Accidents > Dangers of the deep, or, Narratives of shipwreck and adventure at sea

240 KECEPTION BY THE SPANIARDS.
ur a little, though not to go out of the palace,
as they were pleased to call it. We dined
every day with the governor; but were not
very fond of his fast days, which succeeded
each other too quickly. I contrived to make
friends with his steward and cook, hy which
means I always carried my pockets full to my
apartment, where I passed my time very
agreeably. Soon after, we had leave to walk
about the town, or go wherever we pleased.
Every house was open to us; and though it
was but an hour after we had dined, they al¬
ways spread a table, thinking we never could
eat enough after what we had suffered; and
we were much of the same opinion. They
are, in general, a charitable, good sort of peo¬
ple, but very ignorant, and governed by their
priests, who make them believe just what
they please. The Indian language is chiefly
spoken here, even by the Spaniards one a-
mongst another; and they say they think it
a finer language than their own. The wo¬
men have fine complexions, and many of
them are very handsome; they have good
voices, and can strum a little upon the guitar;
but they have an ugly custom of smoking
tobacco, which is a very scarce commodity