The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-04-26
MORNING STAR AND cATHoLIc MESSENGER:
NEW ORLEANS, sUNDAY,-ApRIL %, 1868.
DoDaNa A SHARK.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SuICutOit, tuS
at anchor off the mouth of the Cllua; Z"
think we had better fill i'll we go, so
= shall send the boats cOcOa-nuttinS. Woui'
you like to got"
"With ali my heart replied. Z" Ivt
never been down among the lasoons, anu
should like it above all things"
"I'm glad of that" said the skipper
"for l shall not go myself I'm not alnbi'
tious of being stung to death by mosquitoes
but rs YOU have never been down the coast
the novelty will, perhaps. repay you for the
pain"
"I'll run the chance of singing re-
tOrted elf we get IL strong sea-breeZe
we NAV happily escape these little pests
but when do we start :"
with the land wind i'll the morning
GAN right! Who is to go:"
1.-The stevedOre for-one, because he
choose for yourself"
"Then shall have Jones for one. He's
handy and cooks WELL"
During the day, l selected the rest of
my men, hauled the boats alongside, and
got everything ready for II start, which, it
was arranged, should be about three o'clock
on the following morning.
Central America is SO little known, that,
without casting any reflection the read
er's geographical knowledge, may assume
that he was not quite clear when l said
that the Calcutta was at anchor off the
globe that river is situated.
Close to the shores of the Gulf of Hondu-
ras, there is IL low, level tract of land, COW
cred with immense forests, through which
runs the Rio Ullua, one OF the largest and
most majestic streams in that state. This
river empties itself into the sen in about
Is degrees and As minutes north latitude,
and 81 degrees and 40 minutes west longi-
tude. At its mouth is an anchorage, where
vessels can ride i'll comparative safety, and
where, during certain months in the year,
is collected large fleet of merchant ships,
waiting to be freighted with the mahogany
which is cut in the interior, and hOated
down the river. Among these vessels was
the bark Calcutta, whose cargo was about
half completed.
No description of mine can give any idea
of the crystal purity OF the water on which
we hoated, or the extraordinary and de-
ceptive appearances produced by it. Be-
meath us were three or four fathoms of
water; and yet every rock, patch of sand,
and branch Of sea-weed, WAS as distinctly
visible to the eye as though we had been
looking ut them through II piece OF glass
indeed, more so, for the transparency OF
the water seemed to add to their distinct
ness, while, at the same time, it acted as Il
magnifer. Such was the wonderful effect
produced, that at times rocks and gigantic
vegetables appeared floating upon the sur
face. as though to bar our progress but,
rs we approached them, they seemed sud-
denly to sink to the bottom again.
We appeared to be passing over lovely
marine garden, perfectly alive with bril-
liant hued fish, which darted about among
the weeds and coral branches with a celer-
ity that was quite. marvellous. In other
places, large and Northumberland star-tish
clung to the rocks, while huge craw-fish
moved about with the utmost rapidity
But, after all, description is Useless. Had
at my command the glowing language of
the poet, or the power of using IL pencil
dipped i'll the most vivid and brilliant COL
ors, l could not give any idea, but one that
would fall far short OF the reality, of the
extreme brightness and clcarmess of the WA
ter, and the luXuriance OF form and color
which studded that tropical sea. ~
We had been pulling now for two hours,
and a two hours stretch ut the oar, under Il
tropical sun, is thing not to be ioked
about. 1t was, therefore, with no small
degree of satisfaction that we saw the en-
trance to Port Sal open OH the starboard
little land-locked cove OF that name.
Peter Byrne, as soon us we had landed,
started into-thc bush, taking his gun with
him. and had not been gone long, before
two or three reports set the whole colony of
Nnlmals i'll uproar. Jones was making
himself conspicuous by collecting wood and
lighting Il lire. Peter soon returned with
monkey or two, and several brace of young
macaws and parrots, which Jones Mt once
proceeded to divest of their feathers.
BY the joint eNcrtions of these two, our
dinner was at last before us; and though
not Il luxurious one, garnished as it was
with hunger, we thought it excellent The
air, the exercise, and that keen sense of
animal enjoyment which is to be found in
such Il life. caused US to look with compla-
ceneX, even on roasted parrot and stewed
monkey.
Nothing worthy of notice took place until
night came on. had brought hammock
with me, for however beautiful and poetical
it may be to recline on II bed of leaves, even
though they be OF roses, had notion that
a blanket to wrap myself in, would be a
much more prudent and sensible arrange