During our visit at Saint Martin's, Mr. Cromoni introduced us to his father, one of the most extensive and respectable merchants in the West Indies. This gentleman, whose high character and unquestionable veracity are entitled to the most unqualified confidence and respect, related to us the following extraordinary account; at the same time assuring us, that during a long residence in the northern parts of the South American Continent, he had himself been, on many occasions, an eyewitness of the fact.

The city of Cartagena is, at certain periods of the year, particularly celebrated for its extensive fairs for the sale of various descriptions of foreign merchandise, and other goods no less valuable to the inhabitants of the surrounding districts. For some days previous to these periodical meetings, immense bodies of Indians, regularly assemble at particular points, on the banks of the river Choco, well-known for the treasure embosomed in its deep and rapid stream. Here these amphibious mortals plunge into a depth of not less than

from ten to fifteen fathoms, and rising at some hundred feet distant from their place of descent, bring up with them from the river's bed a quantity of gravel or sand, from which they afterwards separate small particles of gold, generally about the size of pins' heads. Having by repeated trials thus provided themselves with what they consider a sufficient quantity for their present purposes, they proceed in numerous parties for the city of Cartagena, nearly four hundred miles distant, where they barter it in the most thrifty and parsimonious manner, for such articles as they may be desirous of procuring; and, which is most extraordinary, should they, after effecting all their purchases, still retain any gold in their possession they faithfully carry back the overplus, and deposit it in its original place of security, the bottom of the river; ascribing as the motive for this strange proceeding their dread of the Spaniards, to whose cruelty and insatiable thirst for wealth so many of their countrymen had already fallen victims. Mr. C. further assured me, that numbers of the Spaniards have perished in

attempting to procure riches in the same extraordinary manner, bes

We had now been nearly a week at Marygott, when a letter from Great Bay announced to us the arrival there of Mr. Ritchie, on his return from Saint Thomas's. This information compelled us immediately to prepare for our departure, and with feelings of much regret we took leave of our hospitable friend, and having shortly after joined Mr. R, returned with him to Saint Bartholomew's.

The result of our Supercargo's communication with Mr. Molony was in every respect unfavourable, and too fully corroborated the inauspicious reports in general circulation. The intelligence thus procured by Mr. R. was to the following effect, on the correctness whereof Mr. M. not only assured him he might place the most implicit reliance, but even furnished him at his desire, with certificates to the same purport, for the satisfaction of the officers commanding the different corps. Mr. M. stated, that so great was the poverty of the Independents, as to render it utterly im

possible for them at this time to collect, in money and produce, a sum exceeding twenty thousand pounds; and on our Supercargo informing him that the value of the stores, &c., onboard the Britannia alone, was estimated at about thirty-five thousand pounds, Mr. M. observed that no provision whatever had been made for the purchase of those supplies, and that the Independents were altogether unable to meet the engagement entered into by Don Mendez in London; adding, that he (Don M.) must have far exceeded the authority and powers with which he had been invested.

Mr. Ritchie now considered it incompatible with his duty, after the undoubted information he had received, to hazard the property intrusted to his care; but proposed, in fulfilment of the charter-party, to provide a conveyance for the officers and men, without the guns or stores, and send them forward to the Main. This proposal, although the only alternative left to Mr. R- could not otherwise than excite feelings of the strongest dissatisfaction and surprise. It was totally inconsistent with

the engagements which had been made with us, and received our unanimous dissent. We could not accede to a measure which would, on landing, leave us in a state of the utmost helplessness; equally destitute of the means of subsistence, or defence against the depredations and barbarities of the natives in general, and at the distance probably of many hundred miles from the Independent army.

The state of our affairs had now become still more critical and alarming, as we knew not how soon we might be compelled to depart from the ship, and, of course, thrown upon the island, dependent upon our own individual resources for subsistence; it having been frequently intimated to us that our rations on board could not be much longer continued.

Such was our situation when the occurrence of the following circumstance so irritated and displeased the Governor that he commanded us to leave the island before the expiration of the ensuing week. In relating the particulars of this event it will be necessary to refer back to the day but