New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-11
TRAVELLING WITH TURTLES
CARIBBEAN VOYAGE MORE PICTURFso
THAN PLEASANT


We had waited so long for an opportunity IN on
from Cozumel Island to British Honduras that wa
decided to 60 on the Triuufo notwithstanding
Its urlnylting appearance Ii was "A tweive-ton
schooner badly IN need of paint; for or.ier tine
limited space made that impossible. The captain
was called Antonio, aud was unelean a specimen
of the Spanish sailor "a we have ever had the mis-
fortune to see. The mate was called Antonio tic
Second to distinguish him from his superior; "Jimy
was the black cook and general assistant: aud a
man named rrejo served pilot. There was 10
compass on board; such thing can rarely be found
on those coastng vessels. Their were four passen-
gers besides ourselves making ten souls, all told
and each had plenty of luggage. Adj TO this
twenty-five enormous turtles, deck, and
some below large party of hens two big cages
full of doves, anOgier OF canarcs, spoiled lapdog
eat and kittens, two goats, and colony Of COCK
reaches Of the largest species. There was not
Sql re inch TO spare. The cabin occupied by
live turtles, they being considered the Jst valuable
passengers: these unfortunate creatures were on
their backs. their flaps sown together and
evidently suffered, stretching thcir necls to gasp
for breath, and making most dismal sounds in tie
vain cndeayOr to fill their lungs, drawing their
heads back into their shells at the approach Of any
To keep them alive water was dashed over them
once day. which favor they dill not seem 10
|
tie water been thrown their backs. We more
than suspected that there was a considerable
amount of "cJntraband" on board, and were also
well aware that the coast guard was cruising about
on the lookout for just such vessels the
"Triuufo'; consequently the grim face Of tho
captain did not often relax into smile, aud ne
betrayed his anxiety by asking for the loan of
field glasses verureqnently. rather to our annoy.
ance, for there was much to be seen on the coast
that in tcrested rs However in retura for the use
of the glass he gave us some information. Among
other tnings lie told that all aloIg the coast
there is fine variety of excellent shefsh, and
that one crab, called the SOLDIER also known as
hermit" possesses remarkable curative powers.
Simply boiled and eaten every day, 1t cures nervous
diseases AID CONSUMPTION, while certain oil ex-
tracted from il Is an nfaiblc remedy for palsy ald
otier ills OF course.
One of the milan villages along the coast IS
called Taucah, ana shortly after the occasion | am
writing about Ark Of the Caribbean went down
somewhere about that spo:. French bark, bound
for Vera Cruz, wa, ralded near the village. and
it is thought that the nd ans of the place hilet
the people on DO rd and sent the bodies adrlft fol
they hoated dowu the Gulf Stream to Cozalel. The
Indians took possession of the bark On thus coast,
as ia many other countries. the wreck of vessel
is considered godsead. and the Inhabitants think
they have rgh to kill the crew and take posses
SION of the salvage. The people of Iancah. and an
other village cal ed rulum have no boats but at low
tide they secured rope TO the vessel. AMI thus
made their way back and forth, landing as much
of tae cargo they could. bnt some OF it was too
heavy for them. Craving for liquor ~ they always
do they went down III the hold, ald som remained
here drinking till unable to move, aud were con-
sequently drowned when the tide came mp. PeOpe
of San Pedro a fishire settlement on the Island IT
Ambergris, at the south end of Ydcatan, heard II
tie wreck. They are half pirates. AMI at once
started of for shlre OF the wreck but
the Indians received them with bullets,
and they could not reach the shp. When
the Indians abandoned the bark leaving in IT what
they could not take they retired from The beach
he people of San Pedro and Island Mugercs hal
beeu keeping SHARP lookout. and noy went foe
the rest of the cargo They found very cosby dry.
goods and other valuable thing, also casks of hne
wines and vinegar. while III the mold were maly
dead Indians. Having loaded their boats they
were alb ut u start for home when they saw that
storm was at hand The captains decided that il
would not do to venture out 10 sea until it passel
over bnt the owner Of the rrIuHfo sad he Wa,
more afraid Of the Indians who might arrive than
of the Storm aud contrary to the advice of all, ne
put 20 sea- and WAS never again heard III
Three miles north of Tancah Il grand old castle
towers the BRINK of PERCEPTIONS I'm. against
which the waves dash them elves II flry. THIS
castle serves as IanIn lrk mariner, al further
inland there are six other building orecteL
like the castle by re Dpe long fprgD Ten, even
when the Spanish c0lquerOrS first tr)d inc So' OF
America TINS ancient city is called rGlun. ana
VA, surrounded on three sides by a wall. At The
corners of the wall there were wItch-towers.
There are two gatcways in the nOrjh and Soutl
walls and but one III the east The wall was CONF
posed of rough. Hat stones, laid upon eaoh other
without mortar or cement and varied IN tEiikness
bctye.n seven and twelve feet In the lofty ,astls
the indians yet bur copal and wax candles, e. well
"a perform other rites of the religion OF theIf
forefather,. These people live three M Is lh-@h.
at TuIum-Pueblo. and are ruled by qdecn CARED
Maria Ucalc.
When night came the captain ordered Antonio
-, second TO tell "Jin." the cook. to make a
cIe,riuC on the deck so that the passengers could
lie down. With sonc difficulty room was 'hale l'f
tour or five people. but two lndlvldnl.s rom nPIn
ISh Honduras carefully monopolizei u an Nv
snrea aiding hu se mattress for their own plFucuidt
benefit. while We had TO SIT uprgnt In ,ne i az
space left. As were skirtiug the edge OF the
(jnlf stream about midnight, waves washed over
the derk The Honduras people and their d3g were
nor disturbed by thar, being under large 'hcet az
n1cintl, incl with blankets We went down IN o
the little hole called caJn, ana louhu nat tle lui
lies did not leave rom tor more than one person
and the atmosphere was sicnenlug, Dut having
severe cold / remained below, sitting on rue moor
among the turtles. keeping out o. reacn OF theit
horny bills lest they should Visit ihef lnsl wrHtn
on nv innocent head. After awhile. lnseiSlnly 10
myself one of my fellow sufferers was uti lLed as =
pillow. bnt las aroused by n embers OF the cock
roach colony that seemed to nave selected me Us
80 Tor some mass meeting. From "A second trOIb.
led doze mpor my Turtle pillow was awakened b.
a shout and gong to tie foot OF the Senttle saw
NV nm ,band holding the tillcr, and giving 0rier' III
nnt sweet Spauisn, HE attention had been at
fracted by a strange sound, and peerIn- through
the darkness he saw that the boat was saltiug
straight toward breakers that were but Few
Yards ahead glance showed hun that me, man
az The helm was sound asleep so ne pushed hun
aside aud turned the boat a1our. NOT even "a star
',Iin'nared overhead: we therefore w"nt back
shomt half a mile and hove to TIL morning. Day
light showed us that we were entlrely OUT ol our
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