IN THE PACIFIC. 145 



officers in charge, upwards of 100 men, 

 women, and children, together with a quantity 

 of baggage, were embarked, and at the time 

 appointed the " Reindeer " was steaming out of 

 the harbour with her head pointed for Ma- 

 zatlan. 



Fortunately, we had a quick and pleasant 

 passage, the water was as smooth as glass, and 

 the monotonous thumping of the screw was 

 relieved by the squalling of babes and the 

 wrangling of their nurses. As we had no 

 accommodation for so large a number, the 

 greater part had to remain on deck, no great 

 hardship in such a climate. We spread sails 

 for them to sleep upon, and with awnings sloped 

 over them, and the flags of England and Mexico 

 draped around, the deck presented a very 

 cheerful and homelike appearance. The ladies 

 occupied my cabin, and many of the officers 

 gave up theirs to accommodate the gentlemen. 

 The difficulty of feeding so large a party was 

 got over by rigging a long table on deck, where 

 relays of " square rneals " were continually 



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