Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/45

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CH. II.]
TO GUATEMALA.
25

My lodging was of a very sorry nature: a gate, similar to those which we have in our English farm-yards admitted us into a paddock on the side of a lane, a little out of the town: the house consisted of a dead wall against the road side, with the front and one of the sides completely open, without any wall, except one of about three feet high. It was, in fact, a shed, and admirably adapted for a cow-house, being shaded from the south, and having a rich pasture in front. We ate heartily of the ice, and had nothing to repent of, but that we had not eaten it all; for the little we had kept for a bonne bouche in the morning, notwithstanding all the precautions that could be taken, we discovered had resolved itself into its liquid state.

Monday, 25th. Set off at about seven o'clock. We passed some infantry, about 100 men, who were proceeding to the garrisons on the coast. When within twelve miles of Istola, they came up with us whilst we were preparing our breakfast. The