Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/488

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470
MEXICO IN 1827

before he had gone a quarter of a mile, he was driving fifty hares before him. They put one another up, and formed altogether a most curious assemblage, as they scoured along before my startled man, and his still more startled steed.[1] Three leagues from the Passo de los Arrastres, there is a large Hacienda called Săn Jūān de los Llānŏs, in a very dilapidated state, but with an abundant supply of water. The "presa" was covered with ducks, some of which I shot, and they formed, with the hares, a very comfortable addition to the slender fare that San Felipe afforded us; where the venta was tolerably clean, and airtight, but meat was not to be obtained, except at market-hours.

Nov. 23. From San Felīpe to El Jărāl, ten leagues.

About two leagues from San Felipe, there is a ramification of the Sierra Madre to cross, with a long descent, or mal passo, called El puerto de San Bărtōlŏ, very inconvenient for carriages, but not absolutely dangerous; at least, we did not think so after La Tlachiquera. The ascent and descent occupy about three leagues. We breakfasted at the pueblo de San Bărtōlŏ, from whence to the Jărāl we passed through a succession of vast potreros, well walled in, and interspersed with fields of Indian corn.

The Hacienda is seen from a considerable distance

  1. The servant was an Englishman, and was riding with a snaffle bridle. I never saw a horse succeed yet in running away with a Mexican upon him, or with a Mexican bit.