NARRATIVE. 1^7 



the bay, as we entered the dinner-room, IVIr. Bowdich and I sat 

 in a quiet corner, and witnessed the whole eifeet. The excessive 

 agitation of the Governor was evinced by his rubbing his forehead, 

 pacing up and down the room in the most hurried manner, every 

 five minutes looking through the telescope ; and was finely con- 

 trasted with the coolness and security of our powerfvd host. A 

 boat was sent with the cadets, secretary, and orderly, to receive 

 the officers and the news, and soon a general rush to the door 

 announced its return. Mutual embraces and exclamations were 

 succeeded by the production of two crimson silk bags. The Gover- 

 nor instantly retired with his, and Senhor Manoel was quietly 

 examining his own, and giving out the private letters before he 

 thought of those which concerned himself, when his Excellency 

 rushed back, hugged him round the neck, and congratulated him 

 on the receipt of a fresh order of knighthood, the badge of which 

 was accordingly tied on with a smart blue ribbon, by the Governor 

 himself, and a few minutes after, was subjected to the inspection 

 of my young, greasy friend, above-mentioned, whose father, it 

 seemed, thought it more fit to please his child than himself; and 

 the next morning wisely resumed his coloured cotton jacket, 

 observing, that if his sovereign had rewarded his services with a 

 hundred pounds, he would have kept on a cloth coat for a few 

 days. The bearer of the despatches, who was the Governor's aid- 

 de-camp, was very pleasing both in manner and person, and as he 

 brought approbation with him, was welcomed with an ardour 

 which was very entertaining to Enghsh sang froid. The party 

 was soon increased by the addition of all the Portuguese of the 

 place, to receive inteUigence ; most of them had letters, the interest- 

 ing parts of which they read aloud, even when they concerned 

 none but themselves ; exclamations of surprise and joy were 

 mingled with the inquiries of those who received no news ; the 



2 B3 



