Page:Life in Mexico vol 1.djvu/282

262 them all upon coming to a grassy slope covered with daisies and buttercups. We even found some hawthorn bushes. It might be English scenery, were it not that there is a richness in the vegetation unknown in England. But all these beautiful solitudes are abandoned to the deer that wander fearlessly amongst the woods, and the birds that sing in their branches. While we were still far from the house, a thunderstorm came on. When it rains here, the windows of heaven seem opened, and the clouds pour down water in floods; the lightning also appears to me peculiarly vivid, and many more accidents occur from it here than in the north. We were drenched in five minutes, and in this plight resumed our seats in the carriage, and set off for Guasco (a village where we were to pass the night) in the midst of the pelting storm. In an hour or two the horses were wading up to their knees in water, and we arrived at the pretty village of Guasco, in a most comfortless condition. There are no inns in these parts, but we were hospitably received by a widow lady, a friend of 's.

The Señora de, in clear muslin and lace, with satin shoes, was worse off than I in mousseline de laine and brodequins; nevertheless, I mean to adopt the fashion of the country tomorrow, when we are to rise at four, to go on to Real del Monte; and try the effect of travelling with clear gown, satin petticoat and shoes ditto; because, "when one is in Rome," &c. The storm continues with such unabated violence, that we must content ourselves with contemplating the watery landscape from the windows.