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CH. XXV.]
TO GUATEMALA.
353
CHAPTER XXV.
Hear of Arrival of a British Consul.—Perilous Situation in fording the River between Omohita and Guastatoia.
Friday, the 11th. Two leagues from Guastatoia, which is ten from Omohita, we met a Spaniard travelling from the coast, by name Señor Valdero, informing us that a British ship of war was arrived at Belize, bringing a consul from his majesty's government, and also three commissioners and a secretary. The information was to me of a very startling nature, and, after my friends had taken leave of the Señor, I rode back about half a league with him, in order to elicit, if possible, something more particular respecting the objects of that Commission; for I was apprehensive, and not without good reason, from his assertions, that the purport of my own had been
