JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 43 



in, we started again, and shaped our course for the mouth 

 of the river Izabal. About mid-day we arrived off the bar 

 of this river, where troubles of a different description, but 

 not less annoying than those we had encountered in the 

 beginning, were awaiting us. The captain and pilot en- 

 tered into a debate with each other in regard to the 

 proper course to steer for passing the bar. In the mean 

 time the boat was left to the management of the helms- 

 man, and when it was least expected, she ran aground. 

 The blame of this was thrown upon each other by the 

 parties concerned, without any effort being made, for some 

 time, to get her off. At length, the force of the steam 

 proving inadequate to move the vessel either backwards 

 or forwards, a kedge anchor was carried out, and after a 

 world of labour on the part of the poor sailors, who now 

 made amends for all their faults, she was hauled into deep 

 water, and once more put in motion. Bat our satisfaction 

 at the success of this manoeuvre was not destined to be of 

 long duration. A few moments after, the boat ran aground 

 again, and stuck so hard and fast, that neither power of 

 steam, nor warping with kedge anchor, availed to set her 

 afloat. The pilot tried to console us by the assurance, 

 that at four o'clock — it being then two — it would be high 

 tide, and she would certainly get off. But four o'clock 

 came, and the boat was still aground, as fast as ever. He 

 then said that he had been mistaken as to the hour, and 

 that at six o'clock it would be high tide. This assurance 

 proved as fallacious as the first, for that hour, too, elapsed 

 without any change in our position. We now came 

 unanimously to the conclusion that our pilot was a per- 

 fect charlatan : an opinion which was subsequently con- 

 firmed, when we learned that in that part of the coast 

 there was no tide at 'all. At the approach of night a 

 breeze sprung up, and the water began to rise in waves. 

 It was then resolved to hoist the square-sail, and to try by 

 the combined power of wind and steam to drag the vessel 

 over the bar. This was put in practice, and proved sue- 



