28 
MESURIL. 
on state days, has two or three black slaves in attendance, who 
appear almost overwhelmed by the pressure of the golden orna- 
ments with which they are encumbered, remnants of the splen- 
dour once attending these Viceroys of Eastern Africa. Upon the 
whole, the day passed away as pleasantly as can be imagined 
without the society of ladies, whom it is difficult even to get a 
sight of in this Settlement. 
On the ensuing day Captain Fisher and myself set out at day- 
break with the Governor in his state-barge rowed by native 
blacks, with paddles like the boats in India, on a visit to Mesuril, 
l^^ing nearly at the bottom of the bay about three leagues dis- 
tant from the town, where the Governor has a country residence. 
The appearance of the house on the approach^ by water (vide the 
annexed view) is extremely beautiful. It is situated on a high 
bank at no great distance from the beach, with a small garden 
in front forming a kind of terrace, from which a double flight of 
steps leads down to a grove of lemon, orange, citron and papaw 
trees, which were at this time bending with the weight of their 
fruit. On its eastern side and at the back of it rises a thick forest 
of cocoa-nut, mango, cashew ( Anicardium occidentale) and other 
lofty trees, and on the western side is a flight of steps leading up 
from the sea-side to the house. The house itself is not very large, 
consisting of one range of apartments only, almost destitute 
of furjiiture ; but^ the agreeableness of the situation, and the hos- 
pitality with which we were treated left vis nothing to desire, 
after the inconveniences of a voyage. 
When breakfast was finished the party set out on a shooting 
excursion, taking for the accommodation of such as did not prefer 
