Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/34

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14
OFFICIAL VISIT
[CH. I.

the poor animars nose. A moderate flow of blood from the nostrils, perhaps half a pint, was the consequence. After this, he took a quarter of a pint of brandy and poured it into the animal's ears, which seemed to distress or to please it, I could hardly tell which, exceedingly. He then let go her head, which she stooped and shook violently, and then remarking to me, "está buena," she is all right, he was about to replace the bridle and saddle, which, however, I would not permit, but left her to come on with the baggage which was behind us a small distance on the road: this animal never suffered any inconvenience during the rest of the journey. The phleme used upon the occasion was, it appears, as efficient as it was calculated for the contingencies which travellers are likely to experience in a country so thinly peopled. The application of the brandy in the ear I was the less surprised at, as it is used in Mexico as a constant, and, I believe, specific remedy for the most violent