ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 



1051 



we were doing on the plank-woik 

 I have mentioned, we had the satis- 

 faction or seeing a servant approach 

 with a lamp, oil, and a large jar of 

 water ; and the door was scarcely 

 closed, before I was again sum- 

 moned to the grated hole by an 

 officer from the governor, with 

 money for my weekly allowance, at 

 the rate of a crusado each per day, 

 and another entire new lamp, with 

 cotton for supplying it. These ap- 

 pearances again depressed me, and 

 took away the latent hope I had in- 

 dulged from my written petitions. 



" Night had now taken place, 

 and by the lamp we discoTcred a 

 new source of annoyance, that 

 chilled us to the very heart ; several 

 centipedes were crawling on the 

 wails, and a number of large spiders 

 came out of their holes, that were 

 apparently venomous, while an im- 

 mense quantity of brown locusts 

 (the same as the common ones in 

 India, only larger) swarmed over the 

 Tault, Hying against us in every di- 

 rection, and dropping from its roof 

 on ou- bodies. The plank-work 

 and bedding were covered, but we 

 had no remedy, and were fain to lie 

 down in the midst of them. To 

 sleep appeared impossible, and the 

 more so from a number of rats that 

 chased each other, and were very 

 noisy, in seeming resentment of our 

 intrusion into their dismal abode : 

 but in spite of all these inconveni- 

 iMicos, the care and trouble of the 

 day bore me down ; 1 bent to my 

 bitter destiny, and towards midnight 

 closed my weary eyc-lids. Mrs. 1^. 

 was not so fortunate ; in half slum- 

 bers, weary dozes, and frightful 

 dreams, she passed the night, and 

 arose in a slight fever. 



" When I awoke, in the morning, 

 a few scattered sun beams entered 



onr grating. I rose in rather better 

 spirits, but I found my breast op- 

 pressed with breathing the foul air, 

 and 1 felt a headach and dizziness. 

 After a slight refreshment, the rays 

 of lis;ht becoming stronger, I was 

 tempted to a more accurate survey 

 of the dungeon. It was far below 

 the level of the fort ; the door was 

 composed of heavy timber, plated 

 inside and outside, with iron bars, 

 strongly bolted through the whole; 

 and adjoining the door, the wall in 

 front of the arch was six sect in 

 thickness. Entering the door, three 

 steps kd to the vault, which was 

 about dfty feet long, nine broad, 

 and the same in height ; the plank 

 work extended thirtj' feet, a narrow 

 passage running along one side to 

 the end of this work, where the 

 vault was left to its full space for 

 some yards, terminating apparently 

 in the centre of the tower. Beyond 

 its termination was a dark arched 

 recess, in Avhich a large hole led to 

 the sea beneath: a door closed the 

 entrance to this recess ; on opening 

 of which, such a variety of vermin 

 appeared, that I soon closed it again, 

 in shuddering. The dungeon was 

 so damp in every part, that we could 

 already feel it on our clothes and 

 bedding. We certainly cannot exist 

 long in this situation, and w." only 

 look to a me rciiul Providence for 

 relief. 



" The Serjeant who had carried 

 my letters returned about eleven, 

 w ith information, that the covernor 

 had sent my letter for translation, 

 but the commandant Bras Cardozo 

 was not at home. He had scarcely 

 finished his report, when we were 

 most agreeably surprised by seeing 

 the commandant himself enter, with 

 two orderly Serjeants, and pass to 

 captaiji Velozo's house : he almost 



3 V J instantly 



