46 



NARRATIVE OP A 



CHAPTER VII. 



The River of Izabal.-— Mr. M. — An Exploring Excursion. — The Lake. — 

 Don Valentin. — Remarks on Izabal. — Don Jose". — The Grave of an 

 American. 



It was late in the evening before our vessel gained the 

 mouth of the Izabal. This river takes its rise in a great 

 fresh water lake called Golfo dulce, and pursues a mean- 

 dering course for some fifty miles, before falling into the 

 sea. At the head of that lake is situated the town of Iza- 

 bal, the port of our destination. The entrance to this 

 river is scarcely discernible, even in the day-time, to an 

 unpractised eye, till within about a hundred yards of it, 

 when an opening is perceived in the mountains like • the 

 mouth of an immense cavern. The effect, as we ap- 

 proached it in the night, was still more striking ; a starry 

 sky affording just light enough to guide us on our path, 

 but not sufficient to make objects distinctly visible. On 

 entering the opening just mentioned, we seemed penetra- 

 ting into the bowels of the earth. On each side of us 

 towered the lofty and precipitous mountains that form the 

 banks of the river ; and immediately in front rose a high 

 land, dark and frowning, as if to debar completely our 

 further progress. Towards this land, which appeared to 

 recede as we advanced, the boat kept her way, steadily and 

 at a good rate, for a full half hour, with her bows ap- 

 parently not more than half a cable's length distant from 

 it. There were moments when I trembled lest she should 

 run against it, and be dashed to pieces. But this interpo- 

 sition of land was only an illusion, caused by the windings 

 of the river, and heightened by the confused appearance 

 of objects in the night. 



