Page:Life in Mexico vol 2.djvu/44

24 the arrival of a guest, Señor H, from Puebla, who proved a pleasant addition to our society.

15th.—We went out early this morning, on horseback, and breakfasted at an hacienda, five leagues distant from Santiago, belonging to the widow of one of 's agents, a good-looking, respectable woman, who, alone, in this solitary place, brings up her eight children as she best can. This may really be called solitude. From one year to the other, she never sees a human being, except an occasional Indian. She is well off, and everything in her house is clean and comfortable. She herself manages the farm, and educates her children to the best of her abilities, so that she never finds time to be dull. She expected us, and gave us breakfast, (we being about twenty in number) consisting of everything which that part of the country can afford; and the party certainly did justice to her excellent fare. She gave us pulque, fermented with the juice of the pineapple, which is very good.

When the sun had gone down a little, we rode to the fine hacienda of Reyes, belonging to Señor A, where he is making and projecting alterations and improvements. When we left Reyes, it began to rain, and we were glad to accept the covering of sarapes, as we galloped over the plains. We had a delightful ride. Towards evening the rain ceased, and the moon rose brightly and without a cloud; but we were certainly tired enough when we got home, having rode in all ten leagues.

11th.—These two days have been passed in seeing