JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 



33 



CHAPTER V. 



Unpleasant News. — Carrera. — Departure for Balize. — -Troubles of a 

 Night at Sea.— Sketch of Balize. 



From the information I obtained, on my arrival at Trux- 

 illo, I found that I had taken a wrong step in coming thither. 

 The journey from that place to Guatemala could not be 

 performed in less than thirty days ; whereas, had I gone to 

 Izabal, a port at the head of the Bay of Honduras, nine or 

 ten days would have been sufficient. There was no alter- 

 native, therefore, but to proceed to Izabal ; and to get there, 

 it would be necessary first to go to Balize, an English set- 

 tlement in that neighbourhood. An opportunity for the lat- 

 ter place offered itself after a detention of five or six days in 

 Truxillo. I embraced it, of course, though the size and 

 appearance of the vessel — a little schooner scarcely thirty 

 feet long — might have deterred any one from venturing in 

 her on a sea of such dangerous navigation as the Bay of 

 Honduras. 



The rumours I had heard of the distracted state of Cen- 

 tral America were confirmed at Truxillo. An insurrection, 

 I was told, had taken place among the Indians, who, under 

 the directions of a man called Carrera, were ravaging the 

 country, and committing all manner of excesses. Along 

 the coast, and in some of the Departments, tranquillity had 

 not been disturbed ; but in the interior, there was no safety 

 for the traveller, and every avenue to the capital was beset 

 by parties of brigands, who showed no mercy to their vic- 

 tims, especially if they were foreigners. 



This intelligence was discouraging, but there was no 

 alternative : the journey must be performed. Accordingly, 

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