Graham guardian., 1901-03-08
entertainments

have been accorded were many and
most generous. On my errands to
secure accommodations for 8 men
and from % to 25 animals, | never
yet have found the place where l
would be refused from the lack of
goodwill. And what is wholly un
explaniable is that those applied to
were not always natives but full
blooded Spaniards. i shall be
pleased to go over few days of
travel and let you notice how
agI eeably these instances read in
the journal of the explorer.
About week before reaching
the City of Mexico, we had to cross
small range of mountains, the
first ones for a long time to OBJ
struct our path. Arriving at the
top we found feed, as well as other
requisites for camping, to be of the
very best and though it was rather
early in the day, yet Prest. Cluff
decided to stop travelling. So we'll
did we enjoy this camp that in the
evening while gathering round the
fire, we expressed regret to have
to leave such rare spot early in
the morning. No alternative, how
ever, seemed to offer itself until,
during a conversation with native
/ learned that the owner was on
his land. / did not doubt but that
by appealing to him, he would re-
duce his charge to a minimum in
case we should dooide to lay over
a day, and consequently offered to
make the R%tempt, which was ac-
cepted by Prest. Cluff. Next morn
ing early started on my errand.
The day had opened encourag-
ingly beautiful and the contrast be-
tween hill and vale and the scenery
typical to them, proved especially
charming in this bracing autumnal
forenoon. There was first cover
ing the top of the range, dense oak
forests, valuable source Of income
in the vicinity of any city and more
so that of Mexico. Then followed
a belt of shrubs and grass where
cattle were grazing, while down
below lay the valley yelled by a
blue haze, yet disclosing to the eye
the newly plowed lands, the areas
of harvested corn and barley; the
green wheat patches and the sheen
of many reservoirs. For 2 hours
] wended by way down by creeks
and washes, when finally turn in
the road disclosed the white walls
of the hacienda and awakening
from my pleasant contemplation,
spurrcd my mule and rode up to
the hacienda.
Here everything was lively as
the owners of the different haciends
were together. Upon my approach
man of some fifty years Of age,
his appearance such as to command
my confidence, came up to me.
After introducing myself l stated
the, object Of my call and had tho
satisfaction of seeing my anticipa-
ton come true. Not only was the
gentleman pleased to have us stay
on his ground, but he offered to aid
us in whatever way he could. 1t
is unnecessary to say that l felt
very grateful to him for his kind
ness and thanked him accordingly.
Eventually this call grew into a
visit of few hours duration. The
old gentleman proved to be widely
read and a scholar and no sooner
had he heard of the object of the
expedition than he became all in.
terest in our enterprise. As it
happened there were two ancient
boundary lines, marked by monu-
ment, running through his land.
During our walk / found 2 blocks
of volcanic glass that had actually
been shaved down as we do wood.
Later L saw some OF the ShavingS
and they were as regular and of as
fine an edge as you would wish
for your razor. The noon hour
had struck when young man rode
up who proved to be son of the
gentleman who was entertaining
me. He is pupil in the military
college at Chajoultepee and upon
hearing ofour expedition was more
enthusiastic than his father. Final
ly dinner was called and another
pleasant hour was spent after
which | took my leave, and accom-
panied by the old gentleman and
his son, who wished to visit our
camp, set out to return. As con
sequence we let our animals out
another day. When we passed by
the hacienda a lunch had been pre-
pared for each one and q big cheese
given the expedition for the road.
Such was our reception at Solores