Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/363

CH. XXIV.]

After the first half hour's ride, the road became steep and craggy: by winding up a shoulder of a mountain, we had attained an elevation of about 800 feet: we passed round a projecting point which afforded a delightful view of the whole town as well as of the surrounding country; and, although we might have been two hours in reaching it, the distance of the city from it did not appear more than two miles, as the crow flies. Of course we could see very distinctly all the separate streets and churches, and by the position of the latter my eye seemed as though it was enabled to discover the exact spot of the hospitable mansion I had left.

The town was environed on the three