A PLEASANT ENCOUNTER. 



49 



met, and formed arches, in some places as regular as 

 if constructed by art ; and as we rode among them, there 

 was a solemn stillness, an air of desolation, that re- 

 minded us of the columns of an Egyptian temple. 



Toward dark we reached the rancho of Mico. It 

 was a small house, built of poles and plastered with 

 mud. Near it, and connected by a shed thatched with 

 branches, was a larger house, built of the same mate- 

 rial, expressly for the use of travellers. This was al- 

 ready occupied by two parties from Guatimala, one of 

 which consisted of the Canonigo Castillo, his clerical 

 companion or secretary, and two young Pavons. The 

 other was a French merchant on his way to Paris. 

 Mr. C. and I were picturesque-looking objects, not 

 spattered, but plastered with mud from head to foot ; 

 but we were soon known, and received from the whole 

 company a cordial welcome to Central America. 



Their appearance was such as gave me a highly 

 favourable opinion of the description of persons I 

 should meet at Guatimala. The canonigo was one of 

 the first men in the country in position and character, 

 and was then on his way to Havana on a delicate po- 

 litical mission, being sent by the Constituent Assem- 

 bly to invite back the archbishop, who had been ban- 

 ished by General Morazan ten years before. He un- 

 dertook to do the honours, and set before us choco- 

 late and what he called the national dish," fregoles, 

 or black beans fried, which, fortunately for our subse- 

 quent travels, we " cottoned" to at once. We were 

 very tired, but agreeable company was better than 

 sleep. The canonigo had been educated at Rome, 

 and passed the early part of his life in Europe ; the 

 Frenchman was from Paris ; the young Pavons were 

 educated in New-York ; and we sat till a late hour. 



Vol. I.— G 5 



