Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/486

468 the place of those who began the day in the coach; for the country was so covered with Nopales and loose stones, that it was impossible for the hardiest lassoer of the party to put his horse into a gallop, without imminent risk both to the animal and to himself. In general we stopped to change at some "corral," or enclosure, into which the loose mules and horses are driven; but on the road to the Tlachiquera such an accommodation was desired in vain. To compensate this we had the assistance of the bull-dog, whom I have mentioned as the guardian of the coach upon the road. The natural ferocity of this beast had long lain dormant, but it was roused by the cries of the servants, and joining them in their pursuit of the mules, he fastened upon one of the animals by the nose, and in an instant pinned it to the ground; nor was it without great difficulty that he was compelled to relinquish his hold. From this moment he assumed quite a new character, and attacked in so wanton a manner pigs, and every other creature that came in his way, that I was almost glad to lose him, as we did shortly afterwards, on entering San Luis Pŏtŏsī.

Our accommodations at the Tlachiquera were exceedingly bad, for there was nothing but the size of the walls to denote the former importance of the estate, which was totally ruined during the Revolution. The Rancho del Vĕnădītŏ, from which the Viceroy Apŏdācă took his title, in consequence of the capture of Mina, is in the vicinity of La