INTERVIEW WITH CAREER A. 



247 



way. Such was Carrera, at the time of my visit more 

 absolute master of Guatimala than any king in Europe 

 of his dominions, and by the fanatic Indians called el 

 Hico de Dios, the Son of God, and nuestro Senor, our 

 Lord. 



When I entered the room he was sitting at a table 

 counting sixpenny and shilling pieces. Colonel Monte 

 Rosa, a dark Mestitzo, in a dashing uniform, was sitting 

 by his side, and several other persons were in the room. 

 He was about five feet six inches in height, with 

 straight black hair, an Indian complexion and expres- 

 sion, without beard, and did not seem to be more than 

 twenty-one years old. He wore a black bombazet 

 roundabout jacket and pantaloons. He rose as we en- 

 tered, pushed the money on one side of the table, and, 

 probably out of respect to my coat, received me with 

 courtesy, and gave me a chair at his side. My first 

 remark was an expression of surprise at his extreme 

 youth ; he answered that he was but twenty-three years 

 old ; certainly he was not more than twenty-five ; and 

 then, as a man conscious that he was something extra- 

 ordinary, and that I knew it, without waiting for any 

 leading questions, he continued, that he had begun (he 

 did not say what) with thirteen men armed with old 

 muskets, which they were obliged to fire with cigars ; 

 pointed to eight places in which he had been wounded, 

 and said that he had three balls then in his body. At 

 this time he could hardly be recognised as the same 

 man who, less than two years before, had entered Gua- 

 timala with a horde of wild Indians, proclaiming death 

 to strangers. Indeed, in no particular had he changed 

 more than in his opinion of foreigners, a happy illustra- 

 tion of the effect of personal intercourse in breaking 

 down prejudices against individuals or classes. He 



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