JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 



49 



At the fort of San Felipe, which is a ruinous and almost 

 useless fortification, a soldier was put on board our vessel. 

 This was done agreeably to the regulations of the Cus- 

 toms, in order to prevent smuggling. After leaving this 

 place, and proceeding about twelve miles, we reached the 

 point where the river spreads, and forms a lake of some' 

 twenty miles in circumference, called the lagunilla, or 

 little lake, to distinguish it from the laguna : or great lake 

 of Izabal. Here we saw a number of little islands of from 

 five to ten acres in extent, covered with a species of cane 

 or reed peculiar to the country, the resemblance of which 

 to Indian corn gave to them the appearance of being cul- 

 tivated. But, in reality, there were no signs of cultivation 

 around us, nor could any human habitation be seen, either 

 on the banks of the river or on the islands just mentioned. 

 Birds and fish and reptiles seemed to be the sole lords of 

 this wild domain. , 



After crossing the little lake, we came to the lake pro- 

 per, where an immense sheet of water, extending to a cir- 

 cumference of not less than ninety miles, assumes the ap- 

 pearance of a little sea ; the distant mountains being only 

 dimly Visible in some places, while, in others^ a perfect 

 horizon is formed. 



We anchored before Izabal on the 10th of May. It was 

 not without some misgivings as to the state of things on 

 shore that we proceeded to land. We were by no means^ 

 sure that the place was not in possession of the insurgent 

 Indians, and the risk of falling into their hands the mo- 

 ment we touched the beach, was far from being agreeable \ 

 but happily, these apprehensions Were soon dispelledo I 

 had fortunately been provided by my Spanish friend in 

 Balize, Don Francisco, with a letter of introduction to his 

 correspondent in this place. This letter I presented as- 

 soon as I landed to Don Valentin * * * the person to whom 

 it was addressed. He received me with marks of unaf- 

 fected hospitality; and, as dinner was in the process of 

 7 



