CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 13 



PORTO PRAYA. 



In the afternoon I went on shore, accompanied by several 

 of the gentlemen, to wait on the Captain- general of the 

 islands, who now resided at Porto Praya. On entering the 

 gateway of the town, for gate there was none, we were con- 

 ducted by a negro, to a white-washed house, of tolerably 

 decent external appearance, when contrasted with the 

 miserable hovels that surround it, and on being announced 

 by a ragged centinel, were ushered up a ladder into a large 

 apartment, the rafters, floor, and wainscot of which were as 

 rough as they came from the sawpit ; without paint, or other 

 decoration, save some daubed prints of the Virgin and 

 Saints. Here we found the General at dinner with a large 

 company, among whom were half a dozen greasy monks, 

 wrapped in frize (the thermometer at 84°), whose jolly 

 figures and cheerful countenances denoted any thing but 

 abstinence and penance. The General's lady, a comely 

 European Portuguese, drest. a I'inglaise, was the only 

 female at table, and sat on the right hand of her husband. 

 Not having had any arrivals from Portugal for four months, 

 the General was very inquisitive as to the political appear- 

 ances in Europe, and as he spoke tolerable French, I was 

 able to satisfy him. 



