JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 



105 



shoulder, and a huge long-sword, with an iron guard 

 like a punch-bowl, hung by his side. Such was the 

 equipment of this American janissary who was to be my 

 protector. 



For my own partj I had long felt the necessity of im- 

 proving my appearance by a few articles of an ornamen- 

 tal as well as a useful kind ; simplicity being by no means 

 in accordance with the taste or fashion of the natives. 

 Acting upon this idea, I provided myself with a silk sash, 

 a pair of rodilleras, a Panama hat, and a neat chamarra, 

 or mantle, to take place of a vulgar cloak, that was now 

 banished to the bottom of a trunk. I also procured a pair 

 of pistols, in lieu of those I had lost, and, with their hol- 

 sters, attached them to my saddle. To the equipment of 

 my mule I added a large sheep-skin, dyed blue, which 

 covered three-fourths of the animal's length ; and by way 

 of correcting the plainness of my English bridle, I adorned 

 it with a frontlet embroidered with coloured cotton. 



Don Santiago insisted on our breakfasting before we 

 commenced the journey. My Mameluke, the officer, said 

 that he had already taken that meal, but would join us, 

 nevertheless, just to keep us company. So well, however, 

 did he perform his part at the table, that no one would 

 have suspected the fact he had asserted. 



I took leave of Don Santiago with an expression of the 

 deep sense I entertained of his kindness. Mr. M., who 

 had found that he could arrange his business in St. Sal- 

 vador without proceeding any further, came to bid me 

 adieu. My separation from him was painful, for I had 

 found him an agreeable companion, and had become in a 

 measure attached to him. We cheered each other by an- 

 ticipating the pleasure we should have in meeting at Ba~ 

 lize ; but, alas ! this anticipation was vain and groundless, 

 for it was ordained above that I should never see him 

 more. 



14 



