220 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



them very severely for their indelicacy, with- 

 out, however, making the smallest impres- 

 sion. They got coolly off their horses, gave 

 them in charge to us to keep dry, (as we 

 were invited *w, and they were not,) and, 

 having asked for another drink, the fat man 

 took his purse from the saddle-bags, and put- 

 ting it into his straw-hat, sallied forth, at- 

 tended by his lean companion, to purchase 

 fruit and other eatables at a few stalls in the 

 square. Having bought a very large quan- 

 tity of different things, he and his small 

 friend carried them to some stone-steps round 

 a crucifix in the very centre of the Placa, 

 and having sat down in the rain, commenced 

 their meal. 



I could see them from the gratings of the 

 Padre's window, and a more curious pair it 

 would be difficult to meet with. The little 

 one had not much appetite, but my Indian 

 told me that the fat one began with dried 

 venison ; he then finished twenty large plan- 

 tains, and concluded with three melons. 

 They then contrived to make the Indian go 

 to them, and, as the rain had ceased, re- 

 quested him to bring their clothes, and also 

 sent their compliments for something to wash 

 down their dinner with. 



