alcalde' of taboga. 



165 



in anticipation of such incidents. Nothing could 

 be better bestowed ; and after sitting for half an 

 hour, we rose to take leave : the whole party, 

 however, insisted on accompanying us to the 

 beach, where we were received by the rest of the 

 natives, who had all left the village, and assem- 

 bled to bid us good bye. They were a little sur- 

 prised, but seemed pleased when I invited the go- 

 vernor to accompany me on board; which he rea- 

 dily agreed to. He was received with all atten- 

 tion, shown round the ship, and finally compli- 

 mented with a salute of a few guns. His satisfac- 

 tion, and that of his attendants, at this honour, 

 and, indeed, of the whole inhabitants, many of 

 whom had come off in their canoes, was very 

 manifest, and exactly what I had hoped to pro- 

 duce. The occasion, indeed, was not a very im- 

 portant one; but it appeared nevertheless of 

 some consequence, in so remote a country, to re- 

 store the English to the good-will of these injur- 

 ed and unoffending people. I did not, there- 

 fore, stop to inquire, whether or not, in strict 

 etiquette, the governor was entitled to a salute of 

 three or four guns ; but I am quite sure the ob- 



