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GUATEMALA— 
TRAVELS AND EXPERIENCES. 
(Illustrated by the Lantern). 
By W. S. ASCOLI, F.R.G.S. February 1 6th, 1909. 
Guatemala is the most northerly of the five republics 
which constitute Central America. No very accurate survey 
of the country has been made, and the area is variously 
estimated at between 48,000 and 60,000 square miles. The 
population numbers about 2,000,000, of which about three 
quarters are Indians and the remainder are descendants of 
Spaniards and “ ladinos ” or half-castes. 
Very little is known of Guatemala previous to its occupation 
by the Spaniards at the beginning of the 16th century. The 
Spaniards appear to have taught the natives to read and 
write, and they left accounts which, though meagre, suffice 
to show that the Indians were no savages ; they had a code 
of laws, an organised government, and a religion based on 
fire-worship and human sacrifice. The two principal tribes 
were the Cachiquel Indians and the Quiches. The Quiches 
offered a strong resistance to the Spaniards, and were over- 
come only with difficulty after several pitched battles. In 
1524 the Spaniards finally broke through the Indian lines, 
and founded the city of Guatemala. The name is probably 
a corruption of Juatimol, the then king of the Cachiquel 
Indians, who gave valuable aid to the Spaniards during the 
early years of their occupation. 
In 1541 the town was destroyed by a torrent of water ; 
but its situation was so beautiful that the survivors of the 
catastrophe, with the consent of the Spanish crown, rebuilt 
the city some two miles north of the ruins. The new town 
was equally unfortunate, for it was destroyed or partially 
destroyed no less than ten times in 250 years. In spite of 
this the city grew in size and power, and in the 18th century 
was one of the richest and largest cities of America. At 
this period the country governed by the city extended 2000 
miles, and was one of the greatest assets of Spain. 
