my compliments, and a _sincere_ hope that I could render some
service!

CHAPTER LVI.

About this time, a Spanish vessel from the Canaries, laden with fruit,
the greater part of which had been sold at Goree, Sierra Leone,
Gallinas, and Cape Mesurado, dropped anchor opposite my little
roadstead with a letter from Blanco. The Spaniard had been chartered
by the Don to bring from the Grain Coast a cargo of rice, which he was
to collect under my instructions.

My _barracoons_ happened to be just then pretty bare, and as the
season did not require my presence in the factory for trade, it struck
me that I could not pass a few weeks more agreeably, and ventilate my
jaded faculties more satisfactorily, than by throwing my carpet-bag on
the Brilliant, and purchasing the cargo myself.

In the prosecution of this little adventure, I called along the coast
with cash at several English factories, where I obtained rice; and on
my return anchored off the river to purchase sea-stores. Here I found
Governor Findley, chief of the colony, laboring under a protracted
illness which refused yielding to medicine, but might, probably, be
relieved by a voyage, even of a few days, in the pure air of old
Neptune. Slaver as I was, I contrived never to omit a civility to
gentlemen on the coast of Africa; and I confess I was proud of the
honorable service, when Governor Findley accepted the Brilliant for a
trip along the coast. He proposed visiting Monrovia and Bassa; and
after landing at some port in that quarter to await the captain's
return from windward.

I fanned along the coast as slowly as I could, to give the Governor
every possible chance to recruit his enervated frame by change of air;
but, as I looked in at New Sestros in passing, I found three trading
vessels with cargoes of merchandise to my consignment, so that I was
obliged to abandon my trip and return to business. I left the
Governor, however, in excellent hands, and directed the captain to
land him at Bassa, await his pleasure three days, and finally, to bear
him to Monrovia, the last place he desired visiting.

The Rio San Juan or Grand Bassa, is only fourteen miles north-west of
New Sestros, yet it was near nightfall when the Brilliant approached
the river landing. The Spaniard advised his guest not to disembark
till next morning, but the Governor was so restless and anxious about
delay, that he declined our captain's counsel, and went ashore at a
native town, with