JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 



67 



town, guns were popping off in every direction. I turned 

 to a lad near me, as he was on the point of cocking his 

 gun, and asked him what festival they were celebrating. 

 u Es un baiitismo" (it is a christening,) said he, and the 

 reply was followed by the discharge of his gun, which 

 blazed within half a yard of my face. 



Our companion, Don Jose, now conducted us to one of 

 the best looking houses in the place. It was the dwelling 

 of a friend of his, Don Juan * * *, who received us with 

 great kindness and attention. This gentleman united in 

 his own person the two professions of farmer and mer- 

 chant. His house was full of people. A party of musi- 

 cians was playing there, under the directions of a maestro 

 de capilla. On a table at one end of the room, was an 

 inviting display of cakes, sweetmeats, and bottles of red 

 wine. On another table lay scattered the remains of an 

 abundant breakfast ; but the partakers had not yet left the 

 table. I recollected the wedding of Camacho, and thought 

 the inimitable description of that scene by Cervantes was 

 here on the point of being realized. 



Don Juan informed us that he had that day christened 

 his first-born, and had invited a few friends to celebrate 

 the event. He had also furnished the boys of the town 

 with powder and crackers, according to the custom of the 

 country. We now took seats at the table, and such of the 

 dishes as had not been touched were set before us ; the 

 other guests retained their seats to keep us company. 

 All this time the music was playing in a strain more 

 remarkable for loudness than harmony; the boys were 

 blazing away in the street, and the newly made Christian 

 was squalling at the top of its voice ; so that altogether a 

 din was produced which, but for the sound state of our 

 nerves, would have been insufferable. 



The breakfast being disposed of, and a reasonable time 

 having elapsed in talking and smoking, Don Jose made a 

 move towards taking leave and continuing our journey. 

 This was met by the decided disapprobation, not only of 



