162 



NARRATIVE OF A 



CHAPTER XX. 



General Morazan. — Preparations for Returning. — A New Travelling 

 Companion. — Departure from Guatemala.' — View of the City from a 

 Distance. — Unexpected Luxuries. — The Commander of the Escort. 



Soon after my arrival at Guatemala, I went with the 

 Charge d' Affaires of the United States to pay a visit to 

 General Morazan, the President, who was not then in the 

 city, but at his head-quarters at Villanueva, a little town 

 about ten miles distant. On arriving there, we rode up 

 to a house where a military guard was stationed, and 

 which proved to be the dwelling of the General. There 

 was a spacious yard in front, and a sentinel at the gate. 

 We were admitted without difficulty, and, on inquiring 

 for the President, Were shown into a hall by One of the 

 adjutants, who desired us to wait there till he announced 

 our visit. This hall, the door of which was also guarded 

 by a sentinel, had all the appearance of a guard-house. 

 There was no other furniture in it but a large long table 

 and a couple of wooden benches. It was full of officers 

 of different ranks, Who were there on duty, or waiting for 

 orders. Their ranks could be distinguished by their 

 epaulettes ; but in their dress there was a total absence of 

 uniformity; some wearing cocked hats with feathers, 

 others round hats with a broad gold band round the 

 crowns, some in blue regimentals, some in red, and many 

 with no other uniform than a jacket with military but- 

 tons. In one thing only was there any appearance of 

 regularity — in the long unwieldy swOrds and ponderous 

 spurs with which they were all provided. In the yard 

 were several horses, saddled and ready for service, and a 



