SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE PACIFIC. 121 



ready for a campaign, and he issued a pro- 

 clamation to the residents in Tepic, to the 

 effect that if there was a rupture of the peace 

 it would not be his doing, and that in the event 

 of war he would not be answerable for the 

 conduct of his men, nor would he guarantee the 

 safety of those residing in the city. 



This proclamation naturally caused much 

 alarm amongst the residents, and the foreign 

 merchants addressed me a letter, requesting me 

 to support them by bringing the ship to San 

 Bias, and coming to Tepic to consult with them 

 as to the best steps to be taken in the matter. 



With this object we proceeded to San Bias 

 on the 16th of December, and arrived there the 

 following day, when I immediately went to 

 Tepic, accompanied by some of the officers of 

 the " Reindeer." 



A coach drawn by six mules starts from San 

 Bias every alternate day, and occupies from ten 

 to eighteen hours on the journey, according to 

 the season of the year; the distance is about 

 fifty-six miles, and the road the worst I ever 



