Page:Life in Mexico vol 1.djvu/21



 Departure of the "Norma" — Last look of New York Bay — Fellow-passengers — Contrary Winds — Deceitful Appearances — Sunset in Southern Latitudes — Seas passed over by Columbus — Varied Occupations on Ship-board — Berry Islands — Bahama Banks — Evening in a Tropical Sea — L. E. L. — Pan of Matanzas — Morro Castle — Bay of Havana — Arrival — Handsome House in Havana — Sights and Sounds.

, Oct. 27th, 1839.

morning, at 10 o'clock, we stepped on board the steamboat Hercules, destined to convey us to our packet with its musical name. The day was foggy and gloomy, as if refusing to be comforted, even by an occasional smile from the sun. All prognosticated that the Norma would not sail to-day, but "where there's a will", &c. Several of our friends accompanied us to the wharf; the Russian Minister, the Minister of Buenos Ayres, Mr., who tried hard to look sentimental, and even brought tears into his eyes by some curious process; Judge ,