350 



humboldt's cuba. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



A TRIP TO TRINIDAD. 



Change of plans — Preparations for departure — Remission of speci- 

 mens to Europe — Long absence without letters — Joyful news — 

 Difficulties to be surmounted — Objections met — Charter of a 

 schooner — Financial arrangements — Departure — Grateful acknow- 

 ledgments — The Orleans princes — Road across the island — Cot- 

 ton plant — Batabano — Supposed encroachments of the sea — 

 Gloom of the marshes — Cocodrilos and Caymans — Their habits 

 and characteristics — Specimens — Comparison with those of South 

 America — Suggestions — Dampier's description of them — Embar- 

 cation — Discomfort on board — Gulf of Batabano — Isle of Pines 

 — Jardines and Jardinillos — Struggle of Columbus here — Beauti- 

 ful phenomenon — Temperatures of the sea — Clearness of the water 

 —Cause thereof — Incompetency of pilot— Anchor at night — 

 Multitude of shooting-stars — Absence of life in these regions — 

 Contrast with the time of Columbus — Arts of the Indian fisher- 

 men — Similar arts among other uncivilized nations — Visit to the 

 Cays — Their geognostic constitution — Does the sea grow shallow 

 here — Cay Bonito — Pelicans — Barbarity of the sailors — Vegeta- 

 tion — Charm of these regions — Memories of Columbus and Cortes 

 Columbus and the natives — Fleets of pirogues from Yucatan — 

 Hopes of Columbus — His remarkable vision — His pathetic com- 

 plaints — Hernan Cortes — Stranding of his ship — Gathering of his 

 fleet— Fall of Mexico— Strange vicissitudes— Cay Flamenco— 



