frequently
heard, but did not have the emporium
ity Of visiting. We were. however.
informed Of its peculiarities by Mr.. p
1t is an immense cavern, which is con-
stantly dripping blood from the ~stalac-
tites and rocks Of its ceiling. Wolves
foxes, dogs and other animals come
here to lap up the blood, for which
they exhibit a greedy appetite. Here
the sportsman can find ample game
without moving from his stand. From
all accounts it is truly a wonderful
place. The cavern is said to be Of
vast extent, and all through It YOU
lind this blood constantly dripping.
The philosophy of it has never been
explained, but it is supposed to be
secretions of the vampire bats, which
abound in the cavern in vast numbers
Though | was telling quite weak. we
lett Erandigue, after our six days'
soJourn, and again we're 'homeward
bound"
Nothing Of consequence during u
whole journey from here. w reached
Gr9clas after several days, but as we
had resolved to make no further stops
we did not lay over at this city as
contemplated. This was the home of
EX-PREsIDENT MEDINA.