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CHAP. IV. 



Voyage to St. Catherine s. — Description of that Island, and of the 

 Coast in its Vicinity. — Arrival at Santos, and Journey thence 

 to St. Paul's. 



my return to Monte Video, I lost no time in putting in exe- 

 cution my purposed voyage to Rio de Janeiro ; and as advices 

 had arrived, stating that considerable difficulty might attend the 

 entrance of an English ship into that port, I bottomried a Por- 

 tugueze vessel, called the Vencedor, and Avas joined by a party of 

 gentlemen whose business required them to visit the capital of 

 Brazil. 



In the beginning of September 1807, we had just embarked our 

 stock for this voyage, when an order for the immediate evacuation 

 of Monte Video by our troops was unexpectedly issued. As it had 

 been generally believed that a prolongation of the time for giving 

 up the place had been agreed on, the greatest hurry and confusion 

 prevailed in embarking the troops and stores, as w ell as the baggage 

 of individuals. About mid-day the whole was on board ; a signal- 

 gun was then fired for the Spanish troops to enter, and about three 

 in the afternoon we had the mortification to behold their flag 

 hoisted on the ramparts of this important military post and commer- 

 cial depot, which the British forces had, a short period before, so 

 bravely and so dearly won. 



Having still some purchases to make, I returned on shore, with 

 two of my friends, about four o'clock, but we had soon reason to 

 repent of our temerity, for on passing the mole we were noticed as 

 enemies and threatened severely, so that we found it necessary to 

 pass into the more private streets in order to avoid the malignant 



