JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 



29 



some fine leopard skins, in his magazine ; which I ex- 

 amined attentively, expressing my admiration of their 

 size and beauty. The merchant said nothing, but soon 

 after we had parted, and just as I was stepping into the 

 boat, I was overtaken by one of his servants, bringing 

 one of the finest of the skins. " This," said he, " is a 

 cortafineza (a small present,) which my master desires 

 you to accept." 



In Spanish America, as in Old Spain, it is considered a 

 matter of course, according to the code of politeness, to 

 offer a person any thing for which he expresses an admi- 

 ration ; it is equally a matter of course to decline such 

 offers. In the present instance, however, the manner in 

 which the present was sent after me, showed that it was 

 made in earnest, and to decline it would have been con- 

 sidered a slight. I accepted it, therefore, without hesi- 

 tation, and recorded it in my memory to the credit of 

 the courtesy and hospitality of the good people of 

 Truxillo, 



