AMERICAN SCHOONER AND CARGO. 23 



contemplating them for some time, and were 

 much amused by their half Portuguese, half 

 English sallies at our expense. 



The harbour of Port Praya abounds in fish ; 

 but although the people here were absolutely 

 starving, not more than one or two boats were 

 employed in fishing. I learned, however, that 

 the unfortunate natives, being all slaves, were 

 not allowed to keep canoes or boats of any kind, 

 lest they should take it into their heads to at- 

 tempt their escape to the African coast. If this 

 were really true, then had their owners to 

 answer for the double guilt of enslaving and 

 starving them ; and in the present instance they 

 most deservedly shared the evil arising from such 

 undue precaution, for disease and death were 

 making great havoc among the Portuguese as 

 well as the slave population, and both were alike 

 unable to avail themselves of that relief which 

 Providence had placed within their reach. 



A small American schooner was lying in the 

 bay at the time we were there, and I could not 

 help admiring the enterprise and spirit displayed 

 by Jonathan in venturing across the Atlantic in 

 such a craft. She had a cargo of what he called 

 " notions ;" which notions consisted of a deck- 



