2o6 Travels and Adventures 



CHAPTER XIV. 



ON BOARD THE ESSEQUIBO — CARTHAGENA COLON 



PANAMA KINGSTON, JAMAICA HAITI BACK TO 



ENGLAND. 



The Essequibo was not long in weighing anchor, 

 keeping along the coast, bound for the Port of 

 Carthaoena. As we left in the evening, and the 

 journey is only of a few hours, we found ourselves in 

 the morning opposite this curious, old, historic port 

 and city. Its substantial towers and immense walls, 

 with their picturesque surroundings of mountains and 

 forts, give it a more imposing appearance from the 

 sea than any other place I have seen in the north 

 of South America. History is so full of accounts 

 of the sieges and battles, the persecution and blood- 

 shed, enacted here in the time of the Spaniards and 

 the pirate buccaneers that it is almost superfluous 

 for me to recount them. Before these wars the 

 entrance to the city for ships was made through 

 either of two beautiful bays, both of which were 

 excellent harbours. One of these is called Boca 



