JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 



193 



character and talents were not less respected there than in 

 the United States, The village consisted of only forty or 

 fifty huts, but it had a thriving appearance ; and some lit- 

 tle trade was carried on there, as four or five small craft 

 were at anchor in front of it. 



Being compelled to beat up against the breeze-wind all 

 the way, we did not arrive at Balize before the 19th. 

 There was not at the time any vessel in port for Havana 

 or the United States, and I saw no prospect of getting 

 away in several days. This I regretted the more, from the 

 apprehensions I entertained of the deleterious nature of 

 the climate, and the imminent risk of being attacked by 

 the fever. My first inquiries on landing, were about my 

 former travelling companion, Mr. M., whose house, during 

 my stay in the place, I proposed making my home. My 

 surprise and sorrow will easily be conceived, when I learnt 

 that he had died only the day before. In less than three 

 weeks from his return he had been taken ill, and in five 

 days after was conveyed to the cemetery. I met, how- 

 ever, with a good reception from my former acquaintance, 

 the Spanish merchant, Don Francisco, who offered me a 

 room in his house. 



I now discovered that rest, after fatigue, is only agree- 

 able for a short time. Accustomed, as I had been, to con- 

 stant motion, and to a daily change of scene, my confine- 

 ment to a particular place was irksome. I sighed for the 

 woods and wilds, and for the variety and excitement of a 

 traveller's life. I felt that there was a secret and irresisti- 

 ble charm in migration, and would fain have returned to 

 breathe once more the pure air of the mountains. 



In short, for eight days I was left in the full enjoyment 

 of the dolce far niente, which I found to be rather weari- 

 some. On the 27th I felt very ill, and the day after, the 

 contingency I had dreaded was sadly realised : I was 

 taken down with a severe attack of bilious fever. A phy- 

 sician was procured, and he proved to be a good one. I 

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