, who has been lately at the islands of Princes and St.
Thomas, says that the Governor, who was inimical to the English, is
returned to Portugal; he hired to the Spaniards at Fernando Po, one
hundred soldiers to make reprisals on the English, in consequence of
Captain Ragan having endeavoured to cut out of the island a Spanish
packet, which was there in March and April last. Captain West of his
Majesty's ship _Champion_, cruized off Fernando Po, two days in July
last, in order to fall in with a frigate of thirty guns, and a sloop
of fourteen, but, being both in the harbour, they would not come out.
These two vessels remained in St. Thomas's in October last, where they
had carried 200 troops, the only remains of 3000 that had originally
been sent to Fernando Po, where the Spaniards had made a settlement,
and landed a great quantity of brass cannon, and all kinds of military
stores; but the natives were so disgusted with the Spanish Government,
that they poisoned the water, which caused a great mortality and
obliged the survivors to go away. However, previous to their departure,
they dismounted and buried the cannon and all the stores; and, after
they were gone, the natives demolished all the fortification, and threw
the stones into the sea. A few Portuguese natives of St. Thomas's who
for misdemeanors had been sold to the Spaniards by the Portuguese
Government, are now remaining in the island ready to shew where the
cannon and stores are buried; and, from what Captain Lawson has heard,
the natives seem to wish that the English would come and settle among
them, promising to render us every assistance in their power in
erecting a settlement there. The importance of the trade carried on to
Leeward having already been represented to you, I shall not add on the
subject.'

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[30] The Diadem arrived in the bay a few hours before us.

CHAP. IX.

Native Simplicity--Resources of the Blind--Royal Village--Gathering of
Natives--Native Priests--Royal Feast--Inhospitable Treatment--
Uncomfortable Quarters--Vocabulary of the Native Language--Beauty of
the Female Character--Women of Fernando Po--Anecdotes--Aspect of the
Country--Productions--Preparations for the Settlement--Discovery of a
Theft--Mimic War Customs--Native Chiefs--Female on Board--Monkey for
Dinner--Flogging a Prisoner--Accident to a Sailor--A Voyage of Survey
round the Island--River named after the Au