( 323, ) 



to the north of the Alboroxos*, to keep in-shore, as the land-breeze 

 frequentl}^ blows along-shore until mid-day. The ports on this coast 

 are in general good and secure, nevertheless it is highly desirable to 

 be provided with good anchors and cables, particularly in the Rio de 

 la Plata. In the Portugueze territories the port-charges are not so 

 expensive as formerly ; a dollar per day is exacted for anchorage, 

 which forms the principal charge. I particularly recommend that 

 all homeward-bound ships should lay in a sufficiency of necessary 

 stores, especially of water, so as to make the passage without being 

 obliged to go into the Western Isles, as there the port-charges and 

 attendant expences are very exorbitant, though the only articles 

 wanted are a few casks of water, and a hundred weight or two of 

 bread. 



For loading vessels, peculiar boats, so frequently used in the West 

 Indies, are by no means wanted in these ports, though good boats 

 are always absolutely necessary. Ships are loaded in Rio de Ja- 

 neiro, and other ports of Brazil, as well as in the Plata, by lighters, 

 which are very expensive, and difficult to be procured when many 

 ships are loading. 



When a vessel enters any of the ports, the health-boat and custom- 

 boat make a visit before she anchors, and their report is immediately 

 made ; after which, proper officers, called guards, are sent on board. 

 These men in general are not very liberally provided for ; they are 

 extremely civil and accommodating, and ought to be treated with 

 respect. Since the establishment of the treaty of commerce between 

 this government and that of Brazil, the contraband trade has been 

 almost done away ; for the duties are now much reduced, and the 

 accommodation which the judge and subordinate officers of the cus- 



* It has been found, however, from modern surveys, that those rocks are by no means so 

 dangerous as they have been represented. 



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