ognized. A few moments
later and the engines stopped. Then came the hearty hail, "Do you want
assistance?" Our answer "No" brought cheer on cheer from the steamer's
deck, while the _Liberdade_ bowed and courtesied to her old
acquaintance, the superior ship. Captain Baker, meanwhile, not
forgetting a sailor's most highly prized luxury, had ordered in the
slings a barrel of potatoes--new from home! Then dump they came, in a
jiffy, into the canoe, giving her a settle in the water of some inches.
Other fresh provisions were handed us, also some books and late papers.
J. Aspinwill Hodge, D.D., on a tour of inspection in the interest of the
Presbyterian Mission in Brazil--on deck here with his camera--got an
excellent photograph of the canoe.[5]

One gentleman passed us a bottle of wine, on the label of which was
written the name of an old acquaintance, a merchant of Rio. We pledged
Mr. Gudgeon and all his fellow passengers in that wine, and had some
left long after, to the health of the captain of the ship, and his crew.
There was but little time for words, so the compliments passed were
brief. The ample plates in the sides of the _Finance_, inspiring
confidence in American thoroughness and build, we had hardly time to
scan, when her shrill whistle said "good-bye," and moving proudly on,
the great ship was soon out of sight, while the little boat, filling
away on the starboard tack, sailed on toward home, perfumed with the
interchange of a friendly greeting, tinged though with a palpable
lonesomeness. Two days after this pleasant meeting, the Port of
Pernambuco was reached.

Tumbling in before a fresh "trade" wind that in the evening had sprung
up, accompanied with long, rolling seas, our canoe came nicely round the
point between lighted reef and painted buoy.

Spray from the breakers on the reef opportunely wetting her sails gave
them a flat surface to the wind as we came close haul.

The channel leading up the harbour was not strange to us, so we sailed
confidently along the lee of the wonderful wall made by worms, to which
alone Pernambuco is indebted for its excellent harbour; which,
extending also along a great stretch of the coast, protects Brazil from
the encroachment of the sea.

At 8 p.m. we came to in a snug berth near the _Alfandega_, and early
next morning received the official visit from the polite port officers.

Time from Bahia, five days; distance sailed, 390 miles.

Pernambuco, the principal town of