IN THE PACIFIC. 169 



Vice-Consul, and myself should ride. Saying 

 farewell to the gallant old President and our 

 assembled friends, we mounted our horses and 

 rode clear of the city. We first went to the 

 sugar estate of Monte Christo, where we re- 

 ceived a hearty welcome- from Mr. Bogen, the 

 proprietor ; his house had been destroyed and 

 the chimney of the factory had fallen down, and 

 the family were camped out under the trees. 



Mr. Biddle, the American Minister, was stay- 

 ing here with his children, the little ones were 

 playing about, happily unconscious of the terrible 

 danger they had escaped. After an excellent 

 breakfast we took leave of our hospitable enter- 

 tainers, and accompanied by Mr. Biddle, reached 

 La Libertad after a ride of five hours. The 

 country between San Salvador and the coast is 

 mountainous and thickly wooded, many of the 

 trees are of immense size, but the timber is of 

 little or no value ; wherever the hill sides have 

 been cleared, sugar, coffee, tobacco, and maize 

 have been planted, and seemed to thrive luxu- 

 riantly. 



