ANOTHER COUNTRYMAN. 341 



trance of seditious persons, emigres, and expulsados 

 from other states, who might disturb the peace of Costa 

 Rica, but that it could not contemplate a case like mine, 

 at the same time laying great stress upon my official 

 character. Fortunately for me, he had a high sense of 

 the respect due to that character, and, though holding a 

 petty office, had a feeling of pride that his state should 

 not be considered wanting in courtesy to an accredited 

 stranger. For a long time he was at a loss what to do ; 

 but finally, after much deliberation, he requested me to 

 wait till morning, when he would despatch a courier to 

 advise the government of the circumstances, and would 

 take upon himself the responsibility of permitting me to 

 land. Fearful of some accident or some change of pur- 

 pose, and anxious to get my feet on shore, I suggested 

 that, in order to avoid travelling in the heat of the day, 

 it^would be better to sleep on shore, to be ready for an 

 early start, to which he assented. 



In the afternoon the captain took me ashore. At the 

 first house we saw two candles lighted to burn at the 

 body of a dead man. All whom we saw were ill, and 

 all complained that the place was fatal to human life. 

 In fact, it was almost deserted ; and, notwithstanding 

 its advantages as a port, government, a few days after- 

 ward, issued an order for breaking it up, and removing 

 back to the old port of Pont Arenas. The captain was 

 still suffering from fever and ague, and would not on any 

 account remain after dark. I was so rejoiced to find 

 myself on shore, that if I had met a death's head at every 

 step it would hardly have turned me back. 



The last stranger at the port was a distinguished 

 American. His name was Handy ; I had first heard of 

 him at the Cape of Good Hope, hunting giraffes, after- 

 ward met him in New- York, and regretted exceedingly 



