Barbadoes

Monday 15^th – fresh breezes – fine weather. During last night we unfortunately got to the Westward of Barbadoes, either from bad steerage, or the influence of a current so that the wind which but for this circumstance would have been fair for us, was thus dead on end – and we were occupied the whole day in beating up to the Eastward to gain our former vantage ground. The Island was in sight all day – and by night we were not ten miles off!

Tuesday 16^th April – at 5.15 A.M. came to anchor near our old spot. The morning was lovely – & more vessels were in the Harbour than I had ever seen yet. The aspect of nature was also the same, & I looked in vain for some dreadful memento of the last hurricane – such as the absence of trees – but none could I see. After breakfast I went on shore and found the same bustle, squabbling & numbers as ever. The town bore very few traces of the hurricane – indeed were it not from some suspicious signs I should never have conjectured that the place had been nearly overwhelmed by such a visitation. These signs were some houses, small in number here & there with their windows blown in and their roofs blown off. All the rest of the town had had the damage done effectually repaired, & now presented the same appearance as before.

The atmosphere on shore was excessively hot, and we were glad to bid it adieu at ½ past 12 and return on board, where under a large awning, & with the breeze playing freely around us, we enjoyed comparative comfort. Our vessel presented the usual [collection] of women – talking, laughing, scolding & chaffering – but there were not so many as we had been accustomed to see & I rather think that some of our old acquaintances have found a grave among the ruins of their dwellings. At 5 P.M. we received our Mail on board, and with a fresh and favourable breeze set sail for S.^t Vincent.

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