90 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



wore a military frock-coat, buttoned up to the throat, 

 and sword. His hat was off, and the expression of his 

 face mild and intelligent. Though still young, for ten 

 years he had been the first man in the country, and 

 eight president of the Republic. He had risen and had 

 sustained himself by military skill and personal bra- 

 very ; always led his forces himself ; had been in innu- 

 merable battles, and often wounded, but never beaten. 

 A year before, the people of Guatimala, of both par- 

 ties, had implored him to come to their relief, as the 

 only man who could save them from Carrera and de- 

 struction. At that moment he added another to the 

 countless instances of the fickleness of popular favour. 

 After the expiration of his term he had been elected 

 chief of the State of San Salvador, which office he had 

 resigned, and then acted as commander-in-chief under 

 the Federal Government. Denounced personally, and 

 the Federation under which he served disavowed, he 

 had marched against Guatimala with fourteen hundred 

 men, and forced his way into the plaza ; forty of his 

 oldest officers and his eldest son were shot down by his 

 side ; and cutting his way through masses of human 

 flesh, with about four hundred and fifty men then in the 

 plaza, made his escape. I was presented to him by 

 Colonel Zerabia. From the best information I could 

 acquire, and from the enthusiasm with which I had 

 heard him spoken of by his officers, and, in fact, by 

 every one else in his own state, I had conceived al- 

 most a feeling of admiration for General Morazan, 

 and my interest in him was increased by his misfor- 

 tunes. I was really at a loss how to address him ; and 

 while my mind was full of his ill-fated expedition, his 

 first question was if his family had arrived in Costa 

 Rica, or if I had heard anything of them. I did not 



