4 



CENTRAL AMERICA. 



The brigantine was in very light trim, 

 which made her run before the wind all the 

 faster ; and at every port we touched at, 

 having plenty of time to look about us, my 

 anticipations were fully realised, for it was 

 doubtful which was the pleasantest, on shore 

 or at sea. On the whole, I give the pre- 

 ference to the many pleasant days I spent on 

 board the good ship A .. 



The captain was the best hand with the 

 harpoon or grains I ever met with; and 

 though we generally went too fast to fish, 

 yet in calm weather we killed a fair quantity 

 of different sorts, principally dolphin. We 

 likewise beat up the river Guyaquil, and re- 

 mained eight days moored off the wharf of 

 the town : but, as the object of this little 

 work is only to give a few sketches and 

 anecdotes, relating mostly to the wildest part 

 of Central America, I will pass over any ex- 

 cursions or observations I have made (and 

 of which I have notes) in any other country, 

 and confine myself entirely to that named in 

 the title of this book. 



We arrived safely at Realejo after a long 

 voyage, very short time actually at sea, but 

 making the most of any agreeable port we 

 stopped at ; and here let me remark that, 



