FOUNDATION OF CIUDAD VIEJA. 279 



de Agua. The situation, says Remesal, pleased them 

 so much by its fine climate, the beauty of the meadows, 

 delightfully watered by running streams, and particu- 

 larly from its lying between two lofty mountains, from 

 one of which descended runs of water in every direc- 

 tion, and from the summit of the other issued volumes 

 of smoke and fire, that they determined to build a city 

 which should be the capital of Guatimala. 



On the twenty-fifth of July, the festival of St. James, 

 the patron of Spain, the soldiers, with martial music, 

 splendid armour, waving plumes, horses superbly ca- 

 parisoned in trappings glittering with jewels and plates 

 of gold, proceeded to the humble church which had 

 been constructed for that purpose, where Juan Godines, 

 the chaplain to the army, said mass. The whole body 

 invoked the protection of the apostle, and called by his 

 name the city they had founded. On the same day Al- 

 varado appointed alcaldes, regidors, and the chief al- 

 guazil. The appearance of the country harmonized 

 with the romantic scenes of which it had been the thea- 

 tre ; and as I rode over the plain I could almost ima- 

 gine the sides of the mountains covered with Indians, 

 and Alvarado and his small band of daring Spaniards, 

 soldiers and priests, with martial pride and religious 

 humility, unfurling the banners of Spain and setting 

 up the standard of the cross. 



As we approached the town its situation appeared 

 more beautiful ; but very early in its history dreadful 

 calamities befell it. " In 1532 the vicinity of the city 

 was ravaged, and the inhabitants thrown into conster- 

 nation by a lion of uncommon magnitude and ferocity, 

 that descended from the forests on the mountain called 

 the Volcan de Agua, and committed great devastation 

 among the herds of cattle. A reward of twenty-five 



