144 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



and made their way to San Bias, to seek the 

 protection of the British flag. I was now 

 anxious to reach Mazatlan, and not liking to 

 desert these poor people, I made arrangements 

 to embark the whole of them and carry them 

 to that port. 



With this object in view, I landed on the 

 morning of the 25th January, leaving orders 

 for steam to be ready at two p.m. On landing I 

 was handed two letters from the officials before 

 mentioned, forbidding any refugees to embark 

 on board the " Reindeer," and coolly request- 

 ing me to comply with the demand. The 

 letters, being written in Spanish, required the 

 aid of an interpreter, and also time for con- 

 sideration, before an answer, which was re- 

 quested, could be returned. This unavoidable 

 delay enabled me to send word of the position 

 of affairs to the senior lieutenant, who with 

 commendable alacrity sent all our boats ashore 

 manned and armed. The people flocked down 

 to the beach, and in a wonderfully short time, 

 thanks to the admirable arrangements of the 



