38 THE WOODLANDS ORCHIDS 



Guatemala, at the moment which interests us, he had only 

 two servants and three mules. 



I do not know exactly where he came across Cattleya 

 Bowringiana ; it might be anywhere almost, apparently, in 

 the Central American Republics. The species was rare and 

 very precious at the time — to be secured, though in the 

 smallest quantity. When Oversluys came upon it, he threw 

 away the miscellaneous rarities he had collected, hired two 

 more mules — all he could obtain — loaded as many as they 

 could carry of the very finest plants, specimens such as we 

 dare not dream of now, and started for the nearest port, 

 meaning to return for more so soon as he was ' shut of your 

 confounded Oncidium splendidum.' In such disrespectful 

 terms he wrote to St. Albans. 



At the house where Oversluys slept one night was a 

 boisterous young Guatemalan, one of the tippling, guitar- 

 strumming, all -round -love -making sort so common in 

 Spanish America. But this youth was an Indian or almost 

 — betrayed by his lank hair and narrow shining eyes. Such 

 a character would seem impossible for one of that blood 

 beyond the confines of Guatemala. But the supremacy of 

 the Indians under Rafael Carrera's despotism has worked a 

 change there. It lasted long enough to train a portentous 

 generation. When a pig-driver of their race conquered and 

 ruled the descendants of the Conquerors as absolutely as a 

 Turkish bashaw of old, Indians might well abandon the 

 timid subservience of their forefathers. 



This young fellow insisted upon playing cards with 

 Oversluys, who declined. Then he began to quarrel. But 

 a good-looking daughter of the landlord intervened, and he 

 promptly struck the light guitar. After supper he felt the 

 warmest friendship for Oversluys, and dropped off to sleep 

 while babbling a serenade to the landlord's daughter. 



The friendship had not evaporated next morning. Don 



