Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/388

368 that purpose, as far as the coast; but, having caught the fever there, he was brought back to the capital in litters, and, after an illness of fifteen days, died. During the whole of this sickness, which had terminated in a sort of typhus, the incessant watchings of this amiable girl could not be prevented: — she nursed her dying parent with devoted attention, and, in her phrensy, clung so closely to the corpse, that it was with difficulty she could be separated from it. As was natural to expect, she caught the infection, but fortunately got over the attack.

The next morning, we set off for Zacapa, which I found in the list of my route was honoured with the title of city: it lies seven leagues from Chimilapañ, and being situated about half way between the coast and the capital, may be considered, with regard to Guatemala, what Xalapa is to Mexico.

Previously to entering this city, we had to undergo the operation of unloading all our mules and conveying the baggage in