LOSS OF A SPANISH FRIGATE. 237 
holes at the foot of the rocks on the sea-coast, a great num- 
ber of a kind of periwinkles, but were at a loss how to dress 
them. We could have wished to eat them boiled, but we had 
no vessel to put them into, and were obliged to be contented 
with roasting them on the coals ; after that we made a hearty- 
repast. 
After dinner, the necessity of proceeding obliged us to set 
off again. I prepared to depart in spite of my blisters ; my peo- 
ple wrapped up my feet in the best manner they could with 
linen rags, on which we pursued our course till sunset, when 
we arrived on the banks of a pond, but were so harassed by 
a great quantity of gnats, that, notwithstanding our fatigue, 
we were unable to remain there. We were obliged to quit 
the spot and continue our march till ten o'clock at night. 
We were now filled with the greatest uneasiness, and our ap- 
prehensions of being attacked by the wild Indians -were the 
more augmented, as we had perceived a light among the 
trees of a neighboring wood; but we had no farther reason 
to be terrified. 
The day following we pursued our route and came to a ri- 
Tulet, on the banks of which we found a fire lighted, and a 
great number of shells of plantains scattered round it. This 
at first led us to conclude that there must be near the spot 
some of the trees which bear that fruit. Our search for them 
was, however, in vain. About noon we arrived at a broad ri- 
ver, bordered by lofty trees that afforded a refreshing shade. 
Pressed by hunger, we threw out a line and took three large 
fish, and broiled them. We crossed a river on a raft as be- 
fore, and continued our walk till we arrived at another of still 
greater magnitude, on the banks of which we passed the 
night ; one of our number keeping watch, that we might not 
be surprised, while asleep, by the Indians. 
At day break we saw around us a great number of palm 
trees, cut some of their shoots, and ate the hearts, which are 
tender but insipid. A littler farther w^e found a kind of fruit, 
of the color of the mulberry and the size of an apricot. The 
inhabitants call them Icacos.. It is a sourish-sweet, and has 
a very agreeable taste. We liked it better than the palm-tree 
shoots. After traversing a wood and a mountain we regain- 
ed the sea-shore, where we perceived on the beach a great 
number of sea-crabs. We flattered ourselves with the hope 
of a good repast, but were miserably disappointed ; the nim- 
ble fellows, with their crooked claws, were such excellent 
runners that the most alert of our people pursued them above 
