GENERAL MORAZAN. 



89 



midst of a distracted meeting, rendered more poignant 

 by the circumstance of his being joined in an attack 

 upon his native city, he was called away to go into ac- 

 tion ; his horse was shot under him, he was wounded, 

 and escaped with the wreck of the army. His mother 

 and sisters knew nothing of his fate. He said, what I 

 was sure was but too true, that they would have dread- 

 ful apprehensions about him, and begged me, imme- 

 diately on my arrival at Guatimala, to visit them and 

 inform them of his safety. 



In the mean time, General Morazan, apprehensive of 

 a surprise from Carrera during the night, sent word that 

 he should sleep in the plaza ; and escorted by Colonel 

 Zerabia, I went to pay my respects to him. From the 

 time of his entry I felt perfectly secure, and never had 

 a moment of apprehension from unruly soldiers. For 

 the first time I saw something like discipline. A sen- 

 tinel was pacing the street leading from the plaza, to 

 prevent the soldiers straggling into the town ; but the 

 poor fellows seemed to have no disposition for .strag- 

 gling. The town was stripped of everything ; even the 

 poor horses had no food. Some were gathered at the 

 window of the cabildo, each in his turn holding up his 

 hat for a portion of hard corn bread ; some were sitting 

 around fires eating this miserable fare ; but most were 

 stretched on the ground, already asleep. It was the 

 first night they had lain down except in an enemy's 

 country. 



General Morazan, with several officers, was standing 

 in the corridor of the cabildo ; a large fire was burning 

 before the door, and a table stood against the wall, 

 with a candle and chocolate-cups upon it. He was 

 about forty-five years old, five feet ten inches high, 

 thin, with a black mustache and week's beard, and 



Vol. IL— -M 



