18 



CENTRAL AMERICA. 



plunder the inhabitants of others, which they 

 re-sell at some other town, eventually bring- 

 ing back a good quantity of plunder and a 

 number of animals to the place from whence 

 they started. 



Having, by these and divers other most 

 oppressive measures, made themselves pretty 

 comfortable for a short time, quiet may pos- 

 sibly resume its sway, until their necessities, 

 discontent, or the persuasion of some other 

 aspiring officer may induce them to break 

 out into another revolution, and sacrifice 

 their former leaders. 



The commandant, for the time being, al- 

 ways manages to collect a " Congreso" or 

 " Junta" of his own party ; and as by the 

 law each member is paid, and that, too, in 

 preference to any other claim on the whole 

 country, they are perfectly willing to give 

 authority to the military for all their ex- 

 cesses. Thus are the generality of revolu- 

 tions effected in Central America, and, in- 

 deed, in many other small Republics of that 

 continent. I have frequently had opportu- 

 nities of witnessing the disastrous effect of a 

 paid body of adventurers legislating for a 

 country, and I believe it has only to be 

 witnessed to be abhorred. 



