SIX MONTHS IK MEXICO. 



13 



captain that he must immediately bring his 

 ship under the guns of the battery, or he 

 should send the gun-boats out to fetch her ; 

 adding, that the goods were already liable 

 to the same duties to the king of Spain as if 

 they had been landed at the castle. He then 

 inquired my business and that of the other 

 gentlemen ; told us we might cross to the city 

 whenever we pleased, and made an offer of 

 his services in the true Spanish manner. 



We returned by the same route, and found 

 our boat surrounded by a crowd of inquirers 

 respecting us, our ship, cargo, &c. amongst 

 whom was the holy friar of the garrison, who 

 had treated our sailors with segars, lighted 

 from his own. Entering our boat we steered 

 for the city, about half a mile distant, and 

 which, from its red and white domes, cupolas, 

 terraces, convents, hospitals, churches, &c. 

 with the regularity of its walls and batteries, 

 had a splendid appearance from the water; 



