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NARRATIVE OP A 



crowned with trees ; so that, altogether, a more favourable 

 spot for a military ambuscade, or for the purposes of high- 

 waymen, could scarcely be desired. In fact, the place 

 was noted for the crimes committed there, on which ac- 

 count, more than from the difficulties of the place, it 

 was styled " the dangerous pass." Our feelings, on ap- 

 proaching this spot, were by no means pleasant, from the 

 possibility of meeting there with some disagreeable ad- 

 venture. Mr. M. and I had only one pair of pistols be- 

 tween us, (for I had lost mine a few days before,) and the 

 muleteers were armed only with their knives. Our ap- 

 prehensions were increased by a story related by one of 

 these men, of a French gentleman who had been mur- 

 dered there by robbers. He showed us the very spot 

 where he fell, and graced his tale with a variety of cir- 

 cumstantial horrors. It was our fortune to pass the mal 

 paso without any accident. But the impression left on 

 our minds by the circumstances of the place, and by the 

 story of the muleteer, disposed us to look with distrust on 

 any one we might meet with on the road. Thus, on 

 overtaking two men on the other side of the ravine, the 

 arrieros at once declared them to be mala gente, (bad 

 people ;) and in reality, they did look like suspicious cha- 

 racters, though they were apparently unarmed. 



Proceeding a few miles more, we came to a hamlet, 

 with nothing remarkable about it but its name, which 

 was el dulce nombre de Jesus (the sweet name of Jesus.) 

 At another place, called St. Antonio, we halted to take 

 some refreshments. Here Don Jose's basket was in- 

 spected ; and most agreeably surprised were we by its 

 contents, which proved to be an abundant supply of sub- 

 stantial viands, with the delicate accessories of a few loaves 

 of wheat bread, some chocolate and wine. 



Early in the evening of the same day, we arrived at 

 Ocotepeque, having performed a journey of nine leagues, 

 or twenty-seven miles. On inquiring for the person to 

 whom our letter was addressed, we found that he was 



