352 SELECTION OF GUIDES. 



Early this morning, the guide and peon^ 

 who were to attend me, received half their 

 hire, in order to enable them to lay in pro- 

 visions for their journey. I observed my 

 friend the Alcalde was extremely particular 

 in selecting my guide and peons, rejecting 

 many before he pitched on those which 

 pleased him. On enquiring into this, he 

 gave me the following particulars : — If the 

 government have any need of a body of 

 these men to carry provisions, conduct sol- 

 diers, &c. over the mountains, they de- 

 spatch a private letter to the Juez Politico 

 about three weeks before, stating the num- 

 ber of men they shall require. This officer 

 immediately sends for the requisite number, 

 and having collected them, shuts them all 

 up in prison until they are wanted ; there 

 they have but scanty fare and no pay. On 

 the day they are needed, they are put un- 

 der the charge of a body of soldiers, and 



