28 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
taken by the fishermen with rod and line. The scene 
is rendered more completely grotesque by the singular 
costume and half-clad appearance of the Spaniards, 
the wild snatches of song that are fitfully borne upon 
the wind, the uncouth cries of the men, continually 
hailing one another from boat to boat, accompanied by 
the harsh screams of the sea birds whirling in all 
directions overhead, and watching a favourable oppor- 
tunity to plunder the boats. Add to this the flashing of 
innumerable oars, now here, now there, glancing over 
miles of space with the instantaneous speed of elec- 
tricity ; and, to finish the enchantment of the picture, 
perchance from the impenetrable gloom steals forth, 
with silent majesty and slow advance, the towering- 
image of a giant ship, her canvass filled and bending 
to the breeze, while on she glides, like a spirit of air, 
through the scattered fleet of tiny fishing boats. The 
whole scene possesses a wild and unearthly effect, little 
short of magic, such as may not commonly be dis- 
covered in nature, and yet, in moderate weather, it 
may be nightly witnessed in the roadstead of Santa 
Cruz. 
The unfortunate inhabitants, although the subjects 
of a double despotism, have preserved undiminished the 
pride and indolence which proverbially characterize 
the Spaniards. The will of the governor is over the 
head of every citizen for life or death, the courts of 
law being governed by his nod ; the power of the 
priesthood is even still more absolute, and the conse- 
