| 230 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
We inquired for the casa real, and were directed to
a miserable thatched house, where a gentleman step_
ped out and recognised Mr. Catherwood's horse,
which had belonged to Don Simon Peon, and
through the horse he recognised me, having seen
me with Don Simon at the fair at Jalacho, on the
strength of which he immediately offered his house
for a posada, or inn, which offer, on looking at the
casa real, we did not hesitate to accept.
We were still on the great burial-ground of ruined
cities. In the corridor of the house were sculptured
stones, which our host told us were taken from the
ancient buildings in the neighbourhood ; they had
also furnished materials for the foundation of every
house on the plaza ; and besides these there were
other memorials. In the plaza were eight wells,
then furnishing an abundant supply of water, and
bearing that stamp which could not be mistaken, of
the hand of the ancient builders. Below the plaza,
on the declivity of the hill, was water gushing from
the rocks, filling a clear basin beneath, and running
off till it was lost in the woods. It was the first
time in our whole journey that we had seen anything
like a running stream, and after the parched regions
through which we had passed, of almost inaccessi-
ble ble caves, muddy aguadas, and little pools in the
hollows of rocks, it was a refreshing and delightful
spectacle. Our Indian carriers had taken up their
quarters under a brush fence, in sight and within
reach of the stream, and to them and the muleteers
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