New-York tribune., 1885-09-20
TALES OF THE CARIBBEAN.

,ortnnitv The sloop was anchored before Pro-
800 fnort of Yucatan), and would start that
night 40 ut dusk we descended the slippery steps
leading from the wooden pier down to the water,
and when big wave brought the skif near ou
feet Jumped into it and were rowed to the Vlvi
that looked very dimnutive rocking ON the dark
billows. for the sea was decidedly rongh. The cap
tain belped us to scramble on deck and we set sail
immediately. I have dim recollection of taking
possession of the cabin, which was about eight feet
eouare with bench at the further end and berth
on ZACH side and remember ardently wishing that
all the globe vas terra-frma, or that had never
been born as well indulging in great many
otter unphilosophical thoughts that seasickness
will induce. particularly when cockroaches TWO
inches long are wandering over the victim. That
was June 20, and the following are the eloquent
and remarkably interesting memoranda OF the next
four days:
81. At dask anchored short distance from land
at place called Telchac: How stupid was 10
come in this miserable boat NJ. H.,
90 stopped at Sacrisan, and again at llacun.
23. Stopped at Tilau. Wish the water would
stop. Head wind. Heavy thunder STORM very
"a. Stopped at HolIox Feel little better. Ate
q cracker. Fine weather
To those who have been seasick need offer no
apology for such diary they will fully understand
that am uot responsible.
Hollox is o picturesque Indian village whose IN
habitants make a living by catching turtle to SEND
to British Honduras where the demand Is constant.
Near tho shore were turtle pens, and for moment
we feared that some of those creatures, weighing
500 mounds each. might be added to our freight;
and to see them OH tho deck, their backs, their
fans sewn together, and gasping for BREATH IS
euough-almost- make one Jump overheard. The
hints of the fishermen long distance from the
shore and the indolent natives positively refused
to bring water to the sloop though we had stopped
expressly for that, being much in need Charming
as the village looks at distance 1T has one great
drawback being infested with the terrible uoipoch
Nhe wickedly minded) snake thus named by the
Indians because without any provocation whatever
il attacks. drawing itself up after the manner OF
cheese-maggot, and dartng at its victim few feet
distant The venom of this viper causes the blood
10 ooze through every pore of the skin, and death
ALWAYS ensues in very short time. NO ahtidote
for the poison is known, and the natives greatly
dread this snake, because, owing to its Color IL can
easily be mistaken for piece of dry wood when IL
lies straight OH the ground 1t is two feet long
about an inch and n half in diameter throughout
its length the tail terminating as if cut obquely'
and the mouth shaped like the beak of quail.
We next east anchor at Island Contoy to avoid
onc line cf reefs that are difficult TO see in the dark
ness of night Island Contoy is nine miles long.
very picturesque and sotally unnhabited except by
millions OF sea birds. At dusk immense focks came
home and hovered over the Vv as if to examine the
great object that had approached their domains
After dark the island is dreadful place III the eStl~
ration of the simpe-minded folks who frequent
those waters, because great treasure SAID 10 DO
buried there is supposed to be guarded by
phantom One old man who pretended to know
the whereabouts of the treasure is said to have been
frightened from the place by the apparition OF
ad Inv
Once three men made bet to pass the night on the
island and actually went there, but it is believed
tbst they were pursued and terrified to death by
the spectral keeper of the hidden gold, for daylight
revealed prostrate corpse on the beach, another
in the water and the third man was a raving
maniac who never recovered reason. Several years
aqo IL was generally known that pirates had buried
various treasures there but in what particular
places no ono knew. At certain times OF the year
fishermen from the mainland went to the island to
6sh building huts to serve them for the season.
One day when q few of these men were ON the
beach a large American vessel appeared on the
horizon and in due time cast anchor before ContOy
Several men landed, and producing papers and
mans said they had come for certain money buried
there Strange to say, their map led them TO tho
very SPOT here the fishermen had built their hut
the tbatched roof right over the treasure. The
occrnants were told that if they would dig they
RhOud
,rorl, and soon unearthed some large boxes filed
with gold coin. which were promptly put on board,
and the shin sailed away with its precious freight
after the fishermen had been paid hundred dollars
ZACH for their labor of an honr. This account was
oven ma by one Of those very fishermen, now quite
aged.
On the tsnth day after leaving Progreso. about
o'clock at night we sailed into the beautiful Bay OF
Dolores at Meegercs Island, or Woman's Island. as
the Spanish conquerors called 1t, because they
,onnd In tho temples of the natives many images of
women. The water Of the bay was as unrutied and
crystalline as sheet of emerald and the village Of
Dolores made charming picture with its thatched
cottages boats hauled up the white beach, and
lofty palm trees towering like sentlnels above the
dwellings; while the perfect stiffness made us al
most imagine that we bcheld an enchanted island
awaiting the touch of 4 magic wand. That wand
was The first golden sunraY that shot from the east,
calling every creature to life and action; doors
were thrown open, faint columns OF smoke wreathoi
Their WAY to the cloudiess sky children ran to the
beach to loat their toy ships; fishermen launched
their boats women passed TO and fro and feathered
songsters warbled their sweetest lay no wonder
tbat tho last pirate chief Captain Laitte made
tbs islanl his headquarters. Some old people there
,yell remonber him as n nice gentleman who paid
fo: every thing he had from the fishermen along tho
coast, and never harmed any poor person." III was
Mt the beginning of the present century that Latte
became q terror to the ships that navgated the
Gulf of MoAico and Caribbean Sea, among the West
India Islands down to the coast of Venezuela. In
ths beautiful harbor of Meegeres Island he found
perect shelter from the storms that at certain times
OF the year sweep with violence along those coasts
aad on the top of some dunes south of what is now
the village of Dolores he built small towers.
whence he could keep eye on the surrounding
waters. The foundations OF these towers yet re-
main in place, and every Christmas Eve the ghost
of n sailor wanders about the hills" No one dares
srcaIy 10 him believing that it would cause them TO
siN"n N"n;t'I,in on, vear When not on board Lahttes