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NARRATIVE OF A 



ordinary circumstances is easily forded, had swelled with 

 the sudden rain, was thick with mud, and roared and 

 rushed by impetuously, bearing along broken branches 

 and trunks of trees. The boldest of the party was unwil- 

 ling to attempt the ford. In this dilemma, and with the 

 rain still pouring on us, we looked round anxiously for a 

 shelter. Happily, a little hut was descried at no great 

 distance, and we all hastened thither to take refuge under 

 its roof. There was only an old woman in the hut ; we 

 entered it without asking leave, and huddled in, to the 

 number of at least thirty persons in a space of not more 

 than twelve feet square. The mules and baggage were 

 left outside to bear the pelting of the storm. 



After stopping in the hut about two hours, one of the 

 arrieros was sent to ascertain whether the river had sub- 

 sided sufficiently to enable us to ford it. His report was 

 favourable, and we sallied forth, mounted our steeds, and 

 came a second time to the banks of the river. The stream 

 was still copious and powerful ; and no one seemed wil- 

 ling to be the first to encounter it. Our officer, at length ? 

 pushed into the water, and succeeded, though not without 

 some difficulty and danger, in gaining the opposite bank. 

 The rest of us, seeing that the sorry nag he mounted had 

 struggled through successfully, did not hesitate to follow, 

 and all of us passed without accident ; some of those on 

 foot holding on by the tails of the mules. 



On arriving at Salama, we stopped before the house of a 

 certain Don Basilio, for whom we had brought a letter of 

 introduction from Guatemala. This letter he was bound 

 to consider in the light of a bill of exchange for food and 

 lodging to be furnished at sight ; and drafts of this descrip- 

 tion must not be dishonoured. Don Basilio received us 

 with much cordiality ) but there was an appearance of em- 

 barrassment in his manner, and ever and anon he cast an 

 inquiring look at the numerous party which had collected 

 before his door. At length a thought seemed to strike 

 him, and he said, that if we preferred an entire house to 



