NARRATIVE. 179 



the harts defective, we passed it twice, without even guessing at 

 its situation. This obliged us to spend another night on board, 

 with our provisions exhausted : we cheered ourselves, however, by 

 the comforts we expected to share on the morrow. 



The object of Mr. Bowdich's visit to Bona Vista, was to secure 

 the good offices of Senhor INIanoel Martins, not only to forward 

 his scientific researches, but to assist him in proceeding to the 

 river Gambia. This person, from the number of his slaves, his 

 possessions in the different islands, and his extensive commerce, 

 has acquired an influence and power, which render the Governor's 

 authority nominal. He had been sent as deputy for the Cape de 

 Verde Islands, to the Cortes, and upon the return of absolute 

 monarchy in Lisbon, as he was too powerful to affront, his services 

 were courted, to preserve tranquillity in these settlements. Cir- 

 cumstances, of a commercial and friendly nature, had given the 

 house of Keir in Madeira so strong a claim upon him, that we 

 delivered our letter of recommendation to the Harbour Master to 

 forward, in the fullest confidence that we should be in possession 

 of manifold comforts in a few hours : mid-day however arrived, and 

 no news from the shore ; and in the afternoon, completely worn 

 out with expectation and hunger, Mr. Bowdich took the first boat 

 he could get, and proceeded to Senhor Manoel's house. At seven 

 in the evening, having given up all thovights of landing till the 

 next day, I made a sailor's mess of a remnant of chocolate found in 

 a basket, and some of the Captain's biscuit and sandy sugar, for 

 which I insisted on paying; and although eaten out of the 

 saucepan, it was delicious to hungry mouths. At nine o'clock 

 Mr. Bowdich returned to the vessel, with a basket of fresh biscuit, 

 butter, wine, and oranges, generously supplied us by an EngUsh- 

 woman, who had been shipwrecked, and was with her husband, 

 waiting for an opportunity of returning to England. I was then 



informed, that the Governor and his whole suite were staying at 



2 A a 



