Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/78

 30 commandant, our Vice-consul, Mr. Forster, administrador of customs, and one or two others, there is not a decent house in the place. The ruins of a well-constructed church attest its former respectability; but the place is now little more than a collection of huts.

The inhabitants generally present a most unhealthy appearance, and there is scarcely a cottage without some diseased or sickly-hued person to be seen. Our botanical collector proceeded to Leon, in order to make the most of his time. The purser and surgeon visited the sugar establishment of Mr. Bridges at San Antonio, but the duties of the survey detained me at the ship.

About a mile below the town. the ruins of an old but well built fort, with three embrasures, are yet to be traced, and between it and the town are the floor timbers of a brig, which ventured up to grave, but fell to pieces before she was taken in hand. Vessels of 100 tons have grounded at the pier of Realejo Custom-house, but above that they would be left dry at low water.

Mr. Forster, the Vice-consul, happened to be on a visit to Grenada during our visit; we therefore had not the pleasure of becoming acquainted with him.

On the 10th the Starling rejoined us, and our observations and interior survey being complete, we moved to the outer anchorage, to finish the external parts of our plan.