an additional quantity of fruit. As no convenient watering-place was to be found here, the ship got under weigh on Thursday the 20th, and steered farther north, towards Tola, and on the Sunday following came to an anchor in Tola roads. In the afternoon a letter was sent to the governor, requesting stock: he very politely complied, and the boat returned with six pigs, a number of fowls, &c. The next day she took a canoe laden with jerk beef and pork; but Captain Duck, understanding that it belonged to the governor, immediately liberated it, by way of return for his politeness. It might have been mentioned before, that while at Tacames a relation of the governor requested a passage to Tola, which the captain readily complied with, entertained him very well on board, and set him safe on shore at that place. This circumstance, no doubt, in a great measure, gave rise to the unusual civility of the governor.

During the time the ship remained at this place, the officers were very well received and entertained at the governor's house. He was a very gentlemanly old man, kept a good table, and was happy to see his friends. He had an only daughter, a very agreeable girl, of about sixteen, who had just come from a convent, where she had been educated. She was greatly concerned at hearing of the depredations committed by the Port au Prince at Hilo, where the church was plundered of its consecrated vessels. The attack which had been meditated upon the nunnery southward of Calao, also shocked her extremely. She lifted up her hands and eyes, uttered some expressions in Spanish, and laboured for a little time under considerable agitation. She expressed, in tolerably good English, her sentiments

upon these subjects, in particular to young Mariner, then about fourteen years of age, and told him she was quite certain the ship would never again reach England. She asked him if he had any hand in robbing the church at Hilo; to which, when he replied jocularly that he only knocked down as many images as he could reach, she predicted that he would never again see his father and mother, and that the ship and all the crew would certainly be destroyed, as a just judgmen from God, for the heinous sacrilege which they had committed.-Mariner told her, that if she were in England she would stand a chance of being punished for a witch; which observation produced a laugh, accompanied by a pretty smart box on the ears. So great a favour, from so fair a hand, could not but be received in good part; he accordingly took the first opportunity of going on board and bringing her a cheese, as a present (the scarcity of the article at this place rendering it valuable), while she, not to be behind-hand in generosity, taking a pair of gold buckles from her shoes, gave them to him, reminding him at the same time, that she presented them merely as an acknowledgment, for that they would not long be of service to him. He little thought at this time that her prediction was destined to be so nearly fulfilled, and that only by hair-breadth escapes, his good fortune, after a lapse of years, would bring him through unforeseen difficulties and dangers, to his native country, though never to the sight of his mother, who died during his absence, leaving his father to reflect on the uncertain fate of a son, whom he could scarcely hope to see again.

CHAPTER II.

AFTER having laid in the requisite supplies at Tola, and taken leave of the governor with many acknowledgments for his civilities, they weighed anchor, and made sail, leaving the brigs behind, having stripped them of their anchors, cables, sails, &c.

Finding a leak to increase, which had hitherto appeared trifling, she proceeded towards the island of Cocos to careen, and on Saturday the 15th of February, came to an anchor in Chatham Bay. On running the guns over to starboard, and heeling the ship four streaks, the leak was found to proceed from a graving-piece not being properly secured under the fore-chains. After wooding, watering, and painting, she weighed anchor on the 25th, and made sail towards the whaling ground.

On Saturday the 5th of March, having made Pan de Azucar, which bore N. six or seven leagues, she recommenced her whaling cruize; but, notwithstanding the most diligent look-out for two or three weeks, she was very unsuccessful; hence the men became exceedingly discontented. On the 30th, she captured the Spanish brig Santa Isidora, Captain Josef Evernzega, from Guiàquil, bound to Acapulco, laden with cocoa. At me ridian, the land off Acapulco bore N. distance

seven or eight miles, and the prisoners were put on board their own boats, and sent on shore, with the exception of the Spanish carpenter, and one other man, who were detained. On this day Mr M'Farlane, the surgeon, deserted. The following day Mr John Parker received charge of the brig, to proceed to Port Jackson, with proper instructions for selling the vessel and cargo. He was allowed ten hands and four months provisions; and the Port au Prince now kept plying to windward, keeping a good look-out for whales.

On Monday the 12th of May she caught four whales, which, together with what had been caught before at sundry times, made up the number to fifteen, being the whole that were taken during the voyage. From this period till June, no circumstance transpired worthy of notice.

On Tuesday the 3d of June, Cape Corientes bearing S. and by E. seven or eight leagues, they stretched into St Blas, and discovered a merchant vessel lying at anchor, apparently almost ready for sea. The Port au Prince immediately tacked ship, and stood out to the Maria Islands, under American colours; for it would have been impossible to have cut this vessel out from her present station, protected, as she was, by a strong fort at the top of a, bill. The rainy season was now set in, commencing with heavy rains, thunder, and lightning. The merchantman was still riding at anchor, seemingly ready for sea; and on Wednesday the 18th it was resolved to make all sail, and steer for St Blas, with intention of cutting her out in the night. At ten p. m. the Port au Prince approached the rock Pedro de Mar, to be in readiness. At this time there came on a heavy squall, with thunder

Towards midnight it

lightning, and much rain. fell calm, and the boats were prevented from effecting their purpose; and before day-break, a small land wind springing up, the Port au Prince got off from the land without being discovered. As soon as daylight appeared, the boats perceived from the rock that the vessel had attempted to come out, but being becalmed, had dropped anchor five or six miles from the batteries. One boat was immediately despatched to the Port au Prince, to inform her of the circumstance, whilst the two remaining boats proceeded to take possession of her. At noon, a fresh breeze springing up, the Port au Prince made all sail, and steered towards St Blas. At three p. m. the boats took possession of their expected prize, which proved to be the corbeta Santa Anna, Captain Francisco Puertas, laden with pitch, tar, and cedar boards, bound to Guiaquil. The Spaniards had cut their cable, and made an attempt to run in under the batteries, but the boats taking possession of her in time, prevented that intention. At day-light the following morning, twenty prisoners were sent on shore in the long-boat. Two negroes and two Spaniards, who entered for the Port au Prince, were retained. The two negroes would have been sent on shore also, but they fell on their knees, and begged and prayed hard to be kept on board. The captain of the prize was, indeed, very anxious that they should be sent on shore, as they were the property of the owner; but Captain Duck's humanity would by no means consent to this; for they clasped his knees, and entreated him with such earnest looks and words of persuasion, that, although he had no use for them, he could not but