JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 



145 



by the most flattering concessions, to sheathe his sword, 

 and to disband his followers. 



This deputation was accordingly appointed, and sent in 

 quest of Carrera, whom they found at a place called Mata- 

 quescuintla. The conference took place in the open air, 

 and a Doctor Castiila, an ecclesiastic, one of the deputies, 

 addressing the rebel chief, represented to him the enormity 

 of the crime of rebellion, the distress and ruin he was 

 bringing upon his country, and the folly of believing in the 

 iniquitous act ascribed to the Government, of having 

 poisoned the waters ; and concluded by a hint, that his 

 submission would not go unrequited. The reply of Car-* 

 rera was, after disclaiming all views of private interest, 

 that the spirit and practice of the Government was incom- 

 patible with religion ; that consequently, such a govern- 

 ment could not be good ; and that he was only practising 

 a lesson they had taught him, namely,- the right of insur- 

 rection. This reasoning was easily refuted by the eloquent 

 Doctor, who, occasionally, also addressed the rebel soldiers 

 who surrounded him. Carrera now began to evince strong 

 symptoms of impatience and uneasiness. He saw that his 

 arguments were all demolished, that his men were listen- 

 ing to the speaker' with attention and complacence, and 

 that there was a possibility of their turning against him 

 and deserting him. He suddenly imposed silence on the 

 Doctor, and, in order to inflame the minds of his people, 

 had recourse to a falsehood, asserting in the most vehe- 

 ment manner, that he himself had been offered by the Ad- 

 ministration twenty dollars for every Indian he should 

 poison. Thereupon, the deputies, seeing not only the in- 

 utility, but the danger of pursuing their object any further, 

 gave up the discussion, and withdrew. 



A few days after, Carrera, with three or four thousand 

 Indians at his back, appeared before Guatemala, and as no 

 effectual resistance could be opposed to him, he entered, 

 and took possession of the city. The alarm and con- 

 fusion of the inhabitants may easily be imagined. The 



