On September 2 arrived at Port Royal, and commenced final refit before going to Spanish Main, dollar-hunting. [Sidenote: Sept. 6.] The _Lord Sidmouth_ mail-packet sailed for England, and _Ferret_, with convoy flag, for Chagres. [Sidenote: Sept. 21.] Arrived _Countess of Chichester_ packet, with mail from Falmouth. [Sidenote: Sept. 23.] We sailed. [Sidenote: Oct. 5.] Came to in Vera Cruz, moored with B. B., down stream to the Castle. [Illustration: _Vera Cruz._] [Sidenote: Oct. 18.] While dollars were being piled sailed on a cruise. [Sidenote: Oct. 27.] On the 27th becalmed about 150 miles south-west of the Mississippi in 40 fathoms water, and had some excellent sport; cod-fish at the bottom seized both baits as they reached them. About 12 fathoms below the surface sharks abounded; the sea was as clear as glass: the fun was to steer your hooked fish through them. But a shark is a lazy brute, likes to know something about what he is going to eat; the deep-sea shark is always attended by a pilot-fish, who makes his report. [Sidenote: Nov. 17.] Arrived at Port Royal; not much to do. [Sidenote: Nov. 26.] Towed out of harbour into sea-breeze. [Sidenote: Mexico, Vera Cruz, Dec. 6.] Made the beautiful snow-capped mountain of Orizaba. Moored between roadstead and St. Juan d’Ulloa. Our Captain having decided that he would carry cochineal as well as dollars, the main-deck guns were run in and the carriages secured fore and aft. The half-ports caulked in, leaving the lower deck cleared for cargo, crew consoling themselves by the absence of gun-drill and the comfort of an airy deck. In fact, on arriving on the station, hammocks by general consent were dispensed with. I, as well as the rest, had for two years no other bed than the deck, with jackets rolled up for a pillow. [Sidenote: 1827. Jan. 1.] Lieutenant Christopher Smith and self availed ourselves of the repeated kind invitations of Colonel Dashwood to visit him at Xalapa, to us a strange country not without its excitements. We were glad of the chance to get above the sickly Tierra Caliente. Xalapa stands on table-land some 4300 feet above the level of the sea, distant twenty-two leagues. Our conveyances were a sort of flat palanquins, supported between long shafts with a mule at each end: mounted armed guides and mules with luggage completed our caravan. On account of the heat, we did not start until sunset. The first half of our journey was along a sandy desert infested by brigands, to protect us from which we paid our guides extra; of course, at one part of the night we were told to keep our pistols ready. Convoys are necessary for the frequent conveyance of dollars from Mexico, and of which business men take advantage, coming and returning.