16 



PORTER'S JOURNAL. 



27th, in the morning, we were between the isles of Maya 

 and St. Jago, On the sides of the mountains of the latlei* 

 we could perceive several villages, and large flocks of goats, 

 but the arid appearance of the soil scarcely left us the hope 

 that it would alFord us the refreshments we required, as no 

 vegetable or tree of any description could be perceived by 

 us, except a few scattering cocoa-nut trees. The island had 

 altogether a most dreary and uncultivated appearance, and 

 I had partly determined in my ovm mind only to look into 

 the road of Praya, to see if there were any of our ships of 

 war there, as this was the first rendezvous fixed on by com- 

 modore Bainbridge. At 2 P. M. rounded to the east point 

 of Port Praya, and stretched into the harbour, showing the 

 American colours, the Portuguese being displayed on a 

 flashy flagstaff erected on a hill at one corner of the ruins of 

 a fort, in the bottom of the bay, and in front of the town. 

 Pevceiving no vessels in the bay except a small Portuguese 

 schooner, I hauled offj but being desirous of procuring 

 some information respecting the commodore, as this was the 

 day appointed by him to leave this place for Fernando de 

 Noronha, I concluded on sending lieutenant Downes ashore., 

 with a person who could speak the Portuguese language ; 

 and as a pretext for so doing, I directed him to state to the 

 governor that we were an American frigate wanting sup- 

 plies, to request his permission to obtain them, to inform 

 him I should fire a salute provided he would return gun for 

 gun, and that I should, provided I anchored, take the ear- 

 liest opportunity of making my respects to him. On the: 

 return of Mr. Downes, he informed me that the governor 

 could not be seen, as he had gone to take his afternoon nap, 

 but that the lieutenant-governor, or second in command, 

 informed him we could obtain every supply we stood in 

 need of ; that the salute should be returned gun for gun 5 

 that the governor would be happy to see me on shore ; ex- 

 pressed his astonishment that I should have asked permis- 

 sion to come in ; and concluded with an offer of his servi- 

 ces in procuring the supphes we might want. Mr. Downes 

 informed me that no government vessels of war had been 

 at Praya ; that the American privateer Yankey, from Bos- 

 ton, and another privateer from Salem, and an armed Bri- 

 tish schooner, had been there not long since. I conse- 

 <|uently concluded on stopping a few days, and, during the 



