134 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



It was a gloomy leave-taking of Guatimala. The earth 

 slipped under my feet and I fell backward, but saved 

 myself by stepping across a new-made grave. I verily 

 believe that if I had fallen into it, I should have been 

 superstitious, and afraid to set out on my journey. 



I have mentioned that there were rumours in the 

 city of some horrible outrage committed by Carrera 

 at Quezaltenango. He had set out from Guatimala 

 in pursuit of Morazan. Near the Antigua he met one 

 of his own soldiers from Quezaltenango, who report- 

 ed that there had been a rising in that town, and the 

 garrison were compelled to lay down their arms. En- 

 raged at this intelligence, he abandoned his pursuit of 

 Morazan, and, without even advising the government 

 of his change of plan, marched to Quezaltenango, and 

 among other minor outrages seized eighteen of the 

 municipality, the first men of the state, and without 

 the slightest form of trial shot them in the plaza ; 

 and, to heighten the gloom which this news cast over 

 the city, a rumour preceded him that, immediately on 

 his arrival, he intended to order out all the prisoners 

 and shoot them also. At this time the repressed ex- 

 citement in the city was fearful. An immense relief 

 was experienced on the repulse of Morazan, but there 

 had been no rejoicing ; and again the sword seemed 

 suspended by a single hair. 



And here I would remark, as at a place where it has 

 no immediate connexion with what precedes or what 

 follows, and, consequently, where no application of it 

 can be made, that some matters of deep personal inter- 

 est, which illustrate, more than volumes, the dreadful 

 state of the country, I am obliged to withhold altogeth- 

 er, lest, perchance, these pages should find their way 

 to Guatimala and compromise individuals. In my long 



