DISTRUST OF THE INDIANS. 



187 



then fresh from the palaces of Spain, and it seemed as 

 if he was again among them. Shortly after his arrival 

 a small gold image was found and sent to Zerabia, the 

 president of Guatimala, who ordered a commission 

 from the capital to search for hidden treasure. In this 

 search the palace was destroyed ; the Indians, roused 

 by the destruction of their ancient capital, rose, and 

 threatened to kill the workmen unless they left the coun- 

 try ; and but for this, the cura said, every stone would 

 have been razed to the ground. The Indians of Quiche 

 have at all times a bad name ; at Guatimala it was al- 

 ways spoken of as an unsafe place to visit ; and the padre 

 told us that they looked with distrust upon any stranger 

 coming to the ruins. At that moment they were in a 

 state of universal excitement ; and coming close to us, 

 he said that in the village they stood at swords' points 

 with the Mestitzoes, ready to cut their throats, and with 

 all his exertions he could barely keep down a general 

 rising and massacre. Even this information he gave us 

 with a laugh. We asked him if he had no fears for 

 himself. He said no ; that he was beloved by the In- 

 dians ; he had passed the greater part of his life among 

 them ; and as yet the padres were safe : the Indians 

 considered them almost as saints. Here he laughed. 

 Carrera was on their side ; but if he turned against them 

 it would be time to fly. This was communicated and 

 received with peals of laughter ; and the more serious 

 the subject, the louder was our cachinnation. And all 

 the time the padre made continual reference to books 

 and manuscripts, showing antiquarian studies and pro- 

 found knowledge. 



Under one of the buildings was an opening which 

 the Indians called a cave, and by which they said one 

 could reach Mexico in an hour. I crawled under, and 



