264 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



most excellent survey of the gulf by the 

 United States' S.S. " Naragansett," will, how- 

 ever, supply this want. There really was an 

 islet, apparently ten or twelve feet high, not 

 marked in the chart, off which an American 

 schooner was anchored, superintending the 

 operations of a fleet of small craft, engaged in 

 the pearl fishery. Passing this little fleet, we 

 steered through the Lorenzo Channel, and 

 anchored off the town of La Paz, within pistol- 

 shot of the pier. La Paz is the brightest, 

 prettiest little seaport in Mexico; the houses 

 are painted blue, yellow, and pink, and rows 

 of trees are planted along the streets, giving 

 the town a picturesque appearance, not common 

 in these latitudes. It is very hot on shore 

 during the day, and no one stirs out till about 

 five or six p.m. The nights are deliciously cool. 

 On board ship it is pleasant enough, although 

 the thermometer ranges between 90 and 100 

 in the shade, as a strong wind blows regularly 

 through the day, until sunset, and always from 

 the same direction. The anchorage is very 



