'87 



pafifed through a whole lane of foldiers, 

 armed as I mentioned thofe to have been 

 before, excepting a few, who really had 

 matchlocks, the only fire arms they 

 have here. The foldiers, upon our jour-? 

 ney, had given a pompous account of 

 el Palacio del Key, or the king's palace, 

 as they ftiled the governor's houfe, and 

 therefore we expected to fee fomething 

 very magnificent ; but it was nothing 

 better than a large thatched barn, par- 

 titioned off into feveral rooms. The go- 

 vernor was fitting at a large table co- 

 vered with a piece of red ferge, having 

 all the principal officers about him. 

 After fome time, he made us fit down, 

 attempting to converfe with us by his 

 linguift, who was a ftupid old fellow, 

 that could neither talk Englifli nor 

 Spaniih, but faid he was born in Eng-r 

 land, had refided above forty years in 

 that country, and having formerly been 

 a buccaneer, was taken by the Spaniards 



near 



