SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 235 



by the dozen, like oysters, at a very low 

 price. 



The slave trade is still continued here, but 

 the slaves in the town appear to be well 

 treated. The market for them is just with- 

 out the city gates ; and ships for procuring 

 new captives from Africa are openly fitted 

 out at Regla, a small town in the harbour. 

 Several sailed during our stay, avowedly for 

 that purpose, but we were informed that 

 piracy was most probably their object — in- 

 deed, many of the merchants here are very 

 much slandered if they are not deeply con- 

 cerned in both these kinds of transactions. 

 The heat of the climate is excessive, and a 

 residence in the city is therefore considered 

 very dangerous to Europeans. The streets 

 are close, ill ventilated, and unpaved ; during 

 the heavy rains they are so flooded as to be 

 almost impassable, except for the carriages 

 before mentioned. The theatre is large, and 



