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NARRATIVE OF A 



CHAPTER IV. 



Remarks on Truxillo. — A Ramble in the Woods. 



The town of Truxillo was, in former times, a place of 

 some importance, both in a military and commercial point 

 of view. It contained a considerable garrison, and the 

 ruins of extensive barracks may yet be seen there. It 

 carried on a flourishing trade with the metropolis, the 

 manufactures of which were exchanged for the products 

 of the country. Of these products, the principal are ma- 

 hogany, cedar, and other woods, sarsaparilla, hides, and tal- 

 low. There are also some mines of gold in the neighbour- 

 hood, which, under proper management, might be worked 

 with a profit. The place, however, has long been on the 

 decline ; and its prosperity is not likely to return in many 

 years. Its population, which now does not much exceed 

 a thousand souls, was formerly twice or three times that 

 amount. While I was there, our brig was the only vessel 

 in port ; and such was the scarcity of money, that the cap- 

 tain had to take articles he was in no need of in payment 

 of the small part of the cargo he had disposed of. Even 

 the few soldiers of the garrison had to be supported by the 

 daily contributions of the merchants. 



During my stay in Truxillo I took a ramble in the 

 woods, accompanied by the captain of the vessel. There 

 is a brook in the neighborhood of the town which pursues 

 a winding course through the woods, and among the rocks, 

 till it falls into the sea : we resolved to explore its banks 

 as far as circumstances might permit. We sat out, accord- 

 ingly, each of us armed with a stout stick, in the apprehen- 



