Page:Here and there in Yucatan - miscellanies (IA herethereinyucat00lepl 0).djvu/75

 some remained drinking till unable to move, being consequently drowned at flood-tide.

The inhabitants of San Pedro, a fishing settlement on the Island of Ambergris, at the south end of Yucatan, heard of the wreck. They are half pirates, and at once started off for a share of the spoils. The Indians, always hostile to strangers, received them with bullets; they could not reach the ship. When the Indians abandoned it, leaving in it what they could not carry, they retired from the beach. The people of San Pedro and Island Mugeres had been keeping a sharp look-out; they now came for the rest of the cargo.

They were not molested, and found costly dry goods and other valuable articles, also casks of fine wine and vinegar. In the hold there were many dead Indians.

Having loaded their boats they were about to start for home, when they saw that a storm was at hand. The captains decided that it would not do to venture out to sea until it passed over. Joaquin Carballo, owner of the Triunfo, said he was more afraid of the Indians who might arrive, than of the storm. Contrary to the advice of his companions he put to sea, and was never heard of again.

Three miles north of Tancah, at a place called