86 SPORTING ADVENTUKES 



a wretched place, without any attraction what- 

 ever ; but the harbour is a good one, and the 

 anchorage very secure. 



Whilst waiting the arrival of the mail steamer 

 I made an expedition to the opposite shores of 

 the bay, accompanied by some of the officers. 

 After being nearly capsized in the surf, on 

 landing, we made our way to a neighbouring 

 village, one of the few remaining inhabited 

 by pure Indians, where we passed the night, 

 and the next morning pushed on to a river 

 twelve miles off. A long and fatiguing walk 

 through heavy sand brought us to the river's 

 bank ; several large alligators were basking on 

 the mud, some of which we killed, but in no 

 case did we bag any, as these creatures 

 invariably manage to reach the water, even 

 when mortally wounded. After bagging a 

 number of pigeons and parrots, but seeing no 

 game, we came to a ranch, where we slept, and 

 returned to the ship the following day. The 

 mail steamer having arrived, we took a fresh 

 departure, and after three days of very pleasant 



