GUANACASTE—PUNTARENAS TO LIBERIA 407 



two-storied ones were not rare. The population at this time 

 was about 4750. 



Three of us returned to the bathing pavilion where I had a 

 sea-bath, inside a wire net enclosure on account of the danger 

 from sharks. It was at such a distance from the beach as to 

 be just beyond the breaking of the waves and too deep to 

 stand on the bottom, consequently not available for those un- 

 able to swim. There were ropes to rest on and a plank walk 

 around the edge of the netting ten or twelve feet above the 

 water from which one might dive. I enjoyed my swim, the 

 water being of an agreeable temperature. The charge for a 

 sea-bath, suit, towel and ample well-ventilated dressing- 

 room with shower-bath was 25 centimos (12 cents). After 

 breakfast some of us went to the Municipal building, on the 

 estero side, to make inquiries concerning our departure, as 

 it was hoped that we might go in a gasoline launch; instead 

 we received orders for our transportation on the steamboat 

 leaving at 2 A. M. 



In the afternoon we went to the pier to see the Pacific 

 Mail Steamship "Peru" which had just come in. The 

 water is not deep enough to permit vessels of her draft to 

 come up to the pier, which extends far beyond the surf. 

 Passengers and cargo must therefore be carried from ship to 

 pier or vice versa in small rowboats. We watched some 

 passengers and trunks brought ashore in this way. Al- 

 though the sea was smooth there was enough swell to neces- 

 sitate some agility in passing from the rowboat to the land- 

 ing-stairs and still more exertion required of the boatmen to 

 put a heavy trunk on these steps and drag or lift it up by 

 main force. It is advisable — for the sake of the contents — 

 that trunks making this trip be perfectly strong as well as 

 light. Later, at Captain Romagosa's invitation, most of 

 our party went out to the "Peru" in his boat rowed by 

 three Costa Rican sailors In white duck uniforms. 



