106 RIO NEGRO. 



the mean temperature of the climate at this season. It was found to be 

 70°, in a horizontal hole, twelve feet from the surface. 



On the 1st February, the Peacock, Porpoise, and tenders, were 

 engaged looking for their anchors ; the latter regained theirs, but the 

 former was lost, the buoy having sunk. 



El Carmen may be termed a convict settlement ; for culprits and 

 exiles are sent here from Buenos Ayres. The garrison is composed of 

 about two hundred soldiers, principally African and Brazilian slaves 

 brought here during the Banda Oriental war. Among them we found 

 a person who called himself an American, from Rhode Island, by name 

 Benjamin Harden, junior, who was desirous of claiming our protection. 

 He was of small stature, slender make, and a light complexion, with a 

 mild expression of countenance, and about thirty years of age. His 

 story was, that he had been by chance in Buenos Ayres at the time 

 when the government was in want of troops, and that he was seized 

 and compelled to enlist. On inquiring, however, of the governor, it 

 proved that he had been engaged in a riot at Buenos Ayres, in which 

 he had killed two or three men, and committed other outrages, for 

 which he had been condemned to death, but on the intercession of a 

 friend, the sentence was commuted to that of exile as a soldier at this 

 place. His farther history is, that not long since he formed the plan 

 of deserting with another convict, by seizing an English trading vessel, 

 in the absence of the captain and part of the crew, and making off with 

 her, which he was fully able to accomplish, being an excellent sailor. 

 The night however before the day fixed on for the execution of this 

 plan, he got intoxicated, discovered the whole design, and received the 

 severe punishment of twelve hundred lashes, at three different times. 



On the morning of the departure of the schooner, he effected his 

 escape from the town, and swam off to the schooner. He was recog- 

 nised by an officer, who knew his history in part, namely, that he had 

 become a robber and a murderer, and had been an outcast from his 

 father's house for fifteen years. He was told that he could not be 

 received on board, and a boat landed him again. 



On the 3d of February we got under way, and were glad to leave 

 so exposed and unpleasant an anchorage. 



On the 4th and 5th, we experienced a heavy sea from the south- 

 ward, with much wind. 



Finding the tenders were much distressed while keeping company 

 with the ships in the heavy sea, I made signal to them to make the 

 best of their way to Orange Harbour, judging that I should thus save 

 much time, as well as great wear and tear to the vessels : they would 



