e which
happened to some of our people in the bay of Petaplan, as it may help
to give the reader a just idea of the temper of the inhabitants of
this part of the world. Some time after our arrival at Chequetan,
Lieutenant Brett was sent by the commodore, with two of our boats
under his command, to examine the coast to the eastward, particularly
to make observations on the bay and watering-place of Petaplan. As Mr
Brett with one of the boats was preparing to go on shore towards the
hill of Petaplan, he, accidentally looking across the bay, perceived,
on the opposite strand, three small squadrons of horse parading upon
the beach, and seeming to advance towards the place where he proposed
to land. On sight of this he immediately put off the boat, though he
had but sixteen men with him, and stood over the bay towards them; and
he soon came near enough to perceive that they were mounted on very
sightly horses, and were armed with carbines and lances. On seeing him
make towards them they formed upon the beach, and seemed resolved to
dispute his landing, firing several distant shot at him as he drew
near; till at last, the boat being arrived within a reasonable
distance of the most advanced squadron, Mr Brett ordered his people
to fire, upon which this resolute cavalry instantly ran in great
confusion into the wood. In this precipitate flight one of their
horses fell down and threw his rider; but whether he was wounded or
not we could not learn, for both man and horse soon got up again, and
followed the rest. In the mean time the other two squadrons, who were
drawn up at a great distance behind, out of the reach of our shot,
were calm spectators of the rout of their comrades; for they had
halted on our first approach, and never advanced afterwards. It was,
doubtless, fortunate for our people that the enemy acted with so
little prudence, and exerted so little spirit, for had they concealed
themselves till our men had landed, it is scarcely possible but
the whole boat's crew must have fallen into their hands, since the
Spaniards were not much short of two hundred in number. However,
the discovery of so considerable a force collected in this bay of
Petaplan, obliged us constantly to keep a boat or two before it; for
we were apprehensive that the cutter, which we had left to cruise off
Acapulco, might, on her return, be surprised by the enemy, if she did
not receive timely information of her danger.

After our unsuccessful attemp