^08 A VOYAGE TO 



to the end of the tail, was six feet four inches in girth, 

 and probably weighed, at least one thousand pounds. 



The calm continued until the afternoon of the next 

 day, when a breeze springing up, the anchor was 

 weighed, and we proceeded up the river. It was not 

 long before we discovered the hill above the town, which 

 gives its name to the place. We next discovered the 

 town at a distance, and the cathedral, the most con- 

 spicuous object in it. The frigate came to anchor in 

 four fathoms water, soft mud, the fort on the top of 

 the mount, bearing, by compass, north-west; the cathe- 

 dral north-east by north. Point Brava, east by north, 

 distant from land a league or upwards. 



We could discern a number of vessels lying in the 

 harbor, but chiefly of a small size, excepting a Portu- 

 guese frigate, an Indiaman, (which had lately been re- 

 leased by the government of Buenos Ayres) and some 

 light vessels of war. We observed the patriot flag on 

 one or two small sloops. The trade of this place be- 

 ing almost annihilated, induced us to believe, that the 

 greater part of the vessels we saw belonged to the 

 Portuguese invading force. The business of war, hav- 

 ing in this town, completely taken the place of the 

 peaceful pursuits of commerce. 



Looking at the town from a distance, it seems to 

 stand upon a projecting point, or promontory; and a 

 point running out from the base of the hill before men- 

 tioned, forms with the first, a spacious basin, but too 

 shoal to be considered a good harbor; and raoreoverj 

 not affording complete protection, from all the winds 

 that sweep across this vast country of plains. The 

 town is compactly built, exhibits no mean appear 

 ance; and might contain fifteen or twenty thousand in- 



