The boat belonged to them; it was not more than fifteen feet long, but big enough to accommodate five people. After an hour's sail along the coast we stopped to see the place where the American colony was to be. It was a lovely spot. The first house was being built. The owner complained bitterly that the native workmen did as little as possible, and charged twice as much as they usually received from their own people.
Further down the coast we stopped at a plantation belonging to Señor Angulo. We had an opportunity to see immense fields of garlic, ginger, sweet potatoes, and sago: from this last article excellent starch is made. These productions are exported principally to British Honduras, Island Mugeres, and Cuba; a little to the mainland, particularly to Campeche: boats coming from the islands seldom touch at Progreso.
Near Mr. Angulo's habitation we saw a cave only three feet high, within which there is a square room built of comparatively large stones, and having vestiges of colored designs on the outside. In this cave we found the frontal bone of a skull. Judging by its size, one would take it to be that of a child six years old, but its extreme thickness and the condition of the sutures, show that it was that of an adult.
