The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-11-22

anu crew lldli bIdNuldu5 anu lldll luz
dans; for some of the natives don't
make such bad sailors, only they're not
strong enough to stand much knocking
about. This was just what wanted
a chance Of visiting place where I'd
never been, and longish voyage in
company with bevy of picturesque
ragamuflins, who, if they weren't par
ticularly' noble,' were at least 'savege'
enough for Salvador Rosa himself So
I paid my passage money, and away 1
went.
"My chief associate was the skipper,
a queer fish enough to look at for he
had q complexion like a halfdecayed
leek, and a squint that made him look
as if he were trying to see down his own
throat and he carried scent of garlic
and tobacco about him that would have
choked a Hottentot; but he knew all
sorts of stories, and could sing good
song or two, and seemed a merry fellow
altogether so that on the whole he
wasn't bad company, provided I kept
we'll to windward of him. AS for the
crew, they worked very well they
couldn't help it, like Brazlians in gen.
eraI; but there was one thing they didn't
do well; and that was the storing. They
had stored the provisions in such a
bungling fashion that half of them got
spoiled; and they hadn't more than
half filled the water casks and those
they had were leaky so that, not long
after sailing, we ran out of water, and
had to think about getting more.
Gan hour OF two after this discovery,
the skipper came aft, to where I was
standing, and said, Now, senior, we
will show you som mething es well worth
seeing as Lisbon; the nearest land is
Fernando de Noronha; and we're 60
ing to put in there for water and f'Cs sh
provisions.'
"And what is there to be seen there"
asked L.
"'Why, it's pretty place to look at,
in any case" he replied; but the great
thing is, that it's the place where the
EraziIianssenda all their degradadoS'( con
victs); 'and they've got quite fine coll
lection now; when you go ashore you'll
be able to get good sight of them"
"'But they don't go about loose, ,sdre-
Typ asked in some establishment.
"'The saints forbid! they've s1t
governor and guard to take care of
them. An! he's rare man, the Sen
hor Gobernador! many's the c1s'z of
rum he's sent me when we've touched
here before
"You seem to know him pretty vel, ,
said I, laughing.
"'Santo3! that's not difficult! he's
as friendly e3 a ccntra6GRdista.' "a
fine definition of friendship, thought
~ If the noble Senior luglo3e will
be pleased 10 so '"ho.e with US, the
Senior Gobernador vii! be sure to in
vite him to his house, and show him all
the curiosities of The is'Gnd:' and with
that he gave such an extraordinary grin
that all his features seemed to change
places, like gutta-percha .aca in toy
shop. ! couldn't think, at the time,
what he was grirning at 4; but l found
out later on as you'll see.
"We sighted tie island next morn
ing, and by noon we were p city neal
the shore and it struck me that The
degrddad0s had a be Ter berth than
they deserved for sweeter little spot
1 never saw. The coast right and lef
was rugged and broken ; but just ahead
of us it curved into a beautiful littlt
bay, with a smooth, sandy be, ch above
which rose broad sweep OF wooded
hillside, like band of green velvet
dotted here and there with such flower
es you only see in the troDiCs. In th
hollow of the bsy was a small wOode.
jetty, on which stood a man in uniform
while behind him clustered Il d0zal
blacks, in red caps and white cotto'
drawers.
"'That's his EXcelency's secretary
said the skipper; he must have see
us heading for the shore aud it's luck
those blacks happen o be with him
for they'll help Us to It the water o
board
"I must own that is lucky coir
: cideuca Of the negroes presence mad
> mc begiu TO suspect that the worth
r skipper was himself one Of til
friendly c0atrd50nd;Stas' Of whom h
had spoken, and that his dealing
. with the Senior GObernador were of
\ nature to add little TO The imperial re'
enuo; but before | could make up N
mind as 90 whether the alleged want
e water were all sham or not, the ski
= per shouted something through h
=, speaking trumpet to the officer on sho
- who thereupon gave some orders tot
% Of his blacks, which started them off Ill
~ ggcyhounds.
+ "'Vhey're gone to tell the Senior G
| bornador that we've got Senior !
,e glese on board said the skipper; "a
i, his Excellency will most likely come
q. meet you in person.
n. "And, sure enough, in about half
NJ hour there came round the elbow Oft
Il. hill halra dozen soldiers armed wi
10 muskcts, followed by three men
ID uniform the mid-mOst of whom was
No horseback. The moment | touch
Ia the shore, the governor (fOr he it W.
ed dismounted, and greeted me with b
n. that would have made the fortune 0
no courtier.
Is "'May you live thousand ye,
)i- most potent Senior Gobernador, salt
u in my best Portuguese.
"I kiss The dust beneath your f
les noble and valiant senhor,' replied
nd with Il second bow which all but III
he good his words. IF his English Elk
me lency would 50 far honor my poor he
nat as to come within its walls,
or would be my highest pleasure to en-
vas tain him. win the noble Sen
We, Inglese be pleased to mount, and fol
oy- me ?"