i^6 THE LIFE 9T 



had mifled the way. We were unwilling to re- 

 turn the road we came, and therefore endeavour- 

 ed to find fome place, where the defcent might 

 be practicable j we found one, which wc 

 thought tolerably fafe, and having difmounted, 

 drove our horfes down the defcent, following 

 them on foot. 



As we approached Laguna, the country had 

 a very romantic, hilly, and wild appearance. 

 We had much difficulty in finding our way, we, 

 however, at length, after eroding an immenfe 

 meadow, reached the river, at the mouth of 

 which, on the north fide, the town of Laguna 

 lays. The horfes we had been thus far fup- 

 plied with were to flop here ; we therefore dref- 

 fed ourfelves under a tree, while the canoe was 

 getting ready to carry us to the town. Before 

 we reached the river which leads to the bar we 

 had a lake to pafs which is very broad, very flill, 

 and very fhallovv. The river, on the contrary, 

 is very deep, and the current, in fome places, 

 extremely ftrong. After a palTage of about anu 

 hour and a half, we arrived in the harbour, 

 which we found full of fmall vefTels, remarkably 

 well built, and much appearance of commerce 

 on every hand. We were condu6ted immedi- 

 ately to the Commandant, by whom we were ex- 

 tremely well lodged, and entertained in a verj 

 handfome manner. 



Laguna 



