142 GRANADA. 



country. In 1747 it was thoroughly repaired. The site is 

 well selected and fully commands the river. It is the 

 celebrated place carried off by NELSON, in 1780, when 

 Commandant of the Hichinbrook. With the troopscommanded 

 by Colonel Poison, he attacked the Spaniards, and took 

 possession of the fort. The garrison made a stout and 

 valliant resistance, but were soon compelled to surrender. 



NELSON remained there several months, and lost nearly 

 all his men from sickness, and he had himself a very narrow 

 escape. In 1781 the place was evacuated. 



The outside of the fort had a good appearance, but 

 nearly all the inside was completely ruined, and was trans- 

 formed into a small forest, all available spaces being occupied 

 with trees and bushes. However, a small garrison occupied 

 part of it. 



We passed successfully all the rapids, and on our way 

 saw many wrecks ; among them, one of the American 

 steamers, lost only a few days before. It was one of the two 

 running between El Castillo and San Juan del Norte. 



About three miles from the Castillo, we passed the small 

 island Bertola, on which, remains of fortifications could be 

 seen. The fort which existed on this island was the first 

 taken by Nelson in 1780. On this island were buried the 

 English, who died from the results of the war or from sickness. 

 At a short distance from Bertola are the rapids of Machuca, 

 one of the most dangerous. It was here that the American 

 steamer was stranded. 



The River San Juan, with its shoals of gravel, its rapids, 

 rocks, and its numerous islands, which in many places scarcely 

 leave a passage for boats or vessels, can be considered as very 

 dangerous, and it is always a matter of congratulation when 

 this voyage can be made without accident. At the end of 

 our second day, from San Carlos, we arrived at San Juan 

 del Norte. We had been twelve days on our way from 

 Granada, a voyage usually made in six. So I was glad to see 

 the end of it. 



I stopped at an hotel kept by an Italian, at a cost of 

 eight shillings per day, for board and lodging. San Juan del 

 Norte, or Greytown, was at that time the centre of a great 

 activity in consequence of the International transit. From 

 twelve to twenty ships were usually anchored in the bay, 

 which is fine, but very badly protected from the winds. 

 Nevertheless, being at that time the only port on the Atlantic, 

 and its peculiar position as the head of a railway or a canal,. 



