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PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
the Portuguese were the allies of Great Britain, I had entertained 
doubts whether he would feel authorized to give us protection 
against a British force, should it appear; but so soon as he had 
granted permission for us to enter the port, those doubts were re** 
moved He expressed much regret that the war had deprived 
them of the advantage arising from the American commerce, as 
they had been cut off from all their supplies, and were now desti¬ 
tute of bread, and every other cbmfort of life, except what the island 
afforded, which consisted chiefly in live stock and fruit. He told 
me that a little flour, or any thing else we could spare, would be 
most acceptable to him; and invited me to make my dinner with 
him, on such scanty fare as he was enabled to give me; adding, if 
I would come on shore next day, he would endeavour to provide 
something better. I accepted his invitation with as little cere¬ 
mony as it was given; and although there was but little variety of 
meats, he had an abundant supply of the best tropical fruits I ever 
tasted. The oranges were very fine. We this day commenced 
watering; but, after having to roll the casks abouT500 yards, found 
great difficulty in getting them from the beach, on account of the 
heavy surf. 
On the 29th, I again dined with the governor, and from that 
time until the morning of the 2d of December, we were occupied 
in getting on board refreshments and water; but of the latter we 
were only enabled to get about 5000 gallons. The beef was very 
dear, and very poor; a bullock weighing 300 weight, cost 35 dollars; 
sheep were three dollars, but very poor; oranges 40 cents per 
hundred, and other fruits in the same proportion, and in the greatest 
abundance. It is supposed that the ship had not on board less than 
one hundred thousand oranges, together with a large quantity of 
cocoa-nuts, plantair\s, lemons, limes, casada, &c. See. Every mess 
on board were also supplied with pigs, sheep, fowls, turkeys, goats, 
Sec. which were purchased very cheap; fowls at three dollars per 
dozen, and fine turkeys at one dollar each; many of the seamen also 
furnished themselves with monkeys and young goats as pets, and 
when w r e sailed from thence the ship bore no slight resemblance, 
as respected the different kind on board her, to Noah’s ark 
In the town of Praya there are not more than thirty whites; the 
