4 



Porter's Voyage 



of the cheapness and quahty. Nor would I advise the purchase 

 or contracts to be made the first day of the arrival ; if a salute 

 should be fired, in the course of a day or two the country people 

 flock in from all parts of the island, and the price of every article 

 is reduced one half. 



St. Jago produces^ besides every species of tropical fruits, 

 sugar, indigo, coffee of a superior quality and flavour, orchilla, a 

 vine for dyeing, which is a monopoly cf the crown, cotton, and 

 (during the fruitful seasons) corn in such considerable quantities, 

 as to enable them to make large exportations to Madeira and the 

 Canaries. Manufactories of a kind of cotton shawl, worn by the 

 women of the island, are carried on in almost every family. It is 

 remarkably neat, and consists of a number of narrow stripes, so 

 artfully joined as to render the seam scarcely perceptible. Cover- 

 lids of the same kind for beds are also made. 



On the 12th of December, about two, p.m., discovered a sail to 

 windward, which bore the appearance of a British brig of war ; 

 made all sail in chace of her, and at six she displayed a signal. 

 With a view of decoying her down to me, I displayed such British 

 signals as I became possessed of during my last cruise, but with- 

 out effect. At sun-set she hoisted British colours, and after dark 

 made her night signals. At nine we were within musket-shot, 

 and being desirous of doing her as little injury as possible, I gave 

 orders that the great guns should not be fired. I hailed her, and 

 directed her to lower her topsails, haul up her courses, and heave 

 to windward ; but as she attempted to run athwart my stern, 

 with a viewj as I supposed, to rake us and make her escape, I 

 directed a volley of musquetry to be fired, which, I am sorry to 

 say, killed one man on board her. She proved to be his majesty's 

 packet Nocton, bound to Falmouth, of ten guns, and thirty-one 

 men. I that night took out the prisoners, and a quantity of 

 specie found on board, amounting to about fifty-five thousand 

 dollars. 



On the afternoon of the 14th made the high peak (called the 

 Pyramid) of the island of Fernando de Noronha, under the lee 

 bow, and kept plying to windward, under easy sail, all night. 



The Portuguese island of Fernando de Noronha, is in latitude 

 3^ 54' 9S" south, and longitude 32« 36' 38" west from London, 

 It is well fortified in every part, and its population consists of a 

 few miserable, naked, exiled Portuguese, and as miserable a 

 guard. The governor is changed every three years, and during 

 his term of service in the island, has the privilege of disposing of 

 its produce to his own emolument. Cattle in abundance, hogs, 

 goats, fowls, &c., may be had there, as well as corn, melons, 

 cocoa-nuts, &c. Ships, formerly, frequently touched for refresh- 

 ments, wood, and water, but for seven months prior to the 



