14 CAPTAIN TUCKEY’S NARRATIVE 
From hence we were conducted to the house of the Go- 
vernor of the island, who we also found at dinner with his 
wife, several monks, and officers. The lady was a half-cast, 
and habited @ da negresse, that is, with nothing but a shift and 
petticoat, being the only female. ‘The Governor, who can 
make himself very well understood in English, immediately 
requested to be employed in procuring the refreshments we 
required ; at the same time taking great pains to convince 
us, that he had no interested motives in offering his services: 
to which, of course, we gave all due credit. Nevertheless, 
in order to avoid the delay I knew he might cause, and 
besides the trifling supplies we required being of little 
moment, I gave him an order for four bullocks and some 
pumpkins and oranges. This very disinterested officer, who 
wears the uniform and has the rank of colonel, is however 
one of the most sturdy beggars I ever met with, and com- 
menced his attack on our liberality, by telling the purser, 
that his wife desired him to ask if he could sell her some 
butter; but adding, that he knew English officers never sold, 
but only made compliment, This broad hint was followed up 
by wishes for porter, cheese, and potatoes; and the example 
of the Governor was followed by his guests; one of the of- 
ficers modestly asking me to sell him a pair of old epaulets ; 
another wished he could get a cocked hat; a third, a pair of 
