222 



VERA CRUZ. 



single hour. No care, no precaution, no previous coarse 

 of medicine — no certain antidote can be prescribed. 

 In daring it from necessity, you must rest satisfied with 

 following the advice given, and taking those measures 

 which, however vain in many cases, experience has 

 sanctioned, and throw yourself upon the mercy of God 

 for the rest 



And this we had done to the best of our ability. We 

 were told that the preceding three days' norte was, to 

 a certain degree, in our favour, as during its continuance 

 the pestilence abates something of its virulence. On 

 shipboard we might be considered to be in no danger ; 

 but we had passed two or three hours within reach of 

 the infection ; and though there was a strong impulse 

 in our bosoms to chant Te Deum, there was that uncer- 

 tainty in our position which mingled the wailing ac- 

 cents of Miserere mei, Deus / with the song of praise. 



The castle of San Juan de Ulua belongs to that class 

 of fortresses whose real strength is much more re- 

 markable, than their outward appearance is striking or 

 picturesque. It lies low on the water, in the midst of 

 the harbourage, having for its base nothing more ele- 

 vated than a mere sand bank, of which the shallow fiats 

 form its defence to the seaward. We had a permit 

 for the inspection of the interior, but were in nowise 

 tempted to take advantage of it. The morning passed 

 away swiftly, in making the necessary arrangements 

 for the voyage j and the afternoon, in hourly expecta- 

 tion of departure. One by one, our fellow-passengers 

 came dropping in ; and all being on board by five in 

 the evening, we were glad and thankful to weigh an- 

 chor, and see the bow of the handsome vessel turned to 

 the northeast. The sun set in haze and cloud, over the 

 summits of the distant Cordillera. Orizava was com- 

 pletely covered. The wind was favourable, and long 

 before dawn, we had lost sight of the coast of New 

 Spain. 



And now what would you have me say more. 



