Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-11
A Cruise on the Coast Of Afr;,.

der the government of military conn
dant, who resides at Santa Cruz. ON ,haT
rife Island, the central and principal %.
group. 1t was at this place the m..
given liberty, pleasure antrira.u.
talked Of by the Jack Tar> for Inr..
previous to its enjoyment. \ >iIc-r.r
sight it vas TO see them on land. mlg.
in every freak that could be concuc,,.
frequently startling the stajd Spauar! r
his usual reserve. This behaviour wa,,.
further confederation Of the good raa.
of our ship life.
The approach to Santa Cruz pr,,or,
varied and beautiful effect with it, mv.
and domes, its white houses peep,ng p
among the fresh green gardens. de>cer..
in gradual slopes TO the seas washing. Ia
with their rich abundance of beautiful NJ.
berry, and surrounded by towering elf, a.
peaks, along whose craggy sides the eli.
mists unwreath their sluggish coil. d.,
ing the panorama of mniature-likc Gotta,
and vineyards, dotting ard covering ,...
immense heights, ranging back from n,
seas level some three or four THOUSAND ...
at the base of which the city i built. !
higher, above earth and clouds, into ,hr ,.-.
blue of Heaven, the peak of Tencritte rra-
! its bronzed head, standing monumrn,
the power and majesty of Its Creator. 4
we entered the harbor, the sun Was sink.
TO its night home, bathing hill and dale w.
its mellow light, rending and rc-formin.
grew mists in arches Of tinted splendor,
/ folding in their gorgeous span the encirc.r
| shadows of earth. with the unrutticd calm
oceans sleep. Ii was a beautiful pic;4r
| and one rarely our good fortune 10 meet MI
| in our cruising life.
The city is like all Spanish habitaton.
this class the houses chiefly built of ad0a
and stone, neatly painted, coistcred in 81
pearance, and streets regular in their mt.
sections. Extending the entire sea front. a-
| Notifications, assisted in their construct.
very much by natural entertainments of >to.
in which some of the poorer CLASSES ha.
! built carities where they reside Thc,r D..
! fences are manned by one thousand trour.
who constitute the police force Of the Fl:
! and present a varied and fine effect WI.
their appropriate and handsome uniform.
and soldierly bearing They are enlisted f.
six months, and taken from the ISLANDS. a.
were especially noticed by Wellingtou e.
! their daring behaviour during the Pcnin.g
lar war. There are about fifteen thou,ar
inhabitants in all. Thing are very CHEAP
there being no duties on most articles. An.
/ the substantials catered by first rate Eng!l.
and French Hotels. Still it is behind ,ir
age, exhibiting the fruits of It's inhabitan;,
! characteristics, viz: no will of their OWL
and an absence Of all energy. As usual IL
such communities, one is bcsct with b"ggar,
many of whom are impostcrs: but vet tErr
is great want, especially among the female.
4 young girl is obliged to work from a 10
To i p. IN. for 10 cents per day. out Of which
she supports herself Among the elite of H..
softer sex" there is good array of beauty
of the Spanish east but Il very ditfcui'
thing to get peep at. n even the native
in their courtshi ps manage it through Nmal,
wicker window, an entrance into the house
rejecting seriously upon the young lady
character. | wonder how some Of our Alex.
andria beaux would relish this mode of talk
ing fine nonsense. For the benefit Of tn
ladies' curiosity, | will add that crinoIinr,
prevail largely, as well as the latest fashion,
in other mysteries Of the robe.
Santa Cruz is noted for the attack mad.
upon it by Nelson, who lost his arm in IT,,
engagement, and failed to capture it. The
fort from which the fatal shot was fired. still
stands, commanding the chief landing place.
which is n mole running into the SEA, and
as yet unfinished in its original design.
These Islands are quite dangerous at TIM
season for ships resorting to them, in conse-
auence of the tremendous surfs and sudden
and heavy gales. Wewcrc fortunate in lra'-
ing. having encountered for nearly two day,
a heavy gale at sea, in which we were com
PEELED to lay to, and which would have
Delayed our calculations had We remained q,
anchorage. Whilst in port, Russian stca.
mcr came i'll, with an unpronounceahle name.
The NorthcrnerS may be good for all home
purposes. but Peter. in his wonderful "Xrr
tons for this important branch of progrr>S.
wofully neglected To inculca:c the very niece,
sary principle of cleanliness: for a more M
shipshape and dirty concern, Officers, crew,
and ship, never had the misfortune Ia see,
or confront with my nasal organs. Pah
The Cumberland and Dale are expecting
"IIomc orders" and look in good condition
after their cruise.
The Niagara has gone down the coast with
her cargo of Africans, who are reported 10
be still suffering. and some dead. 1t is q
horrible confederation that the citizens OF
Charleston witnessed of the miScrieS and
degradation attendant upon the slave trade,
and ! trust will arouse Il stronger action on
the part of government 10 protect the Amer
can flag from its disgraceiul u.s." a. a shield
to such transactions. The slavcrs on this
coast are wide awake" and from their eypo-
rience. a. well rs signals of fires along trr
coast. are well posted with a man-0t-wars
movements which is taken advantage of in
the absence of our cruisers, to balk tn" Eng
fish, by hosting American colors. This can
be only remcdicd by sendinga sufficient num-
Der of steam gun-boats, to be constantly KEEP,
on the cruising grounds.
| see by the papers. that the form. Of IT."
Congo. and other tribes. were much admired
As physical race, the Africans are ,pl"E-
didly proportional. from their hips up; but
in consequence of their early resorting to IT,"
canoe, for subsistence and exercise. their
hips and limbs become contracted by the
cramped positions they are Obliged toas>mne
i'm their skiffs 4 kroomon will take Ia,