Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/346

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326
OFFICIAL VISIT
[CH. XXIII.

CHAPTER XXIII.


Preparations for departure.—Provide a companion or attaché.—Leave the Capital.


The gefe politico of the new town of Guatemala, Don Gregorio Salazar, this day, returned the visit I had made him at the Antigua. The next, for I determined to set off for the coast on the following, was spent in preparations for my departure: in the midst of these, it had never occurred to me before, that I was about to make an arduous journey and perhaps difficult voyage without a single attendant; and in justice to the nature of my employment, began to look out seriously for some respectable person to accompany me, who might take care of my despatches in case of any unforeseen accident or casualty occurring.

There had been domesticated in the family for the last fortnight a young man