The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-03

that SO lar az regarded the purposes OF Ms mssioh ~
unnecessary for him to proceed Immediately to
Guatmala-so he determined to turn aside and visit
Copin. On his way hither he was oveItaken by the
following adventures:
STRIKING ADVENTURE.
At six o'clock we rose upon beautiful table of
land on which stood another gigantic church II was
the seventh we had seen that day, and coming upon
them in region of desoation and by mountain paths
which human hands had never attempted to improve,
their colossal grandeur and costlliness startling
and gave evidence of retrogradng and expiring peo
pie. Ills stood IN more desoate place than any
we had yet seen. The grass green, the sod un
broken even by mule path, not human being was
IN sight and even the gratings of the prison had no
one looking through them. II was, in fact picture
of deserted village. We rode up the cabildo the
door of which fastened and the shed harricaded
probably to prevent the entrance Of struggling cattle
We tore away the fastenings, broke open the door,
and, unloading the mules sent Augustin on to-
raging expedition. In half an hour he returned with
egg, being all that he able procure; but he
had walked up the village, and the acade an Indian
with silver headed cane and several alguazs with
long thin rods or wands of Office came down to
mine u.s. We showed them passport, and told
them where we were going at which with their cha
racerstic indifference of manner, they expressed
surprise They could not real the passport but they
examined the seal and returned it, We asked them
for eggs fowls, milk &C. to all of which they
y,
there is none" and in few minutes they retired aad
left us to ourselves.
The 'cabdo was about forty feet long and twenty
broad with plastered walls its furniture consisted Of
large table and two benches with high backs and
the acade sent Us jar of water. We abused the
muleteer for stopping at place where could get
nothing 10 eat, and made dinner and supper upon
bread and chocolate, taking not to give him any
There were pins in The walls for swinging hammoeLs,
and in the evening we prepared for sleep, Mr. c.
in his ham | half dress I han ih.
door suddenly burst open, and twenty five or
thirty rushed in, the alcalde alguazs, soldiers
Indians, and Mestlzoes ragged and
fellows, and armed with slaves of office, swords clubs
muskets, and matchetes, and carrying blazing pine
sticks. AT the head of them young officer of
about tweniy-eght or thirty, with glazed hat and
sword, and a knowing and wicked expression, whom
we afteTward understood to be a captain of one of
Cauera's companies. The alcalde evidently intox
Gated and said that he wished 10 my passport again
delivered it to him. and he handed il over to the
young officer, who examined it, and said that it
not valid. In the meantime, Mr.. Catherwood and |
dressed ourselves. | was not very familiar with the
Spanish language, and, through Augustn explained
my official character, and directed him particularly
to the endorsements of Commandant Penol and Ge-
neral Cascara. He paid no regard to my explana
tions the acade said that he had passport
before and that il was printed, and small piece OF
paper not bigger than his hand; whereas mine
the one given by government on quarto sheet. Be
side this they said that the seal OF General Cascara
only that of the department OF Chiqumula and
it ought TO be that of the state of Guatimala did
all in my power to show the insuficiency of these OBJ
jections but, after warm alteration the young
said that should not proceed our journey, but
must remain at Comotan until information could be
sent to Chquimua, and orders received from that
place. We had disposition to remain in such hands;
threatened them with the consequences Of throwing
any distractions in our way; and at length said that
rather than be detained there and lose time, would
abandon my journey TO Copan altogether, and return
by the road on which came but both the officer and
the alcade said perempory that we should not leave
Comotan.
The young man then told me to give up my pass
port answered that the passport was given me by
my own government; that il was the evidence of my
official character necessary for my personal security,
and would not give It up. Mr.. Catherwood made
learned position of the law of nations the right
an ambassador and the danger of bringing down upon
them the vengeance of the government of del Nore,
which sustained with warmth but it was of no
use At length told him again that Iwould not give
IN the passport hut offered 90 with il myself under
guard of soldiers, to Chiqumula, wherever else
they chose to send it he answered nsultlngy that
we should not 90 to Chqulmua or anywhere else
neither forward nor backward; that we must stay
where we were, and must give up the passport
Finding arguments and circumstances of no use, |
placed the paper inside my vest, buoned up my coat
tight across my breast, and told him he must get il by
force; and the officer, with CLEAN of satisfaction
crossing his vainous face, responded that he would,
added that, Whatever tne result,
il would ultimately lie fatal to them to which he an
swered with a sneer that they would run the risk
During the whole time the band of cowardly rufiians
stood with their hands their swords and machetes,
and two assassin looking scoundres sat a bench
with musk cts against their shoulders and muzzles
pointed within three feet of my breast If we had
been longer in the country should have been more
alarmed but yet we did not know the sanguinary
character of the people and the whole proceeding was
80 outrageous and insulting that it reused our lndg
,b,, phr frntn bay-
ing had cut across the head with machete which
did not kill him, always hcicose, begged me in
French give the order to fire and said that round
would scatter them all We have eleven charges, all
sure; we were excited and, if the young man himself
had laid his hands upon me- think should have
knocked him down at least but, most fortunately,
before he had time to give his order to fall upon us,
man. who entered after the rest, OF a better class
wearing glazed hat and roundabout jacket, stepped
forward and asked to see the passport. | deter
mined not TO trust il out of my hands, and held IT up
before blazing pine stick, while he read It, and at
Mr.. Catherwoods request, aloud.
have since doubted whether the officer had
read it, or if so, whether he had communicated ITS
contents for it produced effect upon the alcalde
and his alguazs; and after moments of anxious
suspense to us, they oreboie to execute Their threat
but said that We must remain IN custody demanded
courier to carry letter Immediately to General Gas.
cara which they refused but, on my offering TO pay
the EXPENSE of the courier the alcade promised to send
it, Knowing General Cascara TO be an Italian and
afraid to trust my Spanish, wrote note which MIR
c. translated into Italian informing him Of our arrest
and imprisonment; that we had exhibited to the alca-
de and soldiers who had arrested us, my especial pass
port from my government, with the endorsements
of Commandant Penol and himself certifying my ofh
cia character, which were not deemed sufficient de
handing to be sci at liberty Immediately, and allowed
to proceed our journey without farther molesation
and adding that we should of course represent to the
government at GUATEMALA, and also To my own, the
manner in which we had been treated Not TO mincc
matters Mr. Catherwood signed the note as Secretary
and having no official seal with me, we sealed a. IN
observed by anybody, with new American half dol
lar and gave it to the alcalde. The eagle spread hs
wings and the stars glttered in the torchight. All