241 
CHAPTER XV. 
CANOES AND CANOEMEN.—SAILING ON FKIDAY.-COLUMBUS DIS¬ 
COVERS MOSQUITO.-BOUNDARIES OF MOSQUITO.-EARLY AC¬ 
COUNT OP ABORIGINES.-EATING MONKEY NOT CANNIBALISM.- 
A SPANISH RIOT ACT. — A CACIQUE’S IDEA OF THE POPE. 
Previously to sailing we had hut little chance of im¬ 
proving our knowledge of Greytown, its people or its 
harbour; although I was anxious, at least, to begin the 
survey which I had arranged with the master to make 
as soon as possible ; the trade-wind blew with more 
than ordinary strength, and brought on such an ugly 
sea that communication with the shore by means of our 
boats was necessarily very much restricted; and no one 
had as yet sufficient confidence in native canoes to trust 
himself in those very ticklish specimens of naval archi¬ 
tecture. Nevertheless, under skilful guidance, they 
are about the safest means of locomotion, especially in 
broken water; indeed no weather prevented the punc¬ 
tual arrival each day of the ship’s company’s allow¬ 
ance of fresh beef, brought alongside in as dangerous- 
looking a “ dug-out” as could be seen anywhere. I 
R 
