I had expected to have fallen in with one of
our frigates here; but I afterwards learned that, although I had slid
down cheerily along shore, the weather current that prevailed farther
out at sea had swept her away to the eastward; so I ran in and anchored,
and immediately waited on the Governor, who received me in what might
once have been a barn, although it did not now deserve the name.
Porto--Bello was originally called Nombre de Dios, having received the
former name from the English when we took it. It is a miserable, dirty,
damp hole, surrounded by high forest--clad hills, round which
everlasting mists curl and obscure the sun, whose rays, at any chance
moment when they do reach the steamy swamp on which it is built or the
waters of the lead--coloured, land--locked cove that constitutes the
harbour, immediately exhale the thick sickly moisture, in clouds of
sluggish white vapours, smelling diabolically of decayed vegetables, and
slime, and mud. I will venture a remark that will be found, I am
persuaded, pretty near the truth, that there were twenty carrion crows
to be seen in the streets for every inhabitant--the people seem every
way worthy of such an abode, saffron, dingy, miserable, emaciated
looking devils. As for the place itself, it appeared to my eyes one
large hospital, inhabited by--patients in the yellow fever. During the
whole of the following day, there was still no appearance of the
frigate, and I had in consequence now to execute the ulterior part of my
orders, which were, that if I did not find her at anchor when I arrived,
or if she did not make her appearance within forty eight hours
thereafter, I was myself to leave the Wave in Porto--Bello, and proceed
overland across the isthmus to Panama, and to deliver, on board of H.
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