158 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



From the captain of the port we learnt that 

 the account of the earthquake was too true, 

 and that, as he expressed himself in Spanish, 

 the city no longer existed ; he kindly undertook 

 to provide me with a coach, in which, accom- 

 panied by Doctor Smyth, the surgeon of the 

 ship, and Mr. Davey, assistant-paymaster, I 

 started for the capital. 



The distance from La Libertad is only about 

 thirty-six miles, but as the roads were heavy, 

 being a foot deep in dust, and the hills were so 

 steep, our progress was painfully slow, and by 

 nightfall we only reached a village half way, 

 where we obtained comfortable quarters and 

 supper. 



A native family flying from San Salvador to the 

 coast, magnanimously insisted on our occupying 

 the only beds in the house, whilst they slept in 

 the open air. In the morning we expressed our 

 gratitude for this disinterested kindness, when 

 they coolly explained to us that they preferred 

 the open air, as they fully expected that the 

 house, which had been much shaken and 



