Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
as if he were on ice, and although his feet were sore next morning he insisted on wearing his
boots again to look 'It'. With the boy, travelling was much easier, for whilst one looked after
the horses the other minded the saddles and pack. Before this I had been robbed on several
occasions, having been obliged to leave everything to look for a place for the animals, to hunt
for fodder, and to take them to water.
In Loja I visited the governor, who was very courteous and who showed keen interest in
my ride. The town is most primitive in every way, the only decent buildings dating back to
Spanish colonial times. There are a couple of apologies for hotels where no sanitary arrange-
ments of any kind exist. In their place one usually finds a backyard, or, of course, simply the
street, where men and women can be seen relieving themselves, even in broad daylight, as
unconcernedly as the dogs who act as scavengers. I observed these primitive habits in most
countries along the Pacific Ocean, excepting, perhaps, in a few of the larger cities, which are
fairly clean.
PREHISTORIC RUINS
Of San Juan de Teotihuacán, near Mexico City. The origin
of these temples and two colossal pyramids which stand in the
close vicinity is likely to remain veiled in mystery.
