Ностромо

           Shesawthemontheroadcarryingloads,lonelyfiguresupontheplain,toilingundergreatstrawhats,withtheirwhiteclothingflappingabouttheirlimbsinthewind;sherememberedthevillagesbysomegroupofIndianwomenatthefountainimpresseduponhermemory,bythefaceofsomeyoungIndiangirlwithamelancholyandsensualprofile,raisinganearthenwarevesselofcoolwateratthedoorofadarkhutwithawoodenporchcumberedwithgreatbrownjars.Thesolidwoodenwheelsofanox-cart,haltedwithitsshaftsinthedust,showedthestrokesoftheaxe;andapartyofcharcoalcarriers,witheachman’sloadrestingabovehisheadonthetopofthelowmudwall,sleptstretchedinarowwithinthestripofshade.

           Theheavystoneworkofbridgesandchurchesleftbytheconquerorsproclaimedthedisregardofhumanlabour,thetribute-labourofvanishednations.Thepowerofkingandchurchwasgone,butatthesightofsomeheavyruinouspileovertoppingfromaknollthelowmudwallsofavillage,DonPepewouldinterruptthetaleofhiscampaignstoexclaim—

           “PoorCostaguana!Before,itwaseverythingforthePadres,nothingforthepeople;andnowitiseverythingforthosegreatpoliticosinSta.Marta,fornegroesandthieves.”

           Charlestalkedwiththealcaldes,withthefiscales,withtheprincipalpeopleintowns,andwiththecaballerosontheestates.Thecommandantesofthedistrictsofferedhimescorts—forhecouldshowanauthorizationfromtheSulacopoliticalchiefoftheday.