wives resided here, and having already received part of their pay in advance, it was not without much difficulty, and by the exertion of the padron, that we succeeded in getting away at all, and much sulkiness and ill-humour were exhibited by one of the crew during the remainder of our voyage.
About three p.m. we moved on, and at sunset came to for the night at a sandy beach, where our crew recommenced their culinary operations.
They had provided themselves with rice and ripe cocoa-nuts at Chagres. The cocoa-nut having been grated finely, by one of Nature's provisions on the banks of the river, [the stem of a plant very closely studded with fine spines,] is put into an iron pot, mixed with a small portion of water, and boiled until it becomes milky. It is then strained by another of Dame Nature's utensils, viz. a sieve made of the Gorgonia flabellum, or Venus's fan, and the remains finally squeezed by hand. This milky fluid is boiled with the rice, and affords, with the addition of sugar and rice, a very palatable mess. I am told it is very delicious, and frequently given to children.
We were not without music this night; the frogs maintained their concert in imitation of our friends at Chagres. One of our party having inquired what caused the noise, and being answered serpo, a term applied to frogs here, thinking it meant a snake, was rather shy of the shore for the rest of the night.
At dawn the crew breakfasted, and we then re-
