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100 NARRATIVE OF A 



tel, or boarding-house, was to be found in the place. The 

 person I applied to shrugged his shoulders, and said he 

 believed not, unless, indeed, I was content to put up at 

 the meson. I proceeded thither at once, and was shown 

 into a damp, gloomy chamber, opening into the street, 

 with four bare walls and a mud floor. There was not an 

 article of furniture in the room, and this, as well as any 

 attendance I might require, must be procured by myself. 

 I turned away from this cheerless and vulgar caravansary, 

 the resort of muleteers (whose only care is to accommodate 

 their beasts,) and began to consider the course I should 

 now pursue. The necessity of availing myself of my let- 

 ters of introduction, was quite apparent ; but which to 

 prefer, whether the one addressed to the Frenchman, or 

 that to the Spaniard, was a question that I hesitated to de- 

 termine. I was induced, however, at the instigation of 

 Mr. JVL, to decide in favour of the Frenchman, and it was 

 fortunate that I did so. 



This gentleman, whom the natives called Don Santiago, 

 (the Spanish for Jacques,) had been an officer under Na- 

 poleon, and was a member of the Legion of Honour ; he 

 had abandoned his first profession to follow that of a mer- 

 chant in America. 



Mr. M. now left me, and went to seek a friend of his, 

 who, he had reason to believe, would be glad to receive 

 him. 



The house of Don Santiago being pointed out to me, I 

 went thither, and presenting him my letter, stated frankly 

 my embarrassment, in consequence of not being able to 

 find lodgings, and requested his assistance. This appeal 

 was responded to by him in the most kind and liberal 

 manner, for he at once offered me his house and table, and 

 desired that I would consider myself at home. 



I had scarcely accepted this friendly offer, when I re- 

 ceived a visit from Mr. P., an American gentleman, and a 

 resident in St. Salvador. He had come, he said, to make 

 me a tender of his services, and added that he was Consul 



