Page:Guatimala or the United Provinces of Central America in 1827-8.pdf/61

Rh secretly stepping towards the door, in order to empty their mouths of it unobserved. Many of these people had never passed the bounds of their native village, and knew as little of the tumultuous world, as the world knows of them.

From hence the following morning, we started for Chimalapa, across dry and arid plains of considerable extent, bearing scarcely any signs of vegetation. A few leafless trees and shrubs were scattered over them, high and sterile mountains rising one above another, enclosed them on every side, while the reflection of the sun's rays on the sandy soil, rendered the heat almost intolerable. After riding onward over these plains, for about six leagues, we passed two small Indian settlements, where the soil appeared better in quality, was a little cultivated, and in some places enclosed.

Towards evening, we arrived at Chimalapa, a town containing about 500 inhabitants, several good houses, and a neat church. The population is entirely Indian, and altogether uninstructed. During the night the thunders echoed over the neighbouring mountains, which were brilliantly illuminated by numerous and vivid flashes of lightning, accompanied by heavy rains; the first that had fallen here for several months.

0ur following day's journey was very uninteresting. With the exception of a few pines, some maguey and cactus plants, the face of the