376 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



through which we saw about a half dozen prisoners, in a dirty 

 obscure room, the group was assembled. One of the prisoners 

 held two of the bars above his head with his hands, and leaned 

 his chin against the door, looking out upon the plaza, while the 

 latter part of his body projected backwards. He was a savage 

 looking fellow, with sturdy limbs, and blood shot eyes ; his 

 dress consisted of a white shirt and trowsers, one leg of which 

 was rolled up to his knee. Another was seated on the ground, 

 leaning his back against the wall, while his head hung forward 

 on his breast, with a striped handkerchief tied round it; his 

 legs were crossed, as they extended before him, and his hands 

 were clasped together upon his lap, with their palms turned 

 forward ; in addition to his shirt and trowsers, the latter spat- 

 tered with mud, he wore a dark poncho knotted round his 

 waist. The other prisoners were walking back and forth ia 

 silence. 



The horsemen were clothed in large green ponchos, Guaya- 

 quil hats tied under the chin, and armed with pistols and short 

 spears ; and each had a dragoon's sabre, in a metal scabbard, 

 dangling at his side. Their horses hung their heads like wearied 

 animals, and if their muddy limbs had not been sufficient, the 

 long beards of their riders clearly proved that they had but just 

 returned from a long journey. A stout old man in a gingham 

 jacket, with a round face and little gray whiskers, stood con- 

 versing with one of them, while the other was arranging a 

 paper cigar, and striking fire by aid of a machero. The respect 

 paid by all present, and a large Molluca stick, with a ponder- 

 ous gold head, which he held in his hand, and occasionally 

 moved to support his arguments, declared him to be no other 

 than the Alcalde of Santa. One horse stood without a rider, 

 the reins lying on the ground, and a lazo by his side. The 

 prisoner had been brought in upon this animal, secured by tying 

 his legs together with the lazo. 



The whole turn out, I soon discovered, was to see a murder- 

 er, who had been just brought in by the mounted " vigilantes.'^ 

 The prisoner had eluded an almost constant search, all over the 

 country, during more than a year, and was at last brought to 

 the town to show that escape, under such a crime, was impos- 



