THE TOQUE. 



35 



on shore upon the south sand-bank of the har- 

 bour of Itamaraca. She had been chased by an 

 English ship of war, under the supposition that 

 she was an American, and the merchant vessel 

 was also acting under the same idea regarding 

 the pursuer. The master made for the harbour 

 of Itamaraca and ran the vessel ashore ; and the 

 mistake under which both of them had been 

 acting was not cleared up until the ship of war 

 sent a boat on board. She floated at the height 

 of the tide, and proceeded to Recife without 

 much damage. Many of the people of Itama- 

 raca put off in their jangadas, for the purpose of 

 rendering every assistance in their power, and 

 were very indignant at the crew refusing to admit 

 any of them on board. This, I suppose, pro- 

 ceeded from the fear of being plundered, and of 

 salvage being claimed, as occurs frequently upon 

 the coast of Ireland in cases of distress. But 

 far from any mischief being intended, I am con- 

 fident that a mere trifle (a few gallons of rum 

 for instance) would have satisfied those who 

 went to offer to assist. 



After my removal in April to the Toque, for 

 so my new dwelling was called, I led a life of 

 quietude ; and to one who has not known other 

 countries, and does not feel that a residence in 

 Brazil is a species of banishment, it would be a 

 life of great happiness. I went out young, and 

 therefore had few unpleasant feelings of this kind 

 u 2 



