80 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



appointed. If I had been breakfasting with them in- 

 stead of vice versa, I could have astonished them as 

 much as their voracious ancestors did the Indians. 

 The breakfast was a neat fit ; there was none over, and 

 I believe nothing short. 



There was but one unpleasant circumstance attend- 

 ant upon it, viz., General Figoroa requested us to wait 

 an hour, until he could prepare despatches to Carrera, 

 advising him of his occupation of Aguachapa. I was 

 extremely anxious to get away while the game was 

 good. Of General Figoroa and his secretary we thought 

 favourably ; but we saw that he had no control over his 

 men, and as long as we were in the town we should be 

 subject to their visits, inquiries, and importunities, and 

 some difficulties might arise. At the same time, de- 

 spatches to Carrera would be a great security on the 

 road. Don Saturnino undertook to set off with the 

 luggage, and we, glad of the opportunity of travelling 

 without any encumbrance, charged him to push on as 

 fast as he could, not to stop for us, and we would over- 

 take him. 



In about an hour we walked over to the plaza for the 

 despatches, but unluckily found ourselves in a new scene 

 of confusion. Figoroa was already in the saddle, the 

 lancers were mounting in haste, and all running to 

 arms. A scout had brought in word that Colonel An- 

 goula, with the soldiers of the town, was hovering on 

 the skirt of the mountain, and our friends were hurrying 

 to attack them. In a moment the lancers were off on a 

 gallop, and the ragged infantry snatched up fheir guns 

 and ran after them, keeping up with the horses. The 

 letter to Carrera was partly written, and the aiddecamp 

 asked us to wait, telling us that the affair would soon be 

 over. He was left in command of about seventy or 



