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the finest quality. This plant climbs with ease to the top of the highest tree. At a distance the leaves slightly resemble those of the vine; the flowers are of a white colour, intermixed with red and yellow; when these fall off, they are quickly succeeded by the pods, growing in bunches not unlike the plantain, and generally of the thickness of a child's finger. The pods are green at first, grow yellow, and finally brown; the method used to preserve the fruit, is to gather it when yellow, before the pods begin to open or burst: -it is then laid in small heaps for the space of three or four days to ferment. The fruit is afterwards spread in the sun to dry; and when about half dried, flattened with the hand, and rubbed over with cocoa, palm, or other oil:it is once more exposed to the sun, to be fully dried, rubbed over with oil a second time, put in small parcels, and closely covered over with the dried leaves of the plantain or Indian reed. Care is taken not to allow the pods to remain upon the stalks too long before they are pulled, as, in that case, they transude a black fragrant balsam, which carries off both the smell and delicate flavour for which alone they are valued. The vanilla plant is also found on most parts of the Mosquito Shore, and in the neighbourhood of Breo del Rero and Chiriqui Lagoons; it requires heat, moisture, and shade, to bring it to perfection, and when used in that state it gives a most delicious flavour to coffee, chocolate, &c., forming an important article of commerce, especially among the Spaniards."-pp. 99, 100.

An English settlement, as is well known, once existed on the Mosquito shore, which was afterwards abandoned by our government: when the English superintendant was reluctantly withdrawn, he left behind him the mixed race of negroes and Creoles that had formed the population of his settlement. In proceeding up the coast to the north, Mr. Roberts visited the remains of the infant colony, and bitterly regrets that a district which affords such striking local advantages, should have been deserted on any trifling consideration. His account of a detachment of the descendants of the settlers is curious.

"There are few settlements of Mosquito Indians, and Samboes, at Kirkaville and Rigmans Bank, on the borders of the Lagoon; but the principal settlement, is at a place, about six miles to the southward of the entrance, and being composed of people similar to those at Bluefields, it may also be considered an English settlement. The people are principally Creoles, Mulattoes, and Samboes, from Jamaica, San Andres, and the Corn Islands; many of them have married Indian women, and every thing considered, they live in a very comfortable manner. Their place of residence, consisting of thirty or forty houses, is called English Bank, and faces the shore of the Lagoon. The population may be about one hundred and fifty or two hundred souls, living in very neat compact houses of one story high, the sides for the most part made of clay, beaten down hard into a framework of lath and hardwood posts, and roofed with a durable species of palm leaf. The Jamaica traders have established two stores for the sale of goods among them, and there is also one supplied from the United States; the agents in charge of these stores constantly reside at English Bank, and are visited by different tribes of Indians, and by Mosquito-men, from all parts of the coast; bringing tortoise-shell, gum copal, caoutchouc, &c.; skins, paddles, canoes, and various articles to barter for duck, check, cutlass blades, and other goods adapted for the Indian trade. The inhabitants employ themselves in turtleing during the season, and in raising provisions, hunting, and fishing, during the remainder of the year. They maintain a friendly correspondence with the regular Indians; are, in general, fair and honourable in their dealings with them, and with each other, and are truly hospitable to those Europeans, or other strangers, who happen to come amongst them. They are, however, without any religious instruction, and I have again to lament that no missionary has hitherto visited this part of the coast; where, although he might, at first, meet with a little occasional opposition from the visiting traders, he would ultimately do much good; and I may venture, at all events, to affirm, that he would not meet with that discouragement, which has lately been experienced by his brethren in the more civilized colonies of Barbadoes and Demerara.

"I never knew an instance of a marriage being celebrated among them, according to the prescribed forms of the English, or of any other church; these engagements are mere tacit agreements, which are sometimes, although rarely, broken by mutual consent. The children here, and at Bluefields, are in general baptised by the captains of trading vessels from Jamaica; who on their annual return to the coast, perform this ceremony with any thing but reverence, on all who have been born during their absence; and many of them are indebted to these men for more than baptism. In proof of this, I could enumerate more than a dozen of acknowledged children, of only two of these captains, who seem to have adopted, without scruple, the Indian idea of polygamy in its fullest extent. By this licentious and immoral conduct, they have, however, so identified themselves with the natives, and with some of the principal people on the coast, as to obtain a sort of monopoly in the sale of goods, which it would be difficult for any stranger, not possessed of an intimate knowledge of the Indian character, to shake; they have also so insinuated themselves into the good graces of the leading men, that their arrival on the coast is hailed with joy by all classes, as the season of festivity, revelry, christening, and licentiousness, Funerals are however conducted with decency and comparative propriety; Mr. Ellis, or one of the agents of the traders, with the old men of the place, generally give their attendance on these solemn occasions. Notwithstanding that they live in this free manner without fixed laws or religious restr restraint, they, in absence of the traders, maintain an order and regularity, that would not lose by comparison, with any of the small provincial towns in England. In cases of dispute, a reference to the arbitration of some of the elders, or to their general friend, Mr. Ellis, decides the matter at once. Mr. Ellis has done much good both among the mixed residents and the Indians; and has on many occasions given the strongest proofs of a most kind, and benevolent disposition. In common with every person who has visited the settlement, or resided in its vicinity, I have experienced his attentions; and have much pleasure in thus acknowledging the great personal obligations which he thereby conferred upon me." -pp. 108-111.

These expeditions were at length closed, by the arrival of the parties, for whom Mr. Roberts appears to have been left as a kind of agent. Apparently not well pleased with his activity, and alarmed at the interest he had succeeded in creating for himself with the natives, their treatment of him produced a rupture, and Mr. Roberts proceeded northward to make new connexions. This trade is, in a manner, monopolized by those who are acquainted with it; and by Mr. Roberts's account, its great lucrativeness causes any interloper to be received with extreme jealousy. At this time, the king of the Mosquito shore, George Frederick, a sovereign of large territory and some power, who succeeded his father George, reigned over the nation of Samboes, who are the most powerful of the tribes in this quarter: George Frederick had received a British education at Jamaica, where he was crowned and anointed king, by the Rev. Joseph Armstrong. The West Indian idea of the acomplishments of a king, seems to be limited, for they had taught this sovereign no other branch of learning than that of " making drunk come soon." His majesty was, however, a pleasant and good-humoured toper; and his subjects, well aware that he would give away every thing he had when he was intoxicated, took care that he should never be sober. In Mr. Roberts' progress, he fell in with the king, and the prostitution of the regal title, and the caricature of sovereign graces, render the anecdotes of him very ludicrous.

"Early in the morning I was awakened by the noise of the drum; the natives were in a state of bustle and activity, preparing for the drinking match, and the reception of the king. He arrived in a large canoe, with ten people, escorted by the same number in two smaller ones. At the landingplace he was met by Admiral Earnee and General Blyatt, with some of the chief men of the neighbouring settlements; the two former dressed in uniforms, with gold epaulettes. There was little form or ceremony used in their reception of the king; a shake of the hand, and how do you do, king,' in English, being the only salutation from all classes. Briefly inquiring my motives for coming to see him, he invited me to go with him to the Cape, and I could then at leisure judge how far he could second my views, and how he was situated with his people, amongst whom, four years ago, on his return from Jamaica, where he was educated, he found himself quite a stranger.

"He was a young man, about twenty-four years of age, of a bright coppercolour, with long curly hair hanging in ringlets down the sides of his face; his hands and feet small, a dark expressive eye, and very white teeth. He was an active and handsome figure, with the appearance of greater agility than strength. In other respects I found him, on further acquaintance, wild as the deer on his native savannahs.

"During the day, Indians arrived from various parts of the coast and interior. At the meeting, which took place in the king's house, various matters relative to the government of the neighbouring settlements, disputes, and other public business, was discussed; and I observed that the king left every thing to the discretion of Earnee, Blyatt, and a few others. In fact, he seemed to take little interest or trouble, further than to sanction the resolutions passed, so that they might be promulgated as 'the king's own order.' Such is the expression; and that order is invariably obeyed, and carried into effect. During the time the council was sitting, no women were admitted; a few only were afterwards permitted to enter, during the drinking match, to take care of their husbands, when reduced to state of insensibility by intoxication." -pp. 132, 133.

a

When the council was finished, the more important business of getting drunk remained behind: it was, however, quickly attended to in due form.

"The discussions in the king's house being ended, the feasting began. Two men were stationed by the side of the canoe, who filled the mishlaw drink into calabashes, which were then carried to the company by boys. As the men became exhilirated, they began to dance in imitation of country dances and Scotch reels, learned from the former English settlers; but they soon became too much intoxicated to preserve order. Every one, including the king and his select friends, at the admiral's house, gave way without restraint to the pleasures of drinking; and during the evening, the king's uncle, Andrew, chief man at Duckwarra, arrived, bringing one of his majesty's favourite wives. This chief was a short stout man, of unmixed Indian blood, very lively and quick in his motions, disguising under an appearance of levity, much cunning and shrewdness; he spoke tolerably good English, and soon, by his ridiculous stories regarding the Jamaica traders, and by his satirical and witty remarks upon some of the old Mosquito men present, kept the company in a roar of laughter. The king observed to me, in the course of the evening, that I must not be surprised to see him act in the manner he was doing; as it was his wish, by indulging the natives, to induce them to adopt gradually, and by degrees, the Englis customs and mode of living; and he requested me to observe how far he had succeeded, pointing out to me that all present had thrown aside the pulpera, the common Indian dress, and wore jackets and trowsers, with good hats. Some of them had coats, with other articles to correspond; and, as I have often repeated, they prided themselves upon being true English gentleman fashion.'"pp. 133, 134.

His majesty farther condescended to join Mr. Roberts, and others, in a dance, which so delighted his subjects, that they insisted on an

encore:

"Blyatt had orders to keep the party in the king's house from interrupting us, but our music being full as noisy as theirs, and the secret of the women's arrival having transpired, our house was soon surrounded by a crowd, who pressed so much, that it became insufferably warm; and we were obliged to stop the dance: at which circumstance, many of the Indians expressed such disappointment, that the king good-naturedly proposed to renew the dance in the open air. The other party joining us with their music, we were soon all jumbled together, king, admiral, general, Mosquitomen and women, in one mass of confusion and revelry, from which those who were capable of reflecting were soon glad to escape." -p. 135.

The ladies retire from table before the gentlemen, as is the case in England: we presume for the same reason; it is stated in the following extract, as well as the conclusion of the feast:

"Before the chiefs became totally intoxicated, they ordered the women home to their houses, to prevent their being unable to take care of their husbands. The drinking was carried on with great perseverance during the night, by old and young. The drums were beat and muskets fired, some of them loaded with powder to the very muzzle, until nearly all the assembly were in a state of beastly drunkenness, and taken care of by the women, who were occasionally called upon for that purpose. At intervals, however, as the men recovered, they found their way back to their favourite mishlaw, and renewed the debauch. All the next day was consumed in drinking; and it was not until the day following that the liquors were reduced to the very dregs of the cassava and maize, which even then was taken from the bottom of the vessels, and being squeezed through the fingers by handfuls into the calabashes, was passed to those who were still craving for more of the precious beverage. By the third night the whole liquors were consumed, and the Indians began to retire to their respective homes, many complaining, with great reason, that 'their heads were all spoiled.' It is however to their credit, that during the whole of this debauch I did not perceive the slightest quarrel."-pp. 135, 136.

Either Mr. Roberts's dancing or his conversation so far ingratiated him with the king, that he begged to employ his diplomatic talents as his ambassador to a discontented and half-independent chief, whom his majesty wished to conciliate. The presence of this person, called Governor Clementi, must have been imposing. He is a pure Indian :

"The governor did not come out to receive us; he was sitting in the house, dressed in state, and rose to welcome Blyatt and myself, but took no notice of those who accompanied us. The appearance and demeanour of this old chief struck me very forcibly, and impressed upon my mind that I had before me a true descendant and representative of the ancient Indian caziques. He was a tall stout man, apparently between fifty and sixty years of age, with an Indian countenance, peculiarly expressive of thoughtful dignity; I could not help thinking that he looked as if he felt degraded by the yoke of the Mosquito-men-that he had been born to command, and still felt conscious, like 'old Crozimbo, that he was 'not the least among his countrymen.' He was dressed in an old Spanish uniform, of blue cloth with red collar and facings, decorated with a great profusion of tarnished gold lace; an old embroidered white satin vest, ornamented with spangles, and having large pocket holes with flaps; a pair of old white kerseymere breeches; white

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cotton stockings; shoes with silver buckles; and a large gold-headed cane, similar to those used by the superior corregidores and alcaldes of the South American provinces-completed his dress.

"These clothes, which were of the most ancient cut, had descended to him from his unfortunate brother; and altogether the dignified appearance and manners of this old chief, contrasted strongly with the coarse brutality of the Mosquito-men, and impressed upon my mind that the domination of the Samboes had materially retarded the prosperity of the genuine Indians."-pp. 140, 141.

After visiting the king in his capital, and taking other measures with a view to his mercantile success, such as contracting for the tortoise shells of the next season with particular tribes, he returns southward. Entering Niconderagua bay in the night, he finds in the morning that he has anchored in the vicinity of two Spanish vessels of war: the commander of these vessels orders his arrest as a spy in the Patriot service, and abundance of evidence is quickly found among the sailors to convict him of the fact. One swore to having seen him on board the vessel he was upon, and alleged that he cut down his breeches to look into his pockets for silver; one said he was a prizemaster, and another that he was a sail-maker; all swore positively, however, and poor Mr. Roberts was taken to the castle ramparts to be shot. He was seated on a barrel, and the governor of the fort took a chair at a convenient distance. When an officer approached to tie the handkerchief over his face, Mr. Roberts insisted upon seeing the execution; and as the man persevered in attempting to bind on the handkerchief, and Mr. Roberts as steadily resisted by turning his face to and fro, an altercation ensued, during which the splashing of oars was heard, and an officer was landed to supersede the governor. His successor, unwilling to complete the execution, forwarded the prisoner into the interior, where some person might be found to read his papers, and examine the nature of the political pamphlets which, as they conceived, he carried in his vessel for the purpose of exciting all good Spanish subjects to insurrection. Mr. Roberts was forwarded from town to fort and from fort to town, until the governor of the city of Leon, who understood English, perceived an alibi from the prisoner's papers, and that the combustible pamphlets were nothing else than twenty New Testaments, which a missionary had requested Mr. Roberts to dis

tribute.

Mr. Roberts had no reason to complain of his treatment in the course of this forced journey; indeed the nature of the charge against him, that of being an Independent, appears to have conciliated a people ripe for the insurrection which has since broken out. The political sentiments of the people may be judged of from the singular indications of kindness manifested to Mr. Roberts in his dungeon at Grenada:

"My cell was intolerably hot, but having undergone much fatigue during the day, I soon forgot my sorrows, and slept until aroused by the beating of the reveille, and the noise of the soldiers hurrying to the parade at daybreak next morning. In a few minutes the bustle was over; a passing soldier threw me a bundle of cigars, and kindly brought me some fire to light one; he expressed much compassion for my situation, and, giving a cautious glance to each side, told me, 'los patriotes' were 'muy bueno; and vented some execrations against the present government. About eight o'clock the soldiers returned, and my door was crowded by people whose curiosity was