| HACIENDA OF SACCACAL. 235
half past nine we reached a large aguada, the banks
of which were so muddy that it was impossible to
get down to it to drink. A league beyond we
reached another, surrounded by fine shade trees,
with a few ducks floating quietly upon its surface.
As we rode up Dr. Cabot shot a trogan, one of the
rare birds of that country, adorning by its brilliant
plumage the branches of an overhanging tree. We
lost an hour of hard riding by mistaking our road
among the several diverging tracks that led from the
aguada. It was very hot ; the country was deso-
late, and, suffering from thirst, we passed some In-
dians under the shade of a large seybo tree eating
tortillas and chili, to whom we rode up, confident
of procuring water ; but they either had none, or,
as Albino supposed, hid it away as we approached.
At one o'clock we came to another aguada, but the
bank was so muddy that it was impossible to get to
the water without miring our horses or ourselves,
and we were obliged to turn away without relief
from our distressing thirst. Beyond this we turned
off to the left, and, unusually fatigued with the heat
and hard riding, although we had come but eight
leagues, to our great satisfaction we reached the ha-
cienda of Zaccacal.
Toward evening, escorted by the major domo and
a vaquero to show the way, I set out for the ruins.
At the distance of half a mile on the road to Te-
kax, we turned off into the woods to the left, and
very soon reached the foot of a stone terrace. The
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