262 DOTTING S ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. XVI.—B. P. 
red sides and green-capped summit, comes Guano Cay, 
15 miles off, and nearly abreast of the southern en¬ 
trance of Blewfields Lagoon, called Hone Sound. 
The rest of the way the coast is dangerous, so we 
gave it a wide berth, and, rounding-to, off Blew¬ 
fields Bluff, anchored in seven fathoms. We were 
off the Bluff, it is true, but to all intents and purposes 
in the open sea, for that famous headland does not 
afford the slightest shelter when the trade-wind blows 
from the usual quarter. 
The surrounding land being very low, u The Bluff” 
looks like an island when approaching it from sea¬ 
ward; in former times it was a famous stronghold 
of the buccaneers, and even yet tradition, especially 
amongst the negro and Carib population, preserves 
heart-stirring accounts of the prowess of those free¬ 
booters, the forays they made, the enormous booty 
they brought back, and their carousals, in which their 
ever-ready and faithful allies, the Mosquito Indians, 
took part, nothing loth. Traces are still to be seen of 
their rude fortifications, and a fine well yet remains 
which was dug for their use, although but little can 
be said for the quality of the water, a commodity not 
easily procurable here, and hence the reason the site 
was not chosen for the town afterwards built. Wher¬ 
ever you go in the Caribbean Sea, you are sure to 
hear stories of hidden treasure; but of all the likely 
places I know, I think Blewfields Bluff would offer 
as good a chance as any to the treasure-hunter. 
Although there was a good sea running when we 
anchored, we escaped the heavy rolling we were so 
