38 Travels and Adventures 



Upon reappearing on deck I was informed that a 

 small tender was coming off to the ship from a station 

 hid behind a bluff, and in three long hours after the 

 issue of the proclamation the little machine appeared 

 alongside, having occupied all that time in making 

 a distance of about four miles. It is absolutely 

 beyond my power accurately to give a description of 

 this rickety and antiquated piece of marine architecture, 

 called the Funza ; I only wish it could be exhibited in 

 London for the edification of our modern boat-builders 

 and engineers. In the year 18 10, the hero, Bolivar, 

 fought for the release of his countrymen from the 

 Spanish yoke. I am persuaded that at that time this 

 craft may have been one of his gunboats, but, if so, he 

 must even then have bought it secondhand. 



It would scarcely be doing justice to the progress 

 of the country not to mention here that, in the four 

 years which have elapsed since my first landing, the 

 Funza has been laid aside and its place taken by a 

 smart little boat of more attractive appearance and 

 more substantial workmanship. However, after bidding 

 good-bye to the most excellent and kindly captain and 

 officers of the Phantom, I went on board the Funza 

 with a few more passengers, all Spanish-speaking 

 people, whom we had taken on board in the West 

 Indies. Each one stowed himself away as best 

 he could, on the top of his baggage, in what I call 



