( ; 



paffed through a whole lane of foldiers, 

 armed as I mentioned thofe to have been 

 before, excepting a few, who really had 

 matchlocks, the only fire-arms they 

 Jiaye here. The foldiers, upon our jour- 

 ney, had given a pompous account of 

 el Palacio del Rey, or the king's palace, 

 as they ftiled the governor's houfe, and 

 therefore we expefted to fee fomething 

 very magnificent; but it was nothing 

 better than a large thatched barn, par- 

 titioned off into feveral rooms. The go- 

 vernor was fitting at a large table co- 

 vered with a piece of red ferge, having 

 all the principal officers about him. 

 After fome time, he raadq us fit down,- 

 attempting to converfe with us by his 

 linguift, who was a ftupid old fellow, 

 that could neither talk Englifli nor 

 Spanifli, but faid he was born in Eng- 

 land, had refided above forty years in 

 that country, and having formerly been 

 a buccaneer, was taken by the Spaniards 



neay 



