We were both quite unhappy to leave beautiful and most enchanting Mexico. Even our parting with good-natured, kind Victoriana, was quite affecting! After telling us how much she siento'd our departure, she flung her arms and hair about us most affectionately–those mahogany arms and that ebon hair almost strangled us.

We left Mexico at about half-past four o'clock in the morning. I found, during the time we were there, that one attains a great proficiency in the art of sleeping in that clear elastic air, and on that morning we dressed and prepared for our journey between dreaming and waking. While I saw the trunks and packages busily vanishing one after the other, I remained in such a state of “masterly inactivity,” that I scarcely cared, and could hardly rouse myself, even when those dreadful sounds “the diligence is ready,” broke upon my ears. However, awake or asleep we must go, and we hastily passed along the deserted corridors, a dreary procession in a state of semi-consciousness, mechanically following our cherished carpet-bags, and well-beloved boxes.

Having seen their “old familiar faces” looking down upon us from the mountain heights of the diligence-summit, we clambered into that imposing vehicle. The companion coach was ready, hard by, and off we started, but soon stopped again, with a jerk that almost or quite severed soul and body, but, fortunately the second jerk, on starting once more, brought them together again.