since published, rather a biassed account of the late expedition against Darien, influenced probably by his own disappointment, says, "the Island of St An"drews is a coral formation, of small size, within a *few hours sail of the Island of Old Providence and "the Corn Islands, and about forty-eight hours sail "from the main land of South America. It is "beautifully varied by hills and valleys covered "with woods, sugar and cotton plantations, provision "grounds, and excellent pasture for oxen; the beef "and pork here are very superior, fowls are in a"bundance, yams, plantains, and cocoa-nuts, pines, "shaddocks, forbidden fruit and tamarinds, onions, "shalots, &c. &c. enrich the provision grounds, and

grow round the picturesque houses and cottages of "the inhabitants *." In another place he says, "two "roads lead from the cove the length of both sides "of the island; they are, however, somewhat diffi"cult at landing to find out; indeed, so snugly are "all the houses on the island situated, that only one " of them can be perceived from the sea, it appear"ed to us to be uninhabited. The island is ex

46

tremely healthy, rich and beautiful, perpetually "cooled by delightful sea breezes†

The island of San Andres contains about three hundred white persons and people of colour, and be

* Weatherhead's account of the expedition against the Isthmus of Darien, p. 15. + Ibid.

tween ten and twelve hundred slaves; "

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66

they carry

on a considerable smuggling trade with the Main, ship cotton, &c. for Jamaica, supply Chagres and Porto Bello with ground provisions, and I believe, annually dispose of a number of the children of "their slaves at the ports on the South American "coast *." In the month of December 1815, two Carthagenian privateers landed their crews and captured the island, putting the Spanish governor and soldiers to the sword; they spiked the guns of the batteries, and burnt the government house, and Governor Gonzale's plantation, at the same time carrying away many of the slaves. In 1818, General Aury sent his sick here from the island of Providence, and in April 1819, General Macgregor came to an anchor in the Cove with his fleet; "the island of "St Andreas was taken formal possession of by him"self and the ex-governor, in the name of the govern"ment of New Grenada, on Sunday the 4th April, "1819. At twelve o'clock the patriot colours of "Grenada were hoisted on Leva-hills, near the scite " of an intended battery, which was to command "the cove, and a salute of 21 guns was fired by the "Hero upon the occasion +," immediately after which she was commissioned as a national vessel, and un

* Weatherhead's Account of the Expedition against the Isthmus of Darien, p. 15.

+ Ibid. p. 15.

der a second salute of twenty-one guns, hoisted the independent standard of New Grenada, when his Excellency Don Juan Elias Lopez, the governor of Carthagena and Delegate of the General Congress of New Grenada, conferred on her the name of El Macgregor, in compliment to the commander in chief." A dinner was given on shore, by the ex-governor, at which the principal officers were present, " and chief inhabitants of the island; an oath of

allegiance to the government of New Gre"nada was taken, and General Wolf's song, "The soldiers business is to die, was sung with "all that enthusiasm which the occasion inspired. "It was the intention of Sir Gregor to convert St. "Andreas into a depôt for the sick, to erect forts, "&c. upon the island, and to leave a part of the "artillery and stores t." After the recapture of Porto Bello, General Macgregor returned here, and again took formal possession of the island, appointing. Colonel Woodbine, the Adjutant-General of the army, to be its governor. At the capture of Porto Bello, he particularly distinguished himself; Weatherhead says, "Colonel Woodbine now led the advance, who, from his experience in bush-fighting in the late American war, when at the head of "the Indians, was well calculated for this descrip"tion of service t." This officer, who has been

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• The Macgregor.

+ Weatherhead's Account of the Expedition against the Isthmus of Darien, p. 19 and 20. + Ibid. p. 25. G

several years in the Cazique's service, was promoted in 1819, to the rank of Brigadier-General, and at the same time received the Military order of the Green Cross; and in 1820, in consideration of his long and faithful attachment, was entrusted with the important office of Vice-Cazique of Poyais; and it is my firm opinion, that no one could have been found more deserving and worthy of this confidence, or more capable of filling the important station with credit to himself, and benefit to the native Indians, as well as the settlers in general.

There are some islets or kays in the vicinity of San Andres. At the distance of six leagues to the eastward are the E.S.E. Kays, they are three in number, and have reefs all round them; there is good anchorage for small vessels, but a person ought to be well acquainted. The S.S.W. Kays, called by the Dutch Abu-kerken, and by the Spaniards Albuquerque, are three islets with good anchoring ground. There is nothing to fear here; the water about them is deep and clear, and every thing may be seen. There are a few rocks above water, close to the kays, but they will be avoided by keeping the island of San Andres N. by W. until the S.S.W. kays bear S.W. by S. when you may proeeed as convenient *. Both the above kays are covered with cocoa-nuts; and large quantities of turtle are caught here in the season, many of them

• Columbian Navigator, art. Mosquitia, p. 31.

of the Hawks-bill species. In a clear day, both the E.S.E. and S.S.W. kays may be distinctly seen from the heights of San Andres.

Corn Islands, called by the Spaniards Islas de Manglares, lie to the eastward of Pearl Key La goon; they are of considerable height, the southwestern is the largest. From the sinaller island stretches a reef, about two leagues distant on the north-east side of the island. These two islands are reckoned 50 leagues distant from Sandy Bay *. The largest is nearly surrounded by a reef, but there is anchorage on the western side, in clear sandy ground, in 4, 5, or 6 fathoms water. Little Corn Island, is full of large cocoa-nut trees, and has fresh water: in the Great Corn Island, plenty of good fresh water may be found, by digging small holes in the sand. Several English families reside upon these islands, where they raise cotton and plenty of stock; the population may be estimated at one hundred souls.

MOUNTAINS.

The chief of these to the westward, are called the Poyer Hills, and by the Spaniards Sierras de la Cruz. This high land terminates with a remarkable sugar loaf hill, supposed to have been a volcano, which stands several leagues inland, upon the eastern bank of Black River, and nearly south from

* The West India Pilot, 33.