Page:A Glimpse at Guatemala.pdf/100

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52
A GLIMPSE AT GUATEMALA.



SAN ANTONIO.

the striped huipils of the women and the red-and-white handkerchiefs bound round the men's heads.

We climbed up through the steep narrow lanes to the Cabildo, where we proposed to pass the night, and found the verandah in front of the building closely packed with Indian travellers and their cargoes. There were only two rooms—one used as a prison, which was overcrowded with delinquents, who stretched out their hands through the heavy barred door and begged for alms; the other used as a "Sala Municipal," which was both small and dirty: however, we were ready to make the best of it as a lodging, when we were informed that, as the Secretario was away, no one could give us leave to make use of it. Somewhat discouraged, we wandered on, in search of a resting-place, past the church, roofless from the shocks of many earthquakes, and arrived at the foot of a high flight of steps, crooked and picturesque, at the top of which stood the school-house. Here was our chance: we hunted up the Ladino schoolmaster; Gorgonio and he were soon fast friends, and the room used as a girl's school was placed entirely at our disposal. The room had a mud floor and was furnished with a black-board—very useful to