OFFICIAL BUSINESS. 



303 



fend them, and could not defend themselves. At all 

 events, I had as yet heard only one side, and did not 

 consider myself justified in assuming that there was no 

 government. I was bound to make " diligent search," 

 and then I might return, in legal phrase, " cepi corpus," 

 or " non est inventus," according to circumstances. 



For this purpose I determined to go to San Salvador, 

 which was formerly, and still claimed to be, the capital 

 of the Confederation and the seat of the Federal Gov- 

 ernment, or, rather, to Cojutepeque, to which place the 

 government had been then lately transferred, on account 

 of earthquakes at San Salvador. This proj ect was not 

 without its difficulties. One Rascon, with an insurgent 

 and predatory band, occupied an intervening district of 

 country, acknowledging neither party, and fighting un- 

 der his own flag. Mr. Chatfield and Mr. Skinner had 

 come by sea, a circuitous route, to avoid him, and Cap- 

 tain De Nouvelle, master of a French ship lying at the 

 port of San Salvador, arrived in Guatimala almost on 

 a run, having ridden sixty miles the last day over a 

 mountainous country, who reported horrible atrocities, 

 and three men murdered near San Vicente, on their 

 way to the fair at Esquipulas, and their faces so disfig- 

 ured that they could not be recognised. Immediately 

 on his arrival he sent a courier to order his ship up to 

 Istapa, merely to take him back, and save him from re- 

 turning by land. I had signified my intention to the 

 state government, which was dissatisfied with my going 

 to San Salvador at all, but off"ered me an escort of sol- 

 diers, suggesting, however, that if we met any of Mora- 

 zan's there would certainly be a fight. This was not 

 at all pleasant. I was loth to travel a third time the 

 road to Istapa, but, under the circumstances, accepted 



