170 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



pulpit was covered with gold leaf, and the altar protected 

 by an iron railing with a silver balustrade, ornamented 

 with six silver pillars about two feet high, and two an- 

 gels standing as guardians on the steps. In front of the 

 altar, in a rich shrine, is an image of the Saviour on the 

 cross, " our Lord of Esquipulas," to whom the church 

 is consecrated, famed for its power of working mira- 

 cles. Every year thousands of devotees ascend the 

 steps of his temple on their knees, or laden with a 

 heavy cross, who are not permitted to touch the sacred 

 image, but go away contented in obtaining a piece of 

 riband stamped with the words " Dulce nombre de Je- 

 sus." 



We returned to the convent, and while I was sit- 

 ting with Colonel San Martin the curate entered, and, 

 closing the door, asked me if my servant was faithful. 

 Augustin's face was an unfortunate letter of recom- 

 mendation. Colonel M'Donald, Don Francisco, and, 

 as I afterward heard, General Cascara, distrusted him. 

 I told the cura all I knew of him, and mentioned his 

 conduct at Comotan ; but he still cautioned me to be- 

 ware of him. Soon after, Augustin, who seemed to 

 suspect that he had not made a very favourable impres- 

 sion, asked me for a dollar to pay for a confession. My 

 intelligent friend was not free from the prejudices of 

 education ; and though he could not at once change his 

 opinion so warmly expressed, he said that Augustin had 

 been well brought up. 



In the course of the day I had an opportunity of see- 

 ing what I afterward observed throughout all Central 

 America : the life of labour and responsibility passed 

 by the cura in an Indian village, who devotes himself 

 faithfully to the people under his charge. Besides offi- 

 ciating in all the services of the church, visiting the 



