FQRTER'S JOURNAL. 



19 



saluting battery, and another in as bad a state on the west 

 point of the bay. The whole number of guns amounts to 

 thirty ; and for them chiefly they are indebted to a Portu- 

 guese frigate that was lost by the negligence of her officers 

 about three years since. Port Praya could be taken, and 

 every gun spiked, by thirty men. 



An abundance of fish may be caught with the hook and 

 line along side, and with the seine on the beach, where we 

 hauled every morning during our stay. One afternoon, at 

 the particular request of the governor, when himself and 

 the ladies of his family, as well as ail the other white ladies 

 of the town, consisting altogether of seven, besides the white 

 and coloured officers, attended. We were not at that time 

 so fortunate as we were afterwards ; we however caught 

 enough to affi^rd them a mess, which I caused to be carried 

 to their houses. A very good amusement may be had in the 

 bay, by rowing with a small boat across the mouth, and tow- 

 ing a Ime with a hook fastened on with wire, and baited with 

 small fish, for the purpose of catching baracoutas. The 

 best time is in the dusk of tlie evenmg, and at day-light in 

 the morning. 



On the 29th after dinner, the governor visited the ship, 

 with the ladies of his family and all the officers of the gar- 

 rison, black and white ; on his leaving us I caused a salute 

 of eleven guns to be fired. He was much pleased with the 

 attentions paid him, and next day spoke of it with renewed 

 offers of civility. I sent him, as well as Medina, a barrel of 

 flour 'and pork, with some other small articles, and in re- 

 turn he sent me off six fine turkeys. From the favourable 

 disposition of the governor and officers of the government, 

 as well as the facility of procuring refreshments, I would 

 recommend Port Praya as an excellent place for our ships 

 to stop for supplies. The bay is of easy access, and when 

 the anchor is once settled in the bottom, is perfectly safe* 

 It is necessary, however, to give the ship half a cable before 

 you check her, or the anchor is not likely to take hold, and 

 there is danger of her going on the rocks of Quail Island, as 

 was the case with the Portuguese frigate. 



As the governor hinted to me that a letter from me to our 

 minister at the court of Brazil would be agreeable to hii|i, I 

 wrote such a one as I thought would be flattering to him, and 

 sent it on sborej informing him of my intentions to sail that 



