HOMEWARD BOUND — NORTHWARD. 297 



which were carried by mules and llamas to the Pacific shore, 

 and thence shipped. Porto Bello grew in wealth so that the 

 buccaneers resolved on its capture, which, in 1668, they effected 

 by surprise. 



The church ornaments and wealth of the town, how- 

 ever, were placed in the castle which defied the pirates. 

 Morgan made use of a stratagem by which he thought to 

 accomplish his ends without bloodshed. Collecting the 

 priests and women whom he found in the city, he com- 

 manded them to go in advance and plant the scaling ladders, 

 thinking the garrison would not harm them. The heart of the 

 Spanish commander was, however, proof against the prayers 

 of priests or tears of women, and he ordered his men to fire on 

 all who advanced. His scheme failing, Morgan stormed the 

 castle and secured an immense booty. Porto Bello never sur- 

 vived this blow, for Spanish commerce was swept from the 

 neighboring waters by this same bold buccaneer. The fleets 

 which once rode here at anchor are unrepresented now except 

 by the occasional steamers which come here to water. So 

 abrupt is the shore that we anchored within twenty yards of 

 it, the slope being covered with tangled vegetation to the 

 lower edge. The water with which the ships are supplied is 

 from " Columbus' Spring," which, high up the hillside, pours its 

 rich tide from under a mass of rank growing plants, which, 

 through botanic ignorance, I must term mammoth weeds in 

 the likeness of caladiums and ferns. An iron pipe runs to 

 within connecting distance of vessels, to which a hose is at- 

 tached, and the tanks quickly filled with the best of water. 



The deck was covered with the passengers, who, quietly com- 

 menting, looked on the surrounding scene. Birds of beautiful 

 plumage, but voiceless, flew from bough to bough, preparing 

 for their night's rest. Among these were brilliant parrots and 

 paroquets and others I did not know. Larger ones, such as 

 pelicans and cranes, flapped their wings clumsily amid the 

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