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SAN JUAN DE ULÚA.
193

in the city itself was a garrison of trained soldiers, and several thousand men could be concentrated within twenty-four hours from the interior. The enterprise was a bold one, and by many deemed too hazardous; but the filibusters were now assembled in force, mustering probably about a thousand strong,[1] and their leaders were men fertile of resource.

Map of Vera Cruz.
  1. 'Ce fut en l'année 1683, après avoir fait une revue générale de la flotte, qui se trouva montée de deux cens Flibustiers, tous gens d'elite.' Esquemelin, Hist. Flib., i. 269. Probably the 200 included only the French contingent. They numbered over 1,000. Rivera, Gov. Mex., i. 255. 800 men, Cavo, ii. 63-4. The expedition consisted of 960 men, a motley gathering, including French, English, Spaniards, mulattoes, and Indians. Mosaico, i. 407. 8,000 men, Robles, Diario, i. 370; Zamacois, v. 438. The last estimate