porthole and overheard the following conversation which took 
place between a man on shore and one of our sailors. The 
stranger, in good English, inquired "What brought you tramps 
down into our country anyway?" The indignant reply was 
that "We are no tramp ship. We are on the Yacht Ituna owned 
by Mr. Armour of New York, who is now aboard." "But," re- 
peats the stranger, "what are you down here for anyway?" "Por 
pleasure" was the reply. The strange man looked at the sky, 
the tossing sea and storm-rent boat and repeated under his 
breath "Holy Mother of Jesust!" The sailor was about to ask 
the way to Manititlan, but when he turned the stranger had 
disappeared. I hear that as elaborated by Kelly this story 
created quite a little amusement forward. 
Well, later our good Captain found the so-called Harbor 
of Manititlan, but it was impossible to enter and after waiting 
about for half a day watching the huge breakers strike the bar 
and send clouds of spray to Heaven, we turned our backs regret- 
fully upon the hoped-for haven wad the coveted trip thence by 
the eftonseree R. R. to the Pacific, and set sail for Vera Cruz. 
We sailed all night, the sea gutciea s0un and as day broke we 
approached the city and beheld clear against the sky rising to 
the west the magnificent peak of Orizaba. Weal and half sick 
I was on deck and began the day by making a small sketch of the 
morning effect and notwithstanding my utterly dilapidated con- 
dition have, during the day and the writing of this letter, 
made two more sketches - the best of the trip. The shipping 
