The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-09-13
EXCURSION IN A SPANISH STEAM
BOAr.


twice a week--they tSke freight, consisting
usually OF sugar or coffee, and as many pas
sengers as is possible to get. They never
come too at the wharf of either port, and
the passengers are obliged to 60 on board IN
small boats, a plenty of which are always
found at both the places before mentioned-
had come up from Havana (nf 1t IS always
called there) and having spent short time
in and about Matanzas felt dcSrous to re
turn .or several good reasons: one was, II
was the filthiest hole that civilized beng
would consent to put his foot into. The har-
Dor of this place is large, but the water IS
very shallow. Vessels are obliged to lie
great distance from the shore, and here by
aid of lighters, to load and unload. we set
out on board the steam boat, arrived at the
wharf, and were Immediately surrounded
By boatmen, who commenced their clanor,
''4qui Sencr son 6otfcis bueno"--"OIro
aiejoy," said a second" Cargo" said
third--all in the mean time plung'ng tor the
baggage and eagerly pressing forward 10 inc
boat. "Qu0nto fidea?" "tlnGrto fedleS
eado uno' We selected one for ourselves,
and in a few minutes found that we were
sufficiently distant from the shore to get rid
of the noise on land. Make haste, make
haste. the boat is under way" and so it was
q Snaniard as he saw her take tlru in the
liarbor--".4 Il hyieSa---a nrie&u" Sa4coo han-
"a! caraj0. However, these fears were un-
founded. The boat did not then go. Aswe
approached, the other small boats centered
round the steam boat, and another quarrel
ensued with the boatmen for the privilege ot
coming to the stairs first. The company on
board was such s a traveller will find at any
tine on the same route-eighte or twenty
fat Creole gentlemen with those good ma
tured everlasting smiles for which they are
celebrated Some with a servant aud a
game cock-so,pe with game cocE and no
Seryant--thc more tlignified, with gold
headed eane-and al with serars IN tbel.
mouths al & O'Clock in the mornlrg. ien
or dozen Spanish ladies' ana ahoutas many
neeresses, together With three or four y an-
KEGS. composed the assortment. ihan tat
steam boat itsetf--it was built in the lhltea
States ard had once been clean: but not
cleaned since It reached Cuba No births
no beds--onlv one cabin, and IN that no
chairs. A large table in the centre was
nearly all the furniture. The weather was
quite waru,--an awning WAS s!1ead over
the deck TO keep of the rays ct the sun
few seats distr,Juted here aud there weie
taken up as speedily as possible, while those
who were not fortunate to get them, were
ublged TO take turus with some OF their
friends, on the principle OF "rlde and tie
The game cocks were fastened at dintreht
places on deck amongst the passengers, oy
string tied round the leg. The fowls at
sight OF each other, after the boat had 8 OF
under way, set up Growing; and We had no
cessation or alteration, unless It was at
some particular time, when ali irritated pas
..,ll a l,b.. tlta hN
noise in the middie--a circumstance which
adds much to the beauty Of the music
We proc eeded out of the harbor and IN
ahont two hours reached pretty good swell
of the sea. Breakfast was announced AS III
preparation; a small table with about ten OF
a dozen plates ON it WAS prepared Oh deck
and was, we perceived all that the whole
company were to expect; Good luck to tha
man who can get q seat first. Inc Yankee
made a bold push and succeeded. Some Q
the Spauiarls followed the example. those
who were left without seats spl anS for plates
and over the shoulders OF those who were
seated, began To help themselves or peti
ton that others would help them. Ihos'
of the Yankees who did not uhaet stan'
Spanish were the most fortunate; they pur
sned their own course in endeavoring 10 SCI
what could be found to cat. There wer
three dishes ON the table One ot them
discernetl from part Of the head, was fa
fried, as every thing else is in Cuba, in lard
next was dish Of something which eithe
from sight, smell, or taste, | have mt ye
been able to desiHuate nor did any one pos
sess wisdom sufficient to tell me. Ih
third was, as the SpaniarG informed me, a
English dish. "Fnglish dish of what k,nd!
'tBeefy steak"-"l "l1cefsteaki how cook"ds
Fried in lard. "a Ia made jRgleSa". Altat
we did not see ruch Of English fashion
the mode of cooking the beefsteak, Yet W
perceived that the only objection which "
should Be ablr to make would lie its scare
~ But before breakfast was over, the Sc
was heavier and many began TO disrelISn
somewhat. The boat rocked tremendous
lv. The women were, as usual in stea'
boats, sea sick. Many Of the other Sc
we're in tile same condition, and the aid
the Virgin Mary was invoked in good cart
est, The clouds begun to rise in the Nort
aud the wind still increased. The womt
went below-prcseutl it began to rain, al
we who were not sick were obliged to 70
low.
Here was scene which might excite pit
but ea-sickness comes not within the p.
Of pity Stretched on the floor OF the cab
Law all the women of both colors--head a
point, cross aod pile. Groans from oUe 81
and retching from the other; some with m.
tresscs which they had brought with them
some with blankets-and some only t
t,. Aoor shall diel" exclaimed an ,