168 NARRATIVE OP A 



CHAPTER XXI. 



«« Rio Grande." — Novel Contrivance for passing a River. — A Military 

 Card Party. — The Warm Springs. — Valley of Salama. — Detention at a 

 River. — Arrival at Salama. — Don Basilic — A Sketch of the Town. — 

 Carrera's Attack on it. — St. Geronimo. — Remarks on Central America. 



Early the next morning we resumed our march ; but 

 had not gone far, when our progress, in a direct line, was 

 impeded by a deep trench, or ditch, which compelled us to 

 make a circuit of more than a league before we could re- 

 gain the road. We now proceeded through a wild and 

 mountainous country, traversing woods, and crossing 

 streams and ravines, without seeing a house, a village, 

 or even a human being. At one o'clock, we came to a 

 large river called Rio Grande. The banks were high and 

 precipitous, the stream rapid, and apparently very deep, and 

 I was considering how this river was to be passed — there 

 being no bridge — when my attention was attracted by two 

 stout cables stretched from bank to bank, about twenty 

 feet above the water. This, I was told, was the bridge by 

 which we were to pass. These cables lay parallel to each 

 other, and about fifteen inches apart. Between them, and 

 supported by them, was a double block of a corresponding 

 width, from which was suspended a strong leather strap, 

 like a sling. To this strap, or sling, we had to trust our 

 lives. We took our seats in it successively, and on a sig- 

 nal being given, a line attached to the block was hauled 

 upon from the opposite side of the river, when the block, 

 with its burden, glided over the cables, till it reached the 

 landing-place on that side. The soldiers indulged in many 

 a jest, and fired off their jokes upon each other as they 

 were hauled over the river. To me, the apparatus ap- 



