48 
THE governor’s MATE. 
Governor’s mate, ventured on board, to ascertain if we 
were English or Spaniards. He was very anxious to 
possess himself of the Captain’s name, and that of the 
vessel — as they speak a little English — and caught the 
sounds with great facility, but converted ‘ Wilberforce’ 
into William -first, having been familiar with the name 
of His late Majesty ; and these simple islanders pride 
themselves in owning no allegiance, but a voluntary 
one to the British Sovereign. 
The Governor’s Mate having satisfied himself, 
waved his hat towards the shore, to signify that all was 
right, when in a few minutes crowds of men, w^omen, 
and children, were seen rushing to the beach, numerous 
canoes were pushed off from three points, and in a 
very few more we were surrounded by about sixty, 
containing from one to four men each, laden with goats, 
pigs, fowls, bananas, plantains, cassada, sweet potatoes, 
pines, tamarinds, but veiy few yams. The Governor 
himself came off, clad — as were most of the natives, 
fortunate enough to possess them — in portions of 
European dress. He was distinguished from the com- 
monalty by a flowing scarlet robe. 
We were absolutely stunned by vociferations from 
nearly two hundred human throats, in addition 
to the bleating, squeaking, and cackling, of the 
more numerous specimens of inferior grades in the 
scale of creation. This ultra-Babel strepito seemed 
to bid defiance to any moderately civilized ear in 
attempting to distinguish the one from the other. 
