426 



DEPARTURE FROM NOVITA. 



munity at large, whose eyes would be opened 

 to all their wiles, dissimulation, bigotry, and 

 deceit. 



Feb. 6th. Rained all night ; morning tole- 

 rably fair. Had but scanty fare. Pigs are the 

 only animals killed in Novita. Beef is brought 

 from Cartago, and sells at one shilling and 

 sixpence per pound. 



Feb. 8th. Sunday. The negroes, who had 

 been working during the week at the mines, 

 had returned to Novita the previous evening, 

 and made their appearance at mass. The po- 

 pulation, which is all nearly black, amounts to 

 about one thousand souls. The blacks turned 

 out very clean ; the women appeared very 

 fond of gaudy colours. The natives are gene- 

 rally healthy, though the whites look very 

 sallow. An European constitution, however, 

 cannot well stand the humidity, and constant 

 attacks of intermittent fever. Purchased all 

 requisites for my journey to Citera. 



Monday, 9th. Rose at daylight, and pack- 

 ed. Mounted my mule, accompanied by Jua- 

 kim Hurtado down to the bodega, where, at 

 nine o'clock, I embarked in a tolerably large 



