458 



CARTHAGENA. 



round a small point, we came to a narrow ca- 

 nal, the course of which winds like a labyrinth 

 through this marshy country. I observed quan- 

 tities of small oysters attached to the bushes. 

 We passed a good many market-boats coming 

 from Carthagena. About four o'clock we came 

 to an anchor inside of a palisado, which the 

 Spaniards formerly raised to prevent the en- 

 trance of the patriots. 



Here is a small village, the former outpost 

 of the Spaniards. Finding that the boat was 

 to remain here all night, I hired a canoe, the 

 men promising to take me up to Carthagena in 

 three hours ; instead of which I did not arrive 

 before midnight; when, coming alongside the 

 wharf, on which the guard-house stood, I hailed 

 the centinel on duty, and slipping a dollar into 

 his hand, climbed over the outer palisado. On 

 entering the guard-house, I saw a fire blazing, 

 round which the men, wrapped in their roanas, 

 were sleeping — their arms piled up in a corner: 

 some of them started up on my entrance ; — and 

 on my requesting the serjeant to procure me 

 admittance to the town, (which is fortified,) 

 and backing my solicitations by a douceur, I 

 was informed that they were themselves with- 



