214 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 102 



when I was there in the year 1620. From time to time it has done 

 much harm to the stock and crops of the district ; but it is all put 

 up with and counterbalanced by the excellent nature of the country, 

 its fertility and good water supply. Earthquakes are frequent be- 

 cause of these volcanoes, and they have much thunder and lightning 

 and thunderbolts ; where these chiefly occur and are a specialty, is 

 the whole hot country of the Pacific coast ; if it were not for these 

 visitations, that would be the finest country in the world. 



603. On this spot, where the city of Santiago de Guatemala was 

 originally founded, lies the village above mentioned, which keeps 

 the name of Old City of Guatemala. Its inhabitants are privileged 

 Mexican Indians, whose ancestors helped the Commander to conquer 

 the country. They are catechized and instructed by Franciscan friars. 

 That country is a bit of Paradise, with many springs and streams 

 of sweet and crystal-clear water, and with attractive gardens and 

 orchards of fruit trees, both native and from Spain, yielding fruit 

 the entire year without interruption ; they have abundance of quinces, 

 large and small peaches, etc., with excellent artichokes and all sorts 

 of vegetables and garden stuff the whole year through without a 

 break, as a result of its fertility, good climate, and uniform 

 temperature. 



604. The city of Guatemala remained for 17 years on this site 

 of the Old City, from 1524, date of its foundation by the Commander, 

 Don Pedro de Alvarado, till 1541, when the Commander left on a 

 campaign against the Indians of the Province of Jalisco in New 

 Galicia. They had rebelled and revolted ; Diego Lopez de Zuhiga 

 had gone up to quell them, and the Commander went to his aid and 

 assistance. The Indians had fortified themselves in a strong position 

 on a high cliff by the village of Ezatlan in that province, in rough 

 country. Many were killed on both sides, and many horses and horse- 

 men slid down the incline to their death. On this occasion Commander 

 Don Pedro de Alvarado was halfway up the slope on his horse, and 

 he saw another horse rolling down from above toward where he was. 

 Jumping quickly off his horse, he took his stand at one side where 

 it seemed safe to him ; but the incline was so steep that the horse 

 came rolling down with great impetus, hit a rock and bounced over 

 to where the Commander was standing, with such force that it dragged 

 him down with it. That was St. John's Day of that year 1541. His 

 men carried him off from there to the village of Ezatlan, where he 

 died like a good Christian a few days later, universally lamented. 



605. The sad news of his death spread the country over and in a 

 few days reached Guatemala City, which is more than 350 leagues 



m 



