Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/224

170 and loading the horses of my cicerone and self with the instruments, despatched the remainder of our party back, foreseeing that they would prove too great a clog on my operations, and that accommodation for more than two was beyond the scale of the huts we might touch at.

We, therefore, pushed on for such villages as we might find on the borders of the lake, and thus define its outline as the nearest approach to the scene of our intended operations in the neighbouring gulf of Papagayo, intending to make the junction or fall of this lake into that of Nicaragua at Tepitapa the extreme limit. At five we reached Nagarote, (a distance of five Spanish leagues in two hours,) and finding my strength fail me, we remained for the night.

Our host and hostess showed us more decided attention than we had before experienced, and begged, in the honest effusion of their hearts, that I would always make that house my rendezvous when I travelled that road; being then ignorant that my road lay on the "deep blue sea." Of course all this kindness I attributed to the presence of Carlito, who did nothing but play monkey tricks with the little ones from the time of our arrival.

By five the ensuing morning we were en route for Matiares, (eight leagues,) which we reached at eight; temperature 78°, noon 90°. Our journey over this tract presented some slight hills. After breakfast we procceded to the beach, and obtained