Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/386

partly of African origin, and had been born and bred in the house: his occupation had been to take charge of the cargoes of native productions raised on the family estates and to receive the money for them in the capital, or bring back European goods in exchange, which he afterwards took to the wholesale dealers in the different provinces. On the latter occasions, he was frequently entrusted with large sums, and I could not but the more highly appreciate the kindness of his employers, who had now sent him to accompany me not only to the coast, but, if I found it requisite, to England. The fellow, who had performed the journey with great speed, having come the thirty-five leagues in two days on foot, was a good manly specimen of the caste between the Indian and the Negro. He was strong, healthy and athletic; and, hearing so good a character of him from Don Eugenio, his young master, I gladly availed myself of his services, especially as the Chinese was about