The ancient cities of the New World : being travels and explorations in Mexico and Central America from 1857-1882 . search of snails, and wehad to content ourselves with them for our supper. The following day I sauntered in the wood to do something,and found a tortoise of 8 or lo inches long, having its lower shellfurnished at both ends with two appendices, which enabled thefellow to shut himself up and defy all enemies, a true snuff-boxtortoise. I thought at first of keeping it; but, alas for human * Posole is like cooked hominy ; it is mixed in water and forms a cool andnutritious drink. 484
The ancient cities of the New World : being travels and explorations in Mexico and Central America from 1857-1882 . search of snails, and wehad to content ourselves with them for our supper. The following day I sauntered in the wood to do something,and found a tortoise of 8 or lo inches long, having its lower shellfurnished at both ends with two appendices, which enabled thefellow to shut himself up and defy all enemies, a true snuff-boxtortoise. I thought at first of keeping it; but, alas for human * Posole is like cooked hominy ; it is mixed in water and forms a cool andnutritious drink. 484 The Ancient Cities of the New World. resolve ! by noon it was in the pot fast turning into delicioussoup. Two men who were returning from Palenque, brought usnews at last of our porters ; they had got drunk on the moneywhich, according to custom, they had received in advance fromus, an affray had followed, they had been handed over to thepolice and shut up in jail; they were, however, to be releasedon that very day, and a few hours would bring them to us. The guide, who was anxious to go home, exchanged a few. SNUFF-BOX TORTOISE {Ciuosteiiioii Leiicostomitiii) words with the men which I could not understand, then informedme that they were willing to carry my luggage to S. Pedro, wherewe should find ample accommodation, plenty of supplies, and thatit would be a better place to wait for our tamenes. I agreed, andwe were soon winding up the sierra, which, at first gradual, soonbecame precipitous, obliging us to throw off our clothes and to retainonly our nether garments, and even these we cut above the kneeto facilitate our movements. The men carried everything, but farfrom finding the weight i)ut upon them, they seemed to have wingsto their feet, and left us far behind to toil up as best we might. TUMBALA. S. CkISTOIUL. MlTLA. 485 At last wc halted by the side of a stream, where our muchreduced posolc was entirely consumed amongst us all. Somewhatrefreshed with the rest and food
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