MERIDIAN MARK. 



289 



not only encouraged us to make these observa- 

 tions, and assisted us as far as his means went, 

 but even allowed us to survey the harbour and 

 the town. Under his sanction, therefore, we com- 

 menced our operations. It being necessary, in 

 the first instance, to erect a mark in a conspicu- 

 ous situation^ in the meridian, on which a light 

 was to be placed at night ; we fixed upon the pa- 

 rapet of a friend's house, on the further side of 

 the market-place. No particular directions had 

 been given as to the form of this mark, which was 

 nailed up late on Saturday evening ; nor was it 

 until after it had been exposed for some hours 

 next morning, that I discovered it to be in the form 

 of a crucifix. We had learned, by many circum- 

 stances, that the inhabitants of San Bias were 

 above all things jealous of any interference with, 

 or any disrespect for their religious customs ; and 

 we had, in consequence, taken great care to avoid 

 every conceivable cause of offence on such sub- 

 jects. I was horror-struck, therefore, to see the 

 sacred symbol built up as part of my profane ap- 

 paratus, and immediately repaired to my friend 

 the commandant to consult with him what was 

 best to be done on this alarming occasion. It 



VOL. II. 



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