96 
GUATEMALA. 
the length of a dress-pattern. A common design is 
given on the previous page, — the lines being light blue 
on dark. The lines of light filling are carried outside the 
selvage, and of course are easily broken; otherwise the 
cloth is coarse and strong, in widths of a vara , or thirty- 
three inches. The weavers were very obliging, and 
pleased to have us inspect their work. 
The soil here is a rich red loam, and coffee grows bet¬ 
ter than elsewhere in the country. Coffee-trees, well- 
trimmed and loaded with crimson berries, were in every 
garden, and violets and strawberries were in blossom. 
The domestic architecture was certainly not imposing, 
but it was substantial, and perfectly suited to the climate. 
Houses were generally but one story in height, built of 
masonry and covered with stucco, around a patio to¬ 
wards which the tiled roof inclined, covering a wide 
veranda as well as the house. The windows on the 
street projected slightly, and were protected by strong 
iron grills. Many of the streets were paved, and drains 
and culverts provided to remove the rain-water. As 
there is no aqueduct, water is brought from springs or 
caught from the roofs during the frequent rains. We 
were told it had rained incessantly for the last ten days, 
and the wet clouds still rested on the surrounding hills, 
giving a slightly gloomy aspect to the otherwise fine 
views in all directions. The meat-market was outside 
the Plaza, and a single glance was enough ; but the gen¬ 
eral market was so attractive that, after a quiet night’s 
rest (we were of course far more wearied by sight-seeing 
than by any day’s travel), we turned our steps thither in 
the early morning. In our search for mules we came to 
the blacksmith in the cloisters. He was an American 
