built of stone and lime, having the figures of idols and serpents painted on the walls.  On entering one of these temples, we could plainly perceive the traces of fresh spilt blood on one of the altars.  We saw likewise several strange idolatrous figures and symbolical paintings, altogether impressing us with horror and astonishment.  All this while the natives behaved peaceably, but collected in great numbers, apparently from curiosity, yet we stood upon our guard, remembering how we had been treated at the former place.  A body of the natives made their appearance, in very ragged dresses, each of whom carried a bundle of dry reeds, which they laid in a heap, and then retired.  Soon afterwards came two bodies of warriors, dressed and armed like those at the former place, each headed by a chief or captain, who drew up at some distance from us.  Immediately after this, ten priests rushed out from a neighbouring temple.  These men wore loose robes of white cotton, having their long hair clotted with blood, and all matted and twisted together.  They bore vessels in their hands containing fire and aromatics, with which they fumigated us, and made us to understand by signs, that they would put us to death if we did not quit their country before the fuel lying by us was consumed, which they now kindled and retired.  The warriors who were drawn up opposite us, began to make a noise, beating their drums, sounding their horns, and whistling with great violence.  Seeing these threatening preparations, we deemed it prudent to retreat to our boats, on board of which our water-casks had been already embarked, and returning to our ships we proceeded on our voyage.

We coasted along for six days, during which time we had a violent storm from the north, by which we were in great danger of being driven on shore.  We suffered much also from want of water, owing to the insufficiency of our casks, and were often obliged to go on shore to sink wells for our daily supply.  At the end of six days, we came opposite a town about a league from the shore, to which we determined to go, and came to anchor therefore as near as we could.  The name of this town was Pontonchon, in which we could see several buildings of stone and lime, and it appeared to be surrounded with fields of maize.  We landed, and having found a spring of water, we immediately began to fill our casks.  While busied in this necessary employment, several large bodies of warriors approached us in silence.  These men had their bodies covered to their knees with defensive armour of cotton; their faces were painted black, white, and red, and their heads were ornamented with plumes of feathers.  Besides bows, arrows, and slings, they had shields and two-handed swords.  These people addressed us in the same manner with those of Campechy, pointing to the east, and repeating Castillano, Castillano; to which we replied by signs that we came from the east, yet were much at a loss to know the intention of this inquiry, and whether to