122 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AlVIERICA 



engage the attention of an explorer, or civilized 

 enough to afford common comforts to a traveller. 

 By sea there were no opportunities, except slave 

 ships. As the transporting poor negroes from 

 port to port for sale pays well in Brazil, the ships' 

 decks are crowded with them. This would not do. 



Excuse here, benevolent reader, a small tribute 

 of gratitude to an Irish family, wliose urbanity 

 and goodness have long gained it the esteem and 

 respect of all ranks in Pernambuco. The kindness 

 and attention I received from Dennis Kearney, 

 Esq., and his amiable lady, will be remembered 

 with gratitude to my dying day. 



After mshing farewell to this hospitable fam- 

 ily, I embarked on board a Portuguese brig, with 

 poor accommodation, for Cayenne in Guiana. The 

 most eligible bedroom was the top of a hen-coop 

 on deck. Even here, an unsavoury little beast, 

 called bug, was neither shy nor deficient in appe- 

 tite. 



The Portuguese seamen are famed for catching 

 fish. One evening, under the line, four sharks 

 made their appearance in the wake of the vessel. 

 The sailors caught them all. 



