e met with on shore were principally guanos, with which
the country abounds, and which are by some reckoned delicious food.
We saw no beasts of prey here, except alligators, several of which
our people discovered, but none of them very large. However, we were
satisfied there were tygers in the woods, though none of them came in
sight; for we every morning found the beach near the watering-place
imprinted with their footsteps: But we never apprehended any mischief
from them, for they are by no means so fierce as the Asiatic or
African tyger, and are rarely, if ever, known to attack mankind. Birds
were in sufficient plenty, especially pheasants of different kinds,
some of them of an uncommon size, but they were very dry and tasteless
food. Besides these we had a variety of smaller birds, particularly
parrots, which we often killed for food.

The fruits and vegetable refreshments at this place were neither
plentiful, nor of the best kinds: There were, it is true, a few
bushes scattered about the woods, which supplied us with limes, but we
scarcely could procure enough for our present use; and these, with
a small plumb of an agreeable acid, called in Jamaica the hog-plumb,
together with another fruit called a papah, were the only fruits to be
found in the woods. Nor is there any other useful vegetable here worth
mentioning, except brook-lime: This indeed grew in great quantities
near the fresh-water banks; and, as it was esteemed an antiscorbutic,
we fed upon it frequently, though its extreme bitterness made it very
unpalatable.

By all that has been said, it will appear that the conveniences of
this port of Chequetan, particularly in the articles of refreshment,
are not altogether such as might be desired: But, upon the whole, it
is a place of considerable consequence, as the only secure harbour in
a vast extent of coast, except Acapulco.

SECTION XXIII.

_Account of Proceedings at Chequetan and on the adjacent Coast, till
our setting sail for Asia._

The next morning, after our coming to an anchor in the harbour of
Chequetan, we sent about ninety of our men well armed on shore, forty
of whom were ordered to march into the country, as has been mentioned,
and the remaining fifty were employed to cover the watering-place, and
to prevent any interruption from the natives.

Here it was agreed, after mature consultation, to destroy the Tryal's
prize, as well as the Carmelo and Carmin whose fate had been before
resol