Page:Travels in Mexico and life among the Mexicans.djvu/540

532 But "at once" being words not found in the Mexican vocabulary, we were not surprised to find, on assembling in front of the hotel at the time appointed, that the horses we had engaged were not there. After a protracted search, we found our mozo, and wrathfully demanded why he had not returned to inform us of his inability to furnish the horses. "Para que?" said the

astonished mozo. "What for? Was it not sufficient for you to know that I was not there?"

Late in the forenoon he made his appearance with an antiquated coché, drawn by three horses and two mules, and we rode out through the gate of the city in triumph. At the gate and beyond we encountered hosts of Indians coming in to market, the poorest of them bearing heavy burdens strapped to their backs, secured by a broad band over their foreheads, the more fortunate riding in rude carts with wooden wheels, laden with corn and charcoal.