The court-yard was littered all over, knee-deep, with dry cane-trash; and mules, just freed from their galling saddles, were rolling on their backs in it, kicking with all their legs at once, and evidently in a state of high enjoyment.

Part of one side of the square was a sort of wide cloister, and in it stood chairs and tables.
Here the business of the place was transacted, and the Administrador could look up from his ledger, and see pretty well what was going on all over the establishment.
It is very common for the owners of these haciendas to be absentees, and to leave the entire control of their estates to the administradors; but at Temisco, which is much better managed than most others, this is not the case, and the son of the proprietor generally lives there.

He was out riding, so we sent our horses to the stable, and lounged about eating sugar-canes till he should return.

Presently he came, a young man in a broad Mexican hat and white jacket and trousers, mounted on a splendid little horse, with his saddle glittering with silver, every inch a planter.

He welcomed us hospitably, and we sat down together in the cloister looking out on the courtyard.