Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/217

Rh twelve leagues from Tĕpĕyăgūālcŏ,) having taken the precaution of sending one of the soldiers of our escort in advance, in order to avoid, if possible, a second scarcity. Our road lay through a continuation of the plains which I have already described, where, with the exception of a few hawks and vultures, a wolf or two, and some Cŏyōtēs, (a large kind of jackall,) which are always found prowling in the vicinity of a flock of sheep, not a living creature was to be seen. It was with considerable satisfaction that, about one o'clock, we crossed a little ridge of hills that forms the North-western boundary of the Mal Pais, and found that we were about to enter upon a less dreary scene. From this ridge, to El Ojo de Agua, a solitary inn, which takes its name from a fine spring of water that rises near the house, a sensible improvement took place. A few trees and Haciendas, with little patches of cultivation around them, broke, at intervals, the monotony of the view: we saw some large flocks of sheep, a cow or two, with some horses, and as we approached the stream to which these indications of fertility were due, we found ducks and other water-fowl in great abundance.

There is a singular view of Ŏrĭzāvă from the inn-yard at Ojo de Agua. The mountain stands exactly opposite the gateway, from which a long vaulted passage leads to the Patio, or court. This passage has the effect of confining the view in such a manner that the eye rests exclusively upon the