ous streams, and working
our way through tangled thickets of nopal and wild maguey, an opening
suddenly appeared through the trees. Emerging from the forest, a
brilliant scene burst upon us. A large clearing, evidently once
cultivated, but now in a state of neglect, stretched out before us.
Broad fields, covered with flowers of every hue--thickets of blooming
rose-trees--belts of the yellow helianthus--and groups of cocoa-trees
and half-wild plantains, formed a picture singular and beautiful.

On one side, and close to the border of the forest, could be seen the
roof of a house, peering above groves of glistening foliage, and thither
we marched.

We entered a lane, with its _guardarayas_ of orange-trees planted in
rows upon each side, and meeting overhead.

The sunlight fell through this leafy screen with a mellowed and
delicious softness, and the perfume of flowers was wafted on the air.

The rich music of birds was around us; and the loveliness of the scene
was heightened by the wild neglect which characterised it.

On approaching the house we halted; and after charging the men to remain
silent, I advanced alone to reconnoitre.

CHAPTER TEN.

ADVENTURE WITH A CAYMAN.

The lane suddenly opened upon a pasture, but within this a thick hedge
of jessamines, forming a circle, barred the view.

In this circle was the house, whose roof only could be seen from
without.

Not finding any opening through the jessamines, I parted the leaves with
my hands, and looked through. The picture was dream-like; so strange, I
could scarcely credit my senses.

On the crest of the little hillock stood a house of rare construction--
unique and unlike anything I had ever seen. The sides were formed of
bamboos, closely picketed, and laced together by fibres of the _pita_.
The roof--a thatch of palm-leaves--projected far over the eaves, rising
to a cone, and terminating in a small wooden cupola with a cross. There
were no windows. The walls themselves were translucent; and articles of
furniture could be distinguished through the interstices of the bamboos.

A curtain of green _barege_, supported by a rod and rings, formed the
door. This was drawn, discovering an ottoman near the entrance, and an
elegant harp.

The whole structure presented the _coup-d'oeil_ of a huge birdcage, with
its wires of gold!

The grounds were in keeping with the house. In these, the evidence of
neglect, which had been noticed without, existe