Anchored in Church Bay, at which place Doña Ferraz, widow of the Portuguese Governor of Prince’s Island, holds her court. She is a very kind and hospitable lady of rather dark complexion, and fond of the English. Doña Ferraz has five of these large houses, around which the negro huts are prettily arranged, each having its garden in front. The _slavery_ was only in the name; I never saw a set of people more happy and contented, or more devoted than they are to their mistress. We remained a couple of days, during which time I was “Madame’s” (the name she always goes by) guest. I noticed, tending the table, some smart-looking boys, of a much lighter complexion than the generality of the slave children. I found on inquiry that they were all born at West Bay, where British cruisers go for wood and water. However, after a certain age, “Madame” gives them their freedom, a piece of ground, and a small sum of money. About four o’clock in the afternoon a rakish schooner hove in sight, coming round the northernmost point of the bay, but on seeing us, she bore up. We immediately weighed and made all sail in chase, but directly after sunset in the tropics, when there is no moon, it becomes exceedingly dark. At daylight nothing of our chase was to be seen. [Sidenote: Nov. 29.] Fell in with a brig, 450 slaves on board. Prize to _Scout_, 18, Commander R. Craigie. CHAPTER XX THE _CHILDERS_ BRIG [Sidenote: 1837. Dec. 2.] Arrived off the Bonny, and at sunset made sail in chase of another schooner, which managed to get away from us during the night. [Sidenote: Dec. 4.] At daylight we were again off the Bonny, where we found _Pelican_. I received orders from Commander Popham to cruise between latitudes 4° and 2° north, longitude 3° 30′ and 6° east and the coast, and to wait off Cape Formosa for _Buzzard_, who would supply us with provisions. [Sidenote: Dec. 8.] Last night, while cruising off Cape Formosa under topsails, a sail was reported ahead. All sail was made in chase, and, having a fresh breeze, in an hour we came up with her. There is nothing so exciting as a chase, especially at night, when you cannot make out what you are in chase of. Even the men of the watch below turn out to look on, as soon as within range. We dropped a shot under her quarter, upon which she rounded to, and, to our disappointment, proved to be the _Pink_, an English brig from Liverpool, come to trade for palm-oil. [Sidenote: Dec. 10.] At daylight we sighted a rakish-looking schooner on our lee bow. A shot brought her to. She was from the Havana, under Portuguese colours, come out for a cargo of slaves. We soon after made a man-of-war to windward, which proved to be _Waterwitch_. She brought us orders to proceed to our station. In the afternoon, while at dinner, a strange sail was reported in-shore of us. We both made sail, steering one to the eastward and the other to the west of the stranger. [Illustration: _A Slaver._]