CHAPTER V. 



THE DRY TORTUGAS. 



Between the vicious attacks of the Cuban mosquitoes and 

 the suspicious attitude of the authorities, our stay at Bahia 

 Honda, although profitable from a scientific standpoint, was 

 attended with considerable physical and mental discomfort. A 

 general desire to get out -of this deep landlocked bay, and a 

 longing for blue water, instead of the tortuous channel that lay 

 between the ''Eniilv" and freedom, made itself manifest be- 

 fore forty-eight hours had been spent at this port. 



During the second day of our stay we received a call from 

 the Captain of the Port of Mariel, about twenty-two miles east 

 of Bahia Honda. This gentleman seemed very anxious that 

 we should visit his ^ailiwick, and extended the courtesies of 

 the town with a cordial politeness that was tempting, to say the 

 least. Our plans, however, did not include any purely social 

 functions, nor would our appearance at that time among the 

 elite of Mariel tend to impress the Cuban gentlefolk with an 

 adequate respect for the '• Americanos." Between exposure 

 to sun and wind, and the bumps and blotches caused by the 

 mosquitoes, our faces had assumed an appearance which could 

 not be regarded as creditable, although it was productive of 

 no little mirth among ourselves. One can hardly imagine 

 until he has seen it, how completely a usually dignified counte- 

 nance can be transformed by a lump on the upper lip. or a 

 deeply sunburnt and repeatedly peeled nose. 



Early in the morning of Saturday, June 3rd. the welcome 

 sound of the clanking anchor-chain proclaimed that we were 

 to make the attempt, at least, to leave this inhospitable bay. 

 The mists of the morning lay heavy on the water, and the 



