96 



FORTER*S JOURNAL, 



pleased and astonished thdit Anglo-Americans, as they styled 

 us, could build, equip, and manage ships of so large a size* 



The governor, before he left the ship, invited myself and 

 officers to a party for the next evening, and expressed great 

 regrets that we had not arrived sooner, as they had had the 

 evening before great rejoicings, in consequence of a victor)"^ 

 gained by their troops over those of Peru. It seems that 

 a small, unimportant fortress, belonging to the latter, had 

 fallen into the hands of the Chihans. 



Our purchases of provisions went on as well as I could 

 desire, but our watering proceeded but slowly, as the only 

 place from whence we could procure it, was a small well 

 near the landing-place by the custom-house, which would 

 only admit of four or five casks being filled before it gave 

 out. We were then compelled to wait some time for the 

 water to run in, before we could fill any more; but as it 

 afforded a supply of from one thousand to fifteen hundred 

 gallons per day, I concluded to fix the period of our depari- 

 ure on the 22d, allowing one week to get ail our supplies. 



When we first arrived, a few boats came off with fruit, 

 and, as was the case at St. Catharines, the most exorbitant 

 prices were demanded for the most trifling article. How- 

 ever, as they continued to increase in numbers, I soon saw 

 that the evil would be speedily removed ; and permission 

 being given them to establish their market on board, our 

 supply was in a few hours as abundant, and at as low prices, 

 as in the market on shore. Nothing could exceed the ex- 

 cellence and abundance of the apples, pears, peaches, nec- 

 tarines, melons, onions, potatoes, and vegetables of every 

 description. The potatoes are superior in size and quahty 

 to those of any other country, and are indigenous. Tons 

 of the foregoing articles were sold to our people, wliich 

 were laid by as a sea stock, as well as hogs and poultry hi 

 great numbers, and of the best qualities. The fowls are of 

 the largest size, and of that kind called the China fowl, 

 %vhich were sold at the moderate price of two and a half 

 dollars per dozen ; indeed, I soon perceived that, unless I 

 placed some restrictions, my ship would be much encum- 

 bered with the stock on board her. I therefore, before my 

 departure, gave directions that all the hogs belonging to 

 the crew should be killed, except one for each mess ; and 

 this arrangement left upwards of one hundred hogs oi\ 



7 



