Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/114

94 husband was on a visit to the family to which I had letters in Guatemala. She managed the business, for there was a shop attached to the house, in which was sold almost every thing that the community could require, with great zeal and ability. Mixed with China crapes and India Bandanas were Irish linens and Manchester cottons; and Birmingham cutlery was exposed to sale on the same counter with the coarser implements which the forges of the natives could produce.

I had broken the stirrup of my saddle, and wanted an additional pocket made to my armas de agua: these are skins of deer, or any other animal, which are suspended from the pommel of the saddle, on each side of the horse, reaching down to below his knees, and which, being untied and unfurled, are brought over the thighs of the rider and tied behind, round the waist, so as to render the lower part of the person perfectly impenetrable to the rain. On stopping at any place to rest or refresh,