of an Orchid Hunter. 



207 



Chica, and the other Boca Grande ; but as the 

 inhabitants were being continually robbed and mur- 

 dered by the buccaneers, who came in galleys and 

 entered by way of the smaller port, Boca Chica, the 

 colonists determined to stop their inroads by filling 

 up the entrance to the harbour. This they actually 

 succeeded in doing by means of large stones, with 

 an amount of labour which makes the story almost 

 incredible, but at the same time destroying their 

 best port. This not being sufficient, Philip II. of 

 Spain caused a wall to be built around the city at 

 a cost of fifty-nine millions of gold dollars. It is 

 so wide that forty horses can walk abreast on the 

 top of it. However that may be, neither time nor 

 weapons have been able to damage it much ; it 

 still stands, a fine old monument and a triumph of 

 masonry. History says that none of these means 

 were of any use in protecting the people. The 

 bands of robbers continued to pillage the town and 

 take away tons of gold and silver, which annually 

 came from the rich mines in the interior to be 

 shipped to Spain — each invasion witnessing the same 

 scenes of cruelty and carnage. 



The vessels lay at some distance from the quay, 

 but a landing was easily effected by means of any 

 of the small boats in waiting, the water of the bay 

 being generally as smooth as glass. As the time 



