The Republican journal., 1897-08-26
was hanged for his pains. The whole


upon as terra incognita. In the heart
of this wild, mysterious region is the lake
liza, or Peten. The lake has no outlet
and is one of those freaks of nature which
may be compared to gigantic basin
scooped out of the solid rock, into which
the waters trickle from the surrounding
hills, filling it to the brm, to be drained
only by the thirst of the summers sun.
An irregular sheet of blue, so miles long
by half as broad, occupies the basin, and
toward one end of it rises a knob of rock,
almost circular in form, ON which is built
the quaintest city in Guatemala, called
Flores. This ''City of Flowers on a
rock surrounded by water in the midst of
wilderness, is worthy its name. The
little island, hardly two miles in circum-
ference, has paved streets and govern
ment buildings, cocoa palms bending
their feathery leaves over white washed
stone houses, and gardens and patios of
wonderful beauty. On the highest point
of the knob is the qnadrangular plaza,
overlooking an enchanting bit of scenery,
including several palm crowned pigmy is
lands in the lake and the hamlet of San
Benito on the opposite shore. On one
side of the plaza is the old Spanish church
and the Jefetura or Governors house i;
and on another side is the Quartet or
soldiers quarters, which is rich in the
possession of several old fashioned
brass pieces bearing the arms of Carlos
Quinto, whose voices are still heard on
State occasions to the unhounded Joy of
the rabble. The remaining two sides of the
plaza are bounded by precipitous walls.
while the enclosed space, bordered with
cocoanut trees, is paved with stone, be-
tween the terraces of which grass persists
in growing, in spite of the periodical eff
forts of the soldiers to root it out with
their machetes. From this plaza-which
is in all Spanish American towns is con-
sdered the ctadel-radiate a number of
we'll paved streets, leading to the waters
edge. The most interesting street, how
ever, as well as the most fashionable, is
the wide and picturesque 'Calle'' encir-
cling the island and lined on the landward
side with quaint casas of stone and stucco,
facing the water and tenanted by descend
ants of some of the proudest families of
the Spanish nobility.
In front of these houses the inhabitants
enjoy the cool evenings reclining in their
"butacas,' while the young gallants
prance to and fro and around the city on
their gaily caparisoned steeds, to the ad-
miration of their sweethearts, who sit at
home, after the good old Spanish fashion,
guarded by their aristocratic parents.
More than two centuries ago some Span
ish missionaries found on this rock in
lake Peten a considerable village, whose
simple people were worshiping the image
Of horse. A romantic tradition, which
tallies with the tales of that old cavalier
and arch-romaneer Bernal Diaz, is still
preserved by the Inhabitants as the true
history Of Flores. 1t seems that Cortez,
A--'
way en route to the Rio Dulce, and hap
pening upon this inhabited island in the
little lake in the Wilderness was hospit-
ably entertained here by Canek, the caci-
que thereof. Afriglted as much by the
horses of the Spaniards-those strange
beasts Of which they had never seen the
like before-as by their terrible tire-arm
the Indians were easily induced to en-
brace the religion of the new comers
One and all, they tlocked to the baptismal
front and blindly accepted the cross, the
Host and absolution, and whatever was
offered them. But Cortez had no time to
tarry to expound the doctrines of the new
faith. for at the moment he was not bent
on conquest, either of souls or of cities.
Congratulating himself on the ease with
which these new converts had been won.
he gathered his allies together and de-
parted, leaving behind footsore, worm
out horse, to be cared for by the Indians.
assuring them that he would come again.
After the white men had vanished, and
only the strange beast remained as a mo-
mento of their visit, the people became
sadly mixed as to the nature of the horse
and its relation to their newly adopted re-
ligion. They placed the animal in the
temple of their overthrown idols, on the
pyramid called Tayasal, garlanded him
with flowers and addressed him by the
name of Thunder and Lightning Dishes
of wild turkey, strewed with red peppers,
prepared by the most expert cooks and
garnished with roses, were placed steam
ing at his nostrils. But alas. The Won
derful creature refused to eat, and in few
days was dead. The people were panic
stricken. Cortez, the Prince of gods,
would return and find this emblem of
their, piety the deputy god, SO to speak,
persisted, and wreak terrible vengeance
| upon them. What should they do? Then
crafty old Canek proposed to reconstruct
the dead horse in an image Of stone The
proposition was hailed with joy, and after
month of patient toll, which employed
all the skill of their most talented sculp-