Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/545

Rh After waiting three hours for their return, we were forced to leave them to their fate, and to commence our journey towards Siērră Hĕrmōsă, from which we were still distant sixteen leagues. Mrs. Ward and I left San Ignacio about eleven o'clock, after breakfasting upon some eggs and maize cakes, and overtook the Carriage, which had preceded us, about sunset, when within sight of the Hacienda, having kept our horses at a rapid passo all the way. Nothing could be more monotonous than the road, upon which we only passed one Rancho, (the estacion of San José,) and one great reservoir of water, (the tanque de la Mancha,) without a habitation near it, but which was nevertheless put down as a night's lodging for us by our Catorce friends. The country reminded us not a little of Scriptural times, when a man was immortalized who sank a well, and distances were calculated by the time requisite in order to reach the different watering-places. We saw abundance of hares and rabbits, and from time to time, a flock of goats, or a long line of sheep, forming so white a streak at a distance, that they might almost have been mistaken for water. A few horses and mules, and, now and then, some cows, afforded a little occasional variety. All these had Vaqueros in attendance, some of whom passed us in full chase, with their lassos whirling above their heads, and their horses galloping over ground so poached by the tulsas and rabbits, that a person unaccustomed to the service would think it impossible to cross it in