NARRATIVE. IS5 



bell was sounded every half hour, accompanied by discordant cries 

 of " all's well." The annoyance of these nightly sounds would 

 alone have tempted me to let all the prisoners loose, covUd I have 

 done so with impunity. 



We found the Governor very gentlemanly, and speaking French 

 fluently. What his influence might be at St. Jago I know not, 

 but it did not even extend so far as to enable him to procure us a 

 bird at Bona Vista. He kept up some sort of form however, by 

 having an Orderly, who walked backwards and forwards through a 

 I'oom where he coidd be seen, or came to announce the alarming 

 approach of a ship's boat, or the anxious one of a fruit boat from 

 St. Jago, with despatches and oranges. We also saw a few 

 insignia of grandeur in perspective, such as a scarlet cloth, bordered 

 with black velvet, and thrown over a deal table. The secretary 

 too v/as always at hand about dinner or breakfast time, with liis 

 manuscript in his hand, for the Governor's perusal, which he 

 presented with the same air as a school-boy presents a Christmas 

 carol, written under the inspection of his wi-i ting-master. 



While the idea of ridicule is attached to every Portuguese 

 colony, from its poverty, and affectation of state, under a total 

 want of means to support even respectability, and pecuMar con- 

 tempt has been felt for that of the Cape de Verd Islands, from 

 the description given of it by Captain Tuckey, I must beg leave 

 to rescue the present Governor from the charges too justly laid 

 upon his predecessor, Don Antonio. INlr. Bowdich, myself, and 

 children, experienced every attention from him which he had the 

 power of besto\\ang, and, had he possessed the means, I believe he 

 would cheerfully have furthered Mr. Bowdich's views. But, 

 totally dependant on Senhor Manoel, away from his own residence, 

 without money, alarmed at the rebellion of his troops, and uncer- 

 tain of the effect it might have upon the powerful of his own 

 country, his Excellency must have been in a very unenviable state 



SB 



