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NARRATIVE OP A 



mentioned is crowded on market days with country-peo- 

 ple, bringing the produce of their farms. All the fruits 

 and vegetables of the tropics may then be seen exposed for 

 sale on mats and manias spread upon the ground. The 

 variety of costumes and complexions, and the noise and 

 bustle of the buyers and sellers, constitute a picturesque 

 and animated scene. The primitive custom of trading by 

 barter, I found, to my surprise, was still in existence there ; 

 Indian corn, or cocoa, being used in such cases as a sub- 

 stitute for a metallic currency. 



One of my first cares after arriving at St. Salvador, was 

 to obtain information in regard to the best mode of accom- 

 plishing, in safety, my journey to Guatemala, where the 

 President of the Republic and the diplomatic agent of the 

 United States were both residing. With this view, I called 

 on the Vice-President, Mr. Ibarra, who received me with 

 much affability and politeness. The apartment where I 

 saw him was decorated at one extremity by a dais, or 

 canopy, of red damask, with an arm-chair and table be- 

 neath, also covered with damask, forming altogether some- 

 thing like a throne. He was not sitting there, however, 

 when I visited him, but at another table, covered with 

 various papers and books, among which I noticed one ob- 

 ject that seemed to me very unofficial, and rather out of 

 place — a huge poignard, the sheath and handle of which 

 were of silver, beautifully wrought. On my stating to him 

 the object of my visit, he manifested the most sincere dis- 

 position to promote my views, as well on my account, as 

 from respect to the Government of the United States. He 

 would confer, he said, with the Secretary of State and of 

 War on the subject, and directed me to call on that gen- 

 tleman to learn his decision. 



The next morning, accordingly, I waited on Don Mi- 

 guel Alvarez, the Secretary alluded to. Of this gentle- 

 man a curious circumstance had been related to me, which 

 was that his head had never been seen uncovered, for he 

 always, and in every place, wore a handkerchief round it. 



