56 
ARRIVAL AT ST. VINCENT ISLAND. 
populous. Viera says, that in Grand Canary there 
were no less than ninety thousand souls. The law did 
not permit polygamy. Previous to marriage, the 
fiancee was shut up for thirty days ; during which time, 
she was fed on choice viands, in order that she might 
attain the condition of embonpoint, which would be her 
principal attraction in the eyes of the husband. 
Friday, May — Sailed from Teneriffe. Our 
voyage of six days to the Cape de Verd islands was 
as devoid of interest as the preceding. Being in 
the trade wind, w^e went before it all the way, and 
arrived at Porto Grande in the island of St. Vincent on 
the 3rd of June, where we found Her Majesty’s steamer 
' Soudan’ and the * Harriot’ transport, w^hich had been 
here since tlie 22nd of May. They experienced a 
severe gale in the Bay of Biscay. The ‘ Harriot’ lost 
some spars off deck, and part of her bulwarks. The 
‘ Soudan,’ was struck by a heavy sea on the quarter, 
and some of the woodwork abaft the sponson carried 
away ; but her qualities as a sea-boat w'ere admirable, 
and excited the surprise of all who saw her. During 
the whole of the 22 nd, when many fine vessels were 
obliged to lay to on account of the heavy sea, she ran 
on with safety. One of the men was unfortunately 
drowned by accident on the 19th of May, soon after 
leaving Teneriffe. 
The appearance of St. Vincent caused much disap- 
pointment. Instead of a verdant isle, rich with tropical 
productions, as some had been led by description to 
