64 THE GBUISE OF THE ' GUBAQOA.' 



races and various festivities which were described to us. 

 We met at his house the chief of tlie phnce, a very com- 

 mon-looking person, who did not open his mouth in our 

 presence. 



Mr. WiUiams appears to be thoroughly quahficd for liis 

 position. He takes a proper and deep interest in tlie just 

 and equitable treatment of the natives, for which, as we 

 may easily conceive, he does not obtain the thanks of those 

 settlers whose only object is to make profit and capital out 

 of them.^ No man, it is allowed, understands the native 

 character better than he does ; a knowledge which renders 

 him eminently qualified to assist and direct their develop- 

 ment. 



It was raining when tlie Commodoi-e and myself left 

 Ml'. Williams, but we took a short walk on the shore until 

 Sir William thought it tinae to return on board. Our 

 attention was drawn to tlie traces of the damage done by 

 one of those terrible hurricanes to which the island is now 

 and then exposed. A small carriage-way on the edge of 

 the bay had been so completely covered over with black 

 sand that they had not yet had time to clear it. At a place 

 near the reef, and not far from our anchorage, were visible 

 the masts of a Hambui-g bark, which had gone down at 

 anchor with all her crew dviring the same storm, in January 

 1865. In the hope of recovering the oil with which the 



' We are indebted to lii.s kindness for the communicaHon of several 

 notices respecting the South American slave-traders. 



