I 



24 NARRATIVE OP A 



by a few guns, an old dismantled building, which I was 

 told had been the mansion of the Governors in better 

 times, and a church with only half a roof. A little apart 

 from the town, there is a cluster of huts, twenty or thirty 

 in number, inhabited by a little colony of negroes, called 

 Caribes, a denomination for which I could find no rea- 

 son, since they certainly have nothing in common with 

 the Indians of the Caribbee Islands. 



We were not long in receiving the visit of the Custom- 

 house officer, who came off to us in a little canoe paddled 

 by a couple of blacks. When this officer was leaving us, 

 after having accomplished the objects of his visit, I handed 

 him my passport, and requested him to obtain leave for 

 my landing on the following day, if not contrary to the 

 regulations of the place. The next morning, early — for 

 we had scarcely finished breakfast — the same person came 

 again, and delivered me a message from the Commandant 

 of Truxillo, stating that I could go on shore as soon as 

 might be agreeable to me, and that that officer, in the ex- 

 pectation of my landing at once, was then waiting on the 

 beach to receive me. This mark of attention left me 

 no choice, and I hastily changed my dress, while my 

 friend, the Captain, ordered the boat to be manned with 

 four oars, her awning to be rigged, and a flag to be spread 

 on the stern-sheets. 



On reaching the shore, I was met by the Commandant, 

 who gave me his hand, and welcomed me with all the 

 gravity and courteousness of an old Castilian. He was 

 accompanied by the Ministro de Hacienda, or Collector 

 of the Customs, and by some other persons, to whom he 

 introduced me. In addressing him, I used the style of 

 Sehoria, instead of usted, which, however, he modestly 

 declined admitting. 



The Commandant was about 37 years of age ; rather 

 tall, and muscular, though of slender form. He had an 

 expressive countenance, with features strongly marked, 

 dark eyes, black hair, and thick eye-brows. He was 



