commodations--Pirates of the North Atlantic Ocean--Prince's
Island--Visit to the Governor--Drunken Frolic of a Marine--Provisions
--Delicious Coffee--Account of the Town--Population--Varieties of
Colour in the Inhabitants--West-bay--Inhospitality of the Governor and
Merchants--Visit to a Brazilian Brigantine--Difficulty of obtaining
a Passage to Angola--Departure of the Emprendadora--The Eden leaves
Prince's Island--Crossing the Equinoctial Line--Dolphin and
Flying-fish--Trade-winds--Ascension Island at Daybreak--Landing--
Description of the Settlement--Turtle--Goats' Flesh--Abundant Poultry
--Island Game--Aboriginal Foes--Unfaithful Friends--Gladiatorial
Sports--Privileges of Settlers--Traffic--Roads--Water--Culture of
Soil--Produce--Vegetables--Live Stock--Population--Employments--Hours
of Labour--Recreations--Departure from the Island--Recollections of
Ascension on a former Voyage--Dampier, the Navigator--The Variables--
An Affidavit on Crossing the Line--Change of Weather--Dutch Galliot--
Passage for the Brazils--Parting of Friends

_Saturday, May 17, 1828_.--Mr. Craig, who had come from Sierra Leone to
set up a store, went into the country with a native chief this
afternoon, for the purpose of procuring palm-oil. He returned, however,
the next evening, very much fatigued and disappointed; for he not only
found the journey very harassing, in consequence of the badness of the
paths, but discovered that his mercantile project was fruitless, owing
to the poverty of the natives. Indeed, the people of Fernando Po are
less abundantly supplied with provisions than the nations of Africa in
general; their principal dependance being on yams, which are, of course,
liable to occasional failure. They have very little live stock of any
kind, and the chiefs alone appear to indulge in the luxury of animal
food. It is only on particular occasions, however, that they treat
themselves to a goat, or sheep, as they are principally confined to
fowls. That they are not plentifully supplied with fish, is owing solely
to their own negligence, as there are abundance to be had by those who
take the trouble of toiling for them; but for many days together, not a
canoe was to be seen. It is difficult to ascertain the cause of this
strange indifference; it may be that they are afraid to venture out to
sea, and this is not unlikely, as they appeared, on our first arrival,
to entertain much apprehension at the sight of a strange vessel on their
c