ns ANNUAL REGISTER, 1810. 



rately may therefore appear not 

 altogether so extraordinary. 



" At this season water sports 

 are also common, and Dory racing 

 affords a very general amusement; 

 and on these occasions large sums 

 are freely betted both by owners 

 and slaves. This species of diver- 

 sion has no small share of utility 

 attached to it, as it contributes to 

 render the latter highly expert in 

 a kind of exercise that is insepa- 

 rably connected with the labour 

 in which they are principally en- 

 gaged. 



"The Dory is usually formed of 

 mahoganyor cedar, generally from 

 a solid piece ; its length is from 

 25 to 50 feet ; and so l>uo3'ant and 

 safe is this sort of vessel found, 

 that persons accustomed to the 

 management of it often fearlessly 

 venture out to sea in it, and in 

 weather when it might be unsafe 

 to trust to vessels of much larger 

 kind. It is worked with paddles 

 instead of oars, and the fastest and 

 best-manned rowing boats have 

 universally failed in a competition 

 with it, and the negro paddlers 

 of Honduras. 



" The Pit-pan is another water 

 vehicle much used in this country, 

 and for celerity is preferred to the 

 former ; but this can only be em- 

 ployed in smooth water. It is 

 formed of the same materials, the 

 shape alone constituting the dif- 

 ference — the Pit-pan being flat- 

 bottomed, the Dory round. Much 

 taste is displayed by all orders in 

 fitting out both these conveyances, 

 and as they afford the only oppor- 

 tunities of travelling in this coun- 

 try, every expedient is resorted to 

 to render them pleasant and com- 

 modious. They are commonly 

 furnished with capacious awnings, 



hung round with curtains to de- 

 fend the passenger from the sutt 

 by day and the dews of night ; 

 precautions that are extremelyne- 

 cessary ; for in journeying to the 

 distant mahogany works, an abode 

 for some time must frequently be 

 taken up in them, and when any 

 exposure in an unhealthy climate 

 might be attended with evil con- 

 sequences." 



In giving the natural history of 

 this settlement, captain Hender- 

 son has evinced uncommon mi- 

 nuteness and accuracy ; and the 

 naturalist will meet with nume- 

 rous interesting varieties in the 

 different kingdoms. The remain- 

 der of the volume is occupied 

 with an account of the manners, 

 customs, and country of the Mos- 

 quito Indians, and terminates with 

 a meteorological table kept at Ba- 

 lize in the bay of Honduras. 



We have dwelt the longer on 

 this little volume, not merely on 

 account of the importance of the 

 British settlement to which it re- 

 lates, but also because it brings 

 before the English reader a vari- 

 ety of curious and valuable infor- 

 mation, in an unassuming, yet 

 agreeable manner. We cordially 

 recommend the work to the atten- 

 tion of our readers. 



The History o/ Brazil ; bj/ Robert 

 Southey, Part I. 4to. 



There are few provinces in li- 

 terature, which Mr. Southey has 

 not successfully invaded : of his 

 poetical talentsourpresentvolume 

 contains some brilliant specimens; 

 and most of our readers, we ap- 

 prehend, are well acquainted with 



