220 



INCIDENTS OP TRAVEL. 



home, the streets were lighted with a brilliancy almost 

 unearthly ; and the ladies, proud of their moonlight, al- 

 most persuaded me that it was a land to love. 



Continuing on our way, we passed a guardhouse, 

 where a group of soldiers were lying at full length, so as 

 to make everybody pass off the walk and go round 

 them. Perhaps three or four thousand people, a large 

 portion ladies, were turned off. All felt the insolence 

 of these fellows, and I have no doubt some felt a strong 

 disposition to kick them out of the way ; but, though 

 young men enough passed to drive the whole troop out 

 of the city, no complaint was made, and no notice 

 whatever taken of it. In one of the corridors of the 

 plaza another soldier lay on his back crosswise, with his 

 musket by his side, and muttering to everybody that 

 passed, " Tread on me if you dare, and you'll see !" 

 and we all took good care not to tread on him. I re- 

 turned to my house, to pass the evening in solitude ; 

 and it was melancholy to reflect that, with the elements 

 of so much happiness, Guatimala was made so miser^ 

 able. . . 



