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CH. XXVI.]
TO GUATEMALA.
361
CHAPTER XXVI.
Don Eugenio and myself benighted and nearly lost in the middle of the River Chimalapañ.—Despatches brought from the Capital by Murillo.—Take him as my Servant.—Arrive at the City of Zacapa.
The fields through which we passed were highly cultivated; the country was a mixture of rich plains and luxuriant forests, and having come to the verge of one of the latter, we found ourselves on the brink of a wide river. We could perceive the marks of cattle-feet on its edge, but could hardly venture to guess if it were only a watering place or the river's ford; for we had descended to it down a deep gully or ravine, and, on each side, the high banks were overgrown with lofty trees and a thick profusion of dwarf shrubs. We had no choice left us but to spend the night here, without bed or victuals, or to attempt the pass.
