33 FRUIT-SELLERS. 



immediately on touching deck, made for the fore- 

 castle, and dove into the bread barge, devouring all 

 it contained and greedily inquiring for more. This 

 modest demand not being complied with, tlie}^ offered 

 for sale fruits, comprising apples, oranges, lemons, 

 limes, figs, melons, grapes and tomatoes; also straw 

 hats, milk, and aguardiente. They brought us, 

 amongst other edibles, an anomaly known to sailors 

 as jackass cheese; it is in round cakes, about three 

 inches in diameter, and of the color of cheese made 

 from cow's milk, although totally dissimilar in taste 

 to any other cheese I have eaten. As regards its 

 origin, whether produced from John Horse, goat, or 

 cow's milk, I cannot aver, neither do I care ; but its 

 general good taste and appetizing qualities I can 

 vouch for from having partaken of it. After a short 

 time another boat appeared, bringing us eggs and 

 fowls (and knowing a sailor's preference for potables), 

 aguardiente and sour wine. These additions to our 

 usual sea fare, made us an excellent meal. For all these 

 dainties these people were willing to receive tobacco, 

 which, on account of the monopoly of the trade in 

 that article by the government, commands a high 

 price. They are obliged to smuggle it ashore, but 

 from the careless manner in which they stowed it 

 away I should think that little surveillance is exer- 

 cised towards the inhabitants by the excise officers ; 

 whilst an American or European is pretty thoroughly 

 searched on landing, to see that he does not carry 

 the contraband article. 



At about ten A. M. the captain went ashore with 

 a boat's crew, for the purpose of purchasing stores 

 for the ship, excellent potatoes and onions being 



