Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/518

498 of Guatemala may be best gathered from the official report of the government.—This report observes that "the north coast is defended by the strong garrisons of Omoa, Truxillo, the Gulf, and San Carlos,—all being perfectly furnished with artillery; and having respectable forts and batteries at all the points of disembarkation. In the south," (it adds,) "there are some points defended; and if they are not so, it is because those of the northern coast have the rather called the attention of the government, as being more open to any premeditated invasion on the part of the Spaniards; but both in one and the other, the means of defence are very considerable." It argues that "the first enemy that the European has to encounter is the climate," and that "if he should, by chance, get possession of the fortresses, and try to push his way into the interior, he would meet with obstacles innumerable; a country mountainous and rugged, facilitating ambuscade, and offering to light troops the ready means of