PAYtA. 



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many dollars to a North American whaler^ if he 

 would take me in his vessel to Panama ; but 

 he proposed a condition for following any 

 whales he might find on the passage ; and as 

 they are very common on the coast^ I could 

 not consent to join him in the chase^ with any 

 prospect of reaching that unhealthy climate in 

 time to escape the rains. 



I visited yesterday the sister of the President 

 of El Ecuador and her daughters, who, in conse- 

 quence of the troubles with which that state is 

 suffering, have come here to await in security 

 better times. This family, one of the best in 

 Guayaquil, was visited by Captain Hall, and I 

 found the lady, as he did, seated in her ham- 

 mock, swinging herself. She has considerable 

 talent, and spoke on politics with great energy 

 of manner, seeming to disapprove much of her 

 brother^s policy. Her daughters are pretty. 



