Page:Life in Mexico vol 1.djvu/76

56 off while asleep, and continued his nap. The soldiers shook him up with some difficulty.

At Corral falso we changed mules, and from the badness of the road, continued to go slowly.

The cold increased, and at last by the moonlight, we had a distinct view of the Peak of Orizava, with his white night-cap on, (excuse the simile, suggested by extreme sleepiness,) the very sight enough to make one shiver.

As we approached Jalapa, the scene was picturesque. The escort had put on their sarapes, and, with their high helmets and feathers, went galloping along and dashing amongst the trees and shrubs. Orizava and the Cofre de Perote shone white in the distance, while a delicious smell of flowers, particularly of roses, gave token of the land through which we were passing.

It was nearly two in the morning when we reached Jalapa, tired to death, and shivering with cold. Greatly we rejoiced as we rattled through its mountainous streets, and still more when we found ourselves in a nice clean inn, with brick floors and decent small beds, and everything prepared for us. The sight of a fire would have been too much luxury; however they gave us some hot tea, and very shortly after, I at least can answer for myself, that I was in bed, and enjoying the most delightful sleep that I have had since I left New York.

This morning, the diligence being at our disposal, we did not rise by break of day, but on the contrary continued to sleep till eight o'clock. I was waited on by such a nice, civil, clean little old woman, that