GUAYAQUIL. 



lot addressed the helmsman^ and received his re- 

 ply : not the least noise was heard but the plash 

 of the sounding lead, and the dripping of the dew 

 from the rigging and sails on the decks. The 

 flood tide, which we had caught, just at the turn, 

 on entering the river, served to carry us quite up 

 to the town, a distance of forty miles : and at four 

 o''clock, after passing the whole night in this 

 wild and solemn sort of navigation, we anchored 

 amongst the shipping off the city. As the day 

 broke, the houses gradually became visible ; pre- 

 senting to the eye forms and proportions, which 

 varied at every moment, as fresh light came in to 

 dissipate the previous illusions. At length this 

 old city stood before us, in fine picturesque confu- 

 sion. 



I had aletter of introduction to a gentleman who 

 received me in the easy style of the country, and 

 at once undertook to put us in the way of procuring 

 fresh provisions and other supplies ; carried me to 

 the Governor's to pay the usual visit of ceremony, 

 and afterwards offered to introduce my officers 

 and myself to some families of his acquaintance. 

 We were somewhat surprised, on entering the 



