108 SAN JUAN DEL SUE. Book I. 
From the explanations following this introductory con- 
versation it appeared that the gentleman who accosted me 
was a Mr. Hall, of San Francisco, owner of the brigantine 
in the road, and which had left the golden gate for the 
purpose of buying provisions at San Juan del Sur. 
The reader may imagine Mr. Hall's disappointment 
when he heard that he had made a voyage of several 
thousand miles to an imaginary city, for the purpose of 
laying in stores at a place where there were not pro- 
visions enough to sustain the life of six persons for a 
single day, and where even my horse was in a starving 
condition, obstinately refusing to eat the leaves of any 
of the trees or shrubs that grew in the neighbourhood. 
Mr. Hall learned the true state of things with the calm 
mood of a man who had seen the origin of Sacramento 
and Stockton, and merely remarked that at San Francisco 
the plan of the town of San Juan del Sur, with the names 
of the streets and the situation of the public buildings, had 
been circulated, and that building lots had been offered for 
sale. 
My night's rest under the shed was disturbed by 
hundreds of minute ticks which entered my clothes and 
began to burrow themselves in my skin. These insects 
have been described by all travellers as one of the greatest 
annoyances in Central America, but they are quite as bad 
in Texas, Louisiana and other southern states of the 
Union ; and even a single walk through the grass, in some 
public places of New Orleans may expose you to the 
attacks of this kind of vermin. But at last I was lulled to 
sleep by the loud noise of the wind, which, though the 
stars shone bright and the air was soft and warm, bent the 
old trees of the forest, and by the roaring surf of the South 
Sea, sending its spray up to where I was stretched on the 
