The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-11-16

promontory, and moved along some
what slowly, at other times with con-
siderable velocity according as the light
airs which waited us, ,freshened or lullcd.
The scenery brought by this means in
to view, was as interesting as con-
slant succession of rock and mountain,
wood and glen, could render ii; al !
the rate of our going enabled us for the
most part to enjoy every change to the
utmost. Towards evening, again, the
smell became gratifying in a degree
not less palpabe than the serse Of
sight. 1t is probably needless for me
to mention, that in this quarter of the
world, the wind invariably changes
with the rising and setting Of the sun;
and that as it blows on shore, in every
part of the island, during the day, so
it blows off the land in all directions
during the night. By the means of
the most delicious odors from oranges,
myrtles, and all the sweet-scented
shrubs of a tropical climate, load the
evening breezes; and being to night
within their influence,w we sat upon deck
long after it had became dark, to in
hale their fragrance. Then the moon
arose in cloudless majesty, making
rocks, woods, and sloping downs again
visible, and casting over them a radi-
ance thousand times more beautiful
than that of day, whilst the ripple OF
the sea, as the ship cut her way across
the smooth surface, and the small
waves broke upon some cliff more pre-.
cipitaus than those about it, filled up
the measure of our delights with the
most exquisite harmony. On the
whole do not reco!lect to have passed
a similar space of time, especially on
board of ship, with greater gratifica-
ton. nor to have witnessed the termi-
natiod OF any water-jolrney with
greater regret.
We reached the entrance of the bay
just after sunset on the 18th, but as
the breeze died wholly away before we
could enter, we were necessltated to
cast anchor till it should spring up
again. 1t did spring up early in the
morning of the 10Th, when, having
stood out to secure a good offing, we
put our helms up, and bore maiestical-
ly down upon our anchorage; and sell
dom have looked upon spectacle
more animating than that which was
then brought before us. About 70 OF
so sail of vessels, some of them ships in
line ,and many more entitled to display
the pendant, lay within compass of a
small natural harbor, so closely wedged
together, that to walk across from the
decks, from one to the other, seemed
when little distance to be far from
impracticable. Behind this gallant
navy rose shore, not mountaious Ger.
tainly, but so far the reverse of fiat,
that hill upon hill Lifted it's modest
green head, feathered with plantain.
cocoanut trees, and the other graceful
plants peculiar to those climates. I'm
mrliatcly upon the strank, and under
the shelter of few plantain trees,
stood about halfadozen cottages: the
habitation of some families of five ne
groes, who gained livelihood by fish
ing, and selling refreshments to such
ships as touched at the place. They
were but simple edifices, formed mere
ly of the boughs of trees, and thatched
with the stubble of Indian corn. But
they were not the only domicilcs in
sight. A sort of encapment had been
formed along the seaside, for the ac
commodation of a party of artillery
drivers, sent in shore to look after the
horses, which it had been deemed ad
visable to land; and not few of the
officers, as well of the navy as of the
army, preferred taking their residence
| there, to continuance on board OF
ship, the display of life and activity
thereby occasiuncd, added not little
to the general elf ct a. the seen :,
which afforded every moment fresh pow
er of attraction, as we drew nearer and
nearer to the beach.
AS soon as we had cast anchor boats
| from almost every vessel in the fleet
| boarded us. There were little pieces
of intelligence communicated, not in
deed so important in their nature as
to deserve repetition, but sufficiently
interesting at the moment, both to the
persons who told, and those who lis.
tened to them; while thousand anX-
ious inquiries were instituted as to what
was going on at Kingston, and when the
long looked tor rcinforcements mi ght
be expected. A this was natural enough
nor was it less natural, than an early
hour or the morrow should see us in
numerous groups upon the land; either
threading our way through the grace
full forests, for the purpose of forming
some acquaintance with the interior,
or lounging about in idleness by the
seasllorc. But these employments were
not sufficiently attractive to hinder us
from telling or expressing our utter
| distaste of a life of idleness, or prating
till the subject grew stale, about the
| folly of wasting our precious time in a