We anchored some little distance from the shore and had to land in small boats managed by the natives.

I went in one, and when the boat grounded at the beach the boatman took me on his back and set me on shore, demanding two dollars for the job, which I paid, and he served the whole crowd in the same way.

The water here was blood warm, and they told me the tide ran very high.
This was a strange old town to me, walled in on all sides, a small plaza in the center with a Catholic church on one side, and the other houses were mostly two story.

On the side next to the beach was a high, thick wall which contained cells that were used for a jail, and on top were some dismounted cannon, long and old fashioned.
The soldiers were poor, lazy fellows, barefooted, and had very poor looking guns.

Going out and in all had to pass through a large gateway, but they asked no questions.