JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 



149 



was three thousand men. There was no navy. Of the 

 revenue collected, no regular returns were made, owing to 

 the troubled state of the country and the difficulty of the 

 communications. The amount, however, may be esti- 

 mated at two millions of dollars ; but of this sum scarcely 

 two-thirds are received into the Treasury, such is the 

 mismanagement or corruption prevailing in the fiscal de- 

 partments of the Government. 



The Church, in the State of Guatemala, is supported by 

 the proceeds of a tax of half a dollar on every hundred 

 acres. In the other States, it is supported by the payment 

 of tithes. The curacies are badly provided. In many 

 small villages, divine service is never performed, and the 

 inhabitants are obliged to go several miles to hear mass. 

 The curates, sometimes, have to travel fifteen or twenty 

 miles to confess and assist the dying. 



The amount of the public debt did not exceed £241,684 

 sterling, but, no doubt, has been latterly much aug- 

 mented. 



The principal men of the country are the following : — 

 General Morazan, the President ; 

 Vigil, the Vice-President ; 

 Ibana, acting Vice-President ; 

 Galvez, late Governor of the State of Guatemala ; 

 Barrundia, a Deputy ; 

 Valenzuela, now Governor of Guatemala ; 

 Alvarez, Secretary of State and of War ; 

 Aycinena, a Senator ; 

 Zebadua, ex-Secretary of State ; 

 Rodriguez, a Senator ; 



And Dr. Castillo, an ecclesiastical dignitary. 

 The distances from Guatemala to the principal ports or 

 towns of the Republic, are the following : — 



To St. Salvador, 90 leagues. 



" Comayagua, the capital of Honduras, 161 " 



