Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/28

8 amongst my luggage, and only consented to do so under a strict injunction to my unfortunate fellow traveller not to let the bag which contained it out of his own sight, I did not feel myself bound in any way to make good to him the loss. This, I must say, he bore with great fortitude and resignation. He was a jocose and pleasant, and also a well informed, companion, but, at times, the recollection of his misfortune did not fail to press heavily upon us in our journey, which had thus so disastrously commenced.

The next morning, the 22d, was clear and fine. We set off at eight o'clock, and began immediately to ascend out of the Mexican plain. The road for about five leagues was very rough, all along the side of the mountain of Ajusco, which forms so beautiful an object from San Cosme. We passed over the remains of a fine stone road, leading to the hacienda of the late Don Miguel de Borda, who was one of the grandees of Mexico in the commencement of its