JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 41 



cabin windows, saw a grove of trees close under our 

 stern. I went on deck, and found that we had arrived 

 in the bay of St. Thomas, and had anchored within a 

 few yards of the shore. A finer or more interesting view 

 than that which presented itself on this occasion, I have 

 seldom seen. The bay of St. Thomas lay before me like 

 an immense basin, exhibiting a smooth and glassy sur- 

 face, and a clear, sandy bottom, illuminated by the rays of 

 the sun, which was then just rising over the mountains, 

 and pouring a flood of light over hill and valley. The 

 shores of the bay, making a wide circular sweep, extended 

 to a circumference of some twenty miles. The land — ■ 

 which was clothed with a luxuriant verdure — rose higher 

 in proportion to its distance from the water, till it termi- 

 nated in a range of towering mountains, forming a mag- 

 nificent amphitheatre. There was depth of water there 

 for the largest ship ever built, and room enough for the 

 whole navy of Great Britain to ride at anchor. 



This splendid bay is situated on the right of the em- 

 bouchure of the river Izabal, and at the head of the great 

 bay of Honduras. Being protected against the winds by 

 the surrounding land, it affords a safe harbour ; and from 

 its situation on that part of the coast most favourable for 

 communicating with the interior, and its numerous other 

 advantages, seems destined by Nature for a great commer- 

 cial emporium. But thus far, the place is almost a per- 

 fect solitude. There was not a single vessel in the har- 

 bour but our own, nor a house to be seen on shore, ex- 

 cept two or three miserable huts. These huts were the 

 commencement of a settlement projected by the Govern- 

 ment of Central America, but abandoned almost in the 

 onset, from want either of means, or of energy, on the 

 part of that Government in promoting objects of public 

 utility. An establishment there had also been contem- 

 plated by a company of English merchants, who made 

 proposals to that effect, with an offer of opening a com- 

 munication across the mountains to the nearest point of 

 6 



