A VOYAGE TO 



a great profusion of ornaments and gilding through 

 the chapel^ and behind the altar a picture of the royal 

 family, no way remarkable for design or execution. 

 The priest who had been officiating, a man of gigan- 

 tic stature, and exhibiting strong indications of hav- 

 ing been well fed, brushed hastily past us towards 

 the door, with long strides, in order to take a look at 

 our frigate which was then firing a salute; he was 

 careful however, although in great haste, and his 

 mind occupied with the idea of powder and smoke, 

 to bow his knee before a crucifix which he had tq 

 pass. 



The day after our arrival we went by invitation of 

 our minister, Mr. Sumpter, to dine at his house, si- 

 tuated in the direction of the sugar loaf, and at the 

 distance of about three miles from our anchorage. 

 We were rowed in the barge into a beautiful little 

 sandy bay of a circular form, with a clear smooth re. 

 gular beach, and bordered by very handsome country 

 retreats, all built since the arrival of the king, since 

 which time, improvements of every kind, are said to 

 have advanced with prodigous rapidity. There is 

 here a small level plain at the foot of the mountains, 

 and similar to those of which I have spoken as being 

 very numerous around this magnificent harbor, which 

 in following its indents, is said to be nearly two hun- 

 dred miles in circumference. We were received by 

 Mr. Sumpter with the pleasure which is natural to sup- 

 pose would be felt by him, on meeting his countrymen 

 at so great a distance from the United States, while 

 the satisfaction on our part was scarcely less. Mrs. 

 Sumpter we were informed had retired to an elevated 

 part of the mountain some twelve miles off, on account 



