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CH. XXVIII.]
TO GUATEMALA.
381
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Hot and moist atmosphere of Encuentros.—Manner of passing the river.—Arrive at Mico.
The inhabitants, who do not exceed one hundred, are poor and miserable: the spot is extremely unhealthy, and, but for the broad and noble river which skirts one of its sides, and gives some idea of space and cheerfulness, would induce you to believe you were thrown all at once into the bottom of a green pit. There is no place of worship, and mass is not performed more than once in a twelvemonth. The principal inhabitant, at whose house all travellers put up, is Doña Maria Barnes: she keeps a posada, or inn, and here we met with a Spaniard named Don Miguel Español, a man well to do in the commercial world, having a considerable fortune: he was a friend of my companion Don
