Page 59 - The Pirate Coast (By Sir Charles Belgrave)

damped by one of the seamen, John Dobson, falling overboard at
8.30 p.m. He was drowned, in spite of all the exertions of those
in the cutter and the jolly-boat, which were immediately lowered
to his assistance. It being dark, he was not observed after reach­
ing the water, the chances arc that he was immediately seized by
some of the numerous sharks which frequent these latitudes.’
Loch describes the sharks in this area as ‘not so large as those
I have seen in the East or West Indies, but I have seen them caught
from twelve to fourteen feet long. One, taken at the time that I
am writing, had a pair ofjaws which, when cleaned, were so wide
as to be slipped over my shoulders, and down, without touching
any part of my body.’
At daybreak on July 26th, the high Sugar Loaf mountain at the
entrance to the harbour of Rio dc Janeiro was sighted, and that
evening, the Eden anchored off the town, close to the Portuguese
Admiral’s ship. Loch was full of admiration for the magnificent
scenery and the mountains of fantastic shapes which surrounded
the bay, ‘of all the grand and beautiful places which I have ever
beheld in any quarter of the Globe, Rio Janeiro is the foremost.’
Some days later, Loch discovered that the Admiral had considered
it an omission that the Eden had not saluted his flag, so this was
done, on the understanding that the Admiral’s ship would return
an equal number of guns. The Eden remained at Rio until
August 6th.
Loch, with his friends Mansel and Dunkin, paid the usual
visits to the Minister of Marine, and other officers of state,
and were entertained by the Consul-General, Mr. Chamberlain.
An English merchant, Mr. Young, invited them to dinner in his
house. Soon after they arrived, Mr. Young appeared, and
begged to be excused, as lie was obliged to dine with the Minister
of Marine, but to the surprise of his guests, he told them that his
daughter, who was only fourteen years old, and her governess,
an Irish Catholic lady, would do the honours at dinner. They
had an excellent meal, and after dinner, they were taken to the
opera by the young lady and her governess.
Though filled with admiration for the beauty of the scenery,
the imposing appearance of the palaces and churches, and the
splendour of their interiors, Loch was not impressed by the habits
of the people. ‘Murder’, he says, ‘is a crime considered of little
consequence in this part of the world. An assassin can be hired
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