16 CAPTAIN TUCKEY’S NARRATIVE. 
Majesty’s ship Acteon, was mortally wounded in a drawn 
action with a French frigate. On the several high platform 
points that surround the bay are also mounted some 
guns, each of these posts being guarded by a single negro 
family. From the imposing appearance of these batteries, 
it is, doubtless, that the Governor-general expects that all 
vessels will notify their intention of sailing; nor could I 
refrain from a smile, when, after informing me that this was 
a necessary ceremony, even for ships of war, he assured me 
that on hoisting a flag, he would immediately make a signal 
to the batteries to let us pass!; perfectly satisfied as I was, 
that the vessels might be almost out of sight of the Island 
before a gun could be fired. 
The bay of Porto Praya, however, possesses the greatest 
capability of being strongly fortified against shipping, and 
the town might, by a simple wall in those places where the 
sides of the platform are not perpendicular, be secured 
from a coup de main. The town must however in this case 
be supplied with water from the rain collected in cisterns. 
There are here no regular European troops, a few officers ex- 
cepted, and the militia ; one of whom may be seen standing 
centinel every ten yards in the town, perfectly in character 
with the fortifications, this corps being composed of the most 
ragged, bare-legged, sans-culotte vagabond-lookingwretches 
