The captain had, I found, touched here chiefly to get a supply of fruit, vegetables, fresh meat, and water, as he knew that the health of a crew is maintained without difficulty when there is an abundance of these necessaries.  He had also another reason for coming here.  It was to obtain information, which the Portuguese authorities were able to supply, regarding certain places he proposed visiting.  As, however, the whole plan of our proceedings was to be kept secret, I will not touch on that subject.  Gerard and I were all anxiety to go on shore, so the captain gave us leave to accompany Mr Brand, with strict charges to him to keep us out of mischief.  "Not an easy job!" muttered Silas, preparing to accompany us into a boat.  For the first time in my life I stood on foreign soil, and very soon I was undeceived as to the cleanliness, and comfort, and beauty of the habitations; and many a house which looked so very picturesque at a distance was found, on a nearer inspection, to be a very dirty domicile.  Still the views from them were beautiful.  Nature has done everything; it is graceless man who is in fault that all is not in accordance with it.  At the corner of one of the streets we saw a number of horses, and mules, and donkeys, standing together with their attendant drivers--_arrieros_.