Into one of these passagesa sort of "dark entry," furnished with a cage-like gate of iron barswe passed to a black door, on which was painted the inscription, "Old Court.

The evil has existed from time immemorial, and is of purely Spanish origin; for Indian honesty, in retired villages, is so great, that when a family for a time leaves its cage-like hut, the latchless wicket is left ajar; a brush is placed on the sill, and it would be worse than sacrilege for any one to cross the threshold under any pretence.