FROM PLYMOUTH TO TENERIFFE. 105 



also done all that was in his power for the Ru- 

 rick, and I consider it my duty to thank him pub- 

 licly for it. My first visit was to the Governor 

 (w^hose name I have, unfortunately, not noted), 

 who received me very politely, and offered to lend 

 me all the assistance he was able. This gentleman 

 was long in Russia, and seems to be partial to the 

 Russians ; he fought under Prince Nassau, as Spa- 

 nish colonel, in tlie galley fleet at Biorko, against the 

 Swedes, and received, as a reward for his courage, 

 the Order of St. George of the fourth class, with 

 which, he says, the Empress Catherine decorated 

 him herself. The Governor then invited me for 

 the following day, and I hastened to M. Colu- 

 guan, to whom my credentials were addressed. 

 This hospitable man, of whom so many travellers 

 speak with the warmest praise, was at Oratava ; his 

 secretary charged himself with my commissions 

 with the greatest readiness ; they consisted chiefly 

 in purchasing a sufficient quantity of wine for my 

 officers and crew, which he promised me should all 

 be executed in two days. In the mean time, the 

 worthy M. Coluguan, with the assistance of his 

 men and boats, brought my provisions on board j 

 and I was in hopes of leaving TenerifFe in three 

 days, though I should have much liked to have 

 made a longer stay ; but the recollection of Cape 

 Horn deterred me from it, on account of the late- 

 ness of the season. M. VonChamisso and Dr. Esch- 

 scholtz made use of these few days for a journey 



