Fresh water was only to be had by sending our boom-boats, with casks, up the river, beyond high-water mark, and remaining the night. When you got back, it was doubtful whether the state of the bar would allow deep-laden boats to cross. To us mids, who had no responsibility, it was great fun. Alligators, turtle, and sharks were numerous; these were seen to advantage from the shore, when waves came rolling in, lifting the monsters into the light. The beach was covered with large mahogany-trees and broken branches, washed down by the rain floods. [Sidenote: May 12.] It was my turn to go with the water boats--to me a picnic. Over the bar, we pulled up the river, tide with us, intending to anchor off-shore for the night; but first we had to cook a substantial meal under the trees. I was about to jump from the bow of the pinnace on to a dead tree covered with mud, when the bowman put his hand on my shoulder, and pointed out that my “dead tree” was a live alligator. I ran aft and seized a marine’s musket, already loaded. The reptile at that moment lifted his upper jaw, and I sent a ball into his stomach. He was assailed with stretchers and cutlasses, and soon became harmless. At daylight we filled our casks from alongside, and pulled easily down with the tide, alligator in tow, and so alongside. As I could not pickle the brute, I was anxious to obtain the bullet, it being my first shot at big game, and got the good-natured Assistant-Surgeon Taylor to dissect him. While performing, the doctor complained of the strong smell of musk, which I attributed to the ball he was in search of. The alligator measured eleven feet from tip of nose to end of tail. [Sidenote: May 18.] We sailed for the Havana. On June 6, as we passed in, close under the famous Moro, we were hailed through a huge brass trumpet, in some unintelligible jargon, which was replied to in much the same coin. [Sidenote: Havana, June 6.] I was now in the famous Havana, of which I had heard (and seen, as far as pictures go) so much at Quidenham. My grandfather, assisted by his brothers, General William and Commodore Augustus Keppel, had captured it in 1762. [Sidenote: June 13.] _Galatea_, 42. Sir Charles Sullivan, Bart., arrived from Carthagena; secured along the spritsail yard was the skin of a huge alligator. The Spanish Main was unhealthy, yet famous for the collection of dollars; but this gallant officer, the moment he had two of his crew down with fever, left the dollars for the next cruiser to collect. Sailed from the Havana on June 13 to rejoin the flag, arriving off the port on the evening of July 5: we had to wait for the next day’s sea-breeze to take us in. [Sidenote: July 6.]