32 



TAMPICO, 



their confraternity, not to be described ; and at the end 

 of the term indicated, what between the attacks of the 

 garapatos without, and the nightly wounds inflicted 

 within doors by myriads of moschetoes — which are here 

 very large and sanguinary, not quite as large as a jack- 

 snipe — 1 was upon the verge of a fever, and solemnly 

 abjured my occupation. It was nearly three weeks be- 

 fore I lost all the consequences of my imprudence, for 

 such it was, and never can I sufficiently appreciate the 

 real merit of those patient, indefatigable, and rhinoceros- 

 skinned men, who have succeeded in enriching our Eu- 

 ropean collections with the wonders of the torrid zone. 



Such was the terror which the torment I had been 

 subjected to inspired, that, as long as we were in the 

 tierres calientes, to which these pests are fortunately con- 

 fined, I never ran unnecessary risks ; and after any ac- 

 cidental contact with tree or shrub, instituted the or- 

 dinary patient search to which all must submit. 



Meantime the season advanced. About the close of 

 the month we had begun to hope that the Halcyon might 

 make its appearance, and frequently climbed up to the 

 mirador, in one of the tallest houses, to sweep the sea- 

 line beyond the white bar with the telescope ; but alas, 

 on the 1st of February another norte set in, and another 

 week was spent in doubt and uncertainty. At length, 

 on the morning of the 7th, a favourable wind of a couple 

 of days' duration enabled a small fleet of inward-bound 

 vessels to approach the port ; and among these, the Eng- 

 lish packet, for the arrival of which a heavy cargo of 

 specie had been for some time collecting from the in- 

 terior at the consul's office ; and, late in the evening, the 

 Halcyon was announced without the bar. The follow- 

 ing day we learned that she had been buffeted to and fro 

 in the interval by two successive nortes, destitute of 

 water, but what could be gathered from the clouds ; 

 with the loss of their boat, and one of their hands ; and 

 with cabins overrun by most loathsome vermin, from the 

 vile habits of most of those on board. Further, that all 

 communication with the shore was interdicted by the 



