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A BENCH OF MAGISTRATES.
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CHAPTER XIX.
SCENES BEFORE THE ADMINISTRADORES.
Mexican magistrates.—A narrative before the bench.—A mountain pathway.—Indian adventurers.—A journey to the capital.—Clouds and sunshine.—The city in prospect.—Abrupt change in conversation.—An oath extorted.—Plunder and accidental death of the young Indian.—A remorseless comrade.—Narrative of a poor wanderer.—Houses in Quito.—Tornadoes.—Description of an earthquake.—Distressing situation.—The sole survivor.—A committal to the Accordada.—Appalling sights in the city.—Victims of vitriol-throwing.—A child's face obliterated.—Scavengers from the Accordada.—Vitriol-throwing in Mexico.—An officer's story.— A criminal's revenge.
A bench of magistrates is a somewhat imposing sight, in any country—even to a comparatively unconcerned spectator. Such an air of conscious dignity and importance sits upon the faces of those "potent, grave, and reverend seigniors," as they scrutinize a prisoner on his entrance; so portentous are
