CHAPTER VIII. 



MANILLA. 

 1 842. 



At daylight, on the 13th of January, we were again under way, 

 with a light air, aiid at nine o'clock reached the roadstead, where we 

 anchored in six fathoms water, with good holding-ground. Being 

 anxious to obtain our letters, which, we were informed at Oahu, had 

 been sent to Manilla, I immediately despatched two boats to procure 

 them. On their way to the mole, they were stopped by the captain 

 of the port, Don Juan Salomon, who ordered them, in a polite manner, 

 to return, and informed the officers that, agreeably to the rules of the 

 port, no boat was permitted to land until the visit of the health-officer 

 had been made, &c. 



The captain of the port, in a large barge, was soon seen pulling 

 off in company with the boats. He boarded us with much ceremony, 

 and a few moments sufficed to satisfy him of the good health of the 

 crew, when he readily gave his assent to our visiting the shore. 

 Every kind of assistance was offered me, on the part of the govern- 

 ment, and he, in the most obliging manner, gave us permission to go 

 and come when we pleased, with the simple request that the boats 

 should wear our national flag, that they might at all times be known, 

 and thus be free from any interruption by the guards. The boats 

 were again despatched for the consul and letters, and after being 

 anxiously watched for, returned ; every one on board ship expecting 

 his wishes to be gratified with news from home; but, as is usual on 

 such occasions, the number of the happy few bore no comparison 

 to that of the many who were disappointed. 



Our vice-consul, Josiah Moore, Esq., soon paid us a visit, and gave 

 us a pressing invitation to take up our quarters on shore while we 



vol. v. 74 



