te cultivation; the little fields divided by
hedgerows of what appeared to be sugar-cane. The white one-storied
houses are dotted thickly among all this cultivation, giving evidence of
great populousness in this primitive paradise--so far removed away from
the world, and so little resorted to by commerce. Wind inclined to haul
to the S.E., which will open us to the sea again, and I am, of course,
quite anxious. Received a letter (or rather Captain Butcher, who is
still the nominal commander of the ship, did) from the English Consul,
informing us that the authorities still insisted upon our going round to
East Angra. Replied that we had come in to receive coal from the barque
in our company, &c., and that as the day seemed fine, and we should
probably have a good lee for the purpose, I would go to sea without the
marine league for the purpose. I knew they suspected me of arming as
well as coaling, and hence I resorted to this step to quiet their
apprehensions of my infringing their neutrality.

Stood along the island--the Bahama in company and the barque
alongside--and hoisted out the gun-carriages, and mounted as many of the
guns as we could. Returned during the afternoon, and after nightfall
anchored in East Angra, with the barque still alongside. We were hailed
very vociferously as we passed in very bad English or Portuguese, we
could not make out which, and a shot was fired at us. The Bahama, which
was following, hauled off and stood off and on during the night; we
continued our course, and anchored about 8.30 P.M. Near midnight I was
aroused from a deep sleep into which I had fallen after the fatigue and
exertions of the day, and informed by the officer of the deck very
coolly that the man-of-war schooner was firing into us. As I knew they
did not dare to fire _into_ me but were only firing at me, perhaps to
alarm me into going out of the harbour, I directed the officer to take
no notice of the proceeding. In the morning we learned that this had
been a false alarm, and that the firing had been from the mail steamer
to bring on board her passengers.

Had a talk with the old boatswain's-mate, who consented to go with me,
and to use his best exertion to bring over to me all the good men over
whom he could exercise influence.

_Friday, August 22nd_.--Wind from the S.W., promising us a smooth day
for our work. Called all hands at 6 A.M., and commenced coaling. At 7
A.M. a number of Custom House officers and the English