第58部分(第5/7 頁)

　result　that　we　pulled　up　at　the　extremest　edge　of　nothingness；　indeed；　it　seemed　to　me　that　when　our　slide　came　to　its　end　all　the　creature’s　four　feet　were　gathered　in　a　round　that　might　have　been　covered　by　a　Mexican　priest’s　hat。　Afterwards　that　same　mule；　the　most　inpetent　surely　of　all　its　kind；　fell　with　me　in　the　midst　of　a　flooded　river。

Another　such　river　we　were　obliged　to　cross　seated　in　a　loop　of　string　which　was　slung　upon　a　rope；　quite　an　exciting　mode　of　progression。　Upon　the　occasion　of　Mr。　Jebb’s　previous　visit　to　this　mine　either　the　loop　or　the　rope　broke；　and　the　cook　who　was　making　the　journey　went　to　a　watery　grave。

We　slept　a　night　in　a　saw…mill　that　had　been　established　by　the　mining　pany　upon　the　banks　of　a　great　river。　I　remember　that　at　dawn　I　went　to　bathe　in　this　river；　and　was　struck　with　the　marvellous　beauty　of　the　scene。　The　face　of　the　water　was　covered　with　clouds　of　floating　mist；　while　above；　rising　in　tiers　from　the　steep　banks　of　the　river；　appeared　the　motionless；　solemn　trees。　And　then　the　indescribable　silence　and　the　utter　loneliness。　The　great　primeval　forest　beyond　this　river　was　very　wonderful；　at　any　rate　to　me　who　had　never　seen　its　like。　Here　grew　vast　trees　with　rib…like　roots　that　ran　far　up　the　trunk；　and　between　the　trees　imperable　thickets　of　Indian　Shot　—　Canna；　I　think；　is　the　right　name　—　twenty　feet　and　more　in　height。　When　the　Indians　wish　to　grow　a　crop　of　maize　they　burn　a　patch　of　this　Canna　scrub　and　sow　the　seed　in　the　rich　ash…fertilised　soil；　where　it　bears　abundantly。

These　Indians　of　remoter　Mexico　are　strange；　sad　creatures　whose　demeanour　suggests　that　the　woes　and　wickedness　heaped　upon　their　forefathers　by　the　cruel　Spaniards　have　never　faded　from　the　minds　of　the　descendants。