Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/310

290 dangerous, and, those who will submit to it, experience infallible relief.

I had called in the morning on Don Gregorio Salazar, the gefe politico of New Guatemala; and having collected from him, at this interview, some addition to the store of statistical information which I had already acquired respecting this part of the republic, I resolved upon accompanying Don José the next day, back to the metropolis. We had the pleasure of escorting Doña Maria, who was also returning to her mother at the Nueva.

We left the Antigua about eight o'clock, on one of the most beautiful mornings I ever witnessed. She was mounted on a double saddle, after the manner of the country, on an able mule, directed by a trusty servant of the family: the day soon became excessively hot, and, after having proceeded about two leagues, we halted to refresh ourselves at an Indian hut: detached from the regular dwelling was a small square apartment in which we, as