MONPOX. 109 



case alleviated by the hopes of reward, as 

 the government affords only a scanty al- 

 lowance of food on these occasions. Hence 

 the only chance the traveller has must de- 

 pend on liberal payment, and on obtaining 

 by recommendation an honest patron, who 

 will select the least villainous of the bogas. 

 Steam-boats will be of inestimable value 

 in this country. 



Monday, April 14. Embarked our lug- 

 gage at daylight, and left Monpox at eight 

 o'clock, after having had a great deal of 

 trouble with the patron, bogas, and even with 

 his excellency the governor, who sent an 

 order for us to take five passengers, which 

 we positively refused to do. One of the 

 intended voyagers, a non-commissioned 

 officer, got into the piragua, and I had 

 some trouble in turning him out. At sun- 

 set we made fast our piragua at Santa 

 Margarita, a small village only five leagues 



