10 



SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



Rawlings, soon returned on board with a 

 pilot ; but as symptoms appeared of an ap- 

 proaching Norte, or north-east tempest, which 

 is frequent and dangerous on the coast at this 

 season, we endeavoured, though ineffectually, 

 to anchor near the Isla de Sacrificios. In the 

 morning the gale raged with such violence, 

 that it drove us off the coast, and it was a 

 full week before we regained the same place, 

 during which time we were nearly lost on 

 some reefs, having been saved only by the ex- 

 traordinary goodness of our cable and anchor, 

 which brought us up when but a few yards 

 from the land. 



On Sunday, the 2d of March, we anchored 

 between the Isle of Sacrificios and the main 

 land. This little island, not more than half 

 a mile in length, is now a mere heap of sand, 

 with only one wretched Indian family living 

 upon it. It was named by Grizalva, who 

 found here a temple, in which a human victim 



