Still it was with feelings of no small satisfaction that “green water” was again reached, and the Sumter found herself within about ninety miles of the (Dutch) Guiana coast.  Hopes were now entertained of soon reaching Maranham, but the next day showed them to be fallacious.  A strong northerly current had set in, and, in addition to this drawback, it was discovered that the defalcations of the Port of Spain coal merchants were more serious than had been supposed, and there was not sufficient fuel left for the run.  Next day matters were worse rather than better.  The northerly current was running at the extraordinary rate of sixty miles in the twenty-four hours, a speed equal to that of the Gulf Stream in its narrowest part.  Only three days’ fuel remained, and making allowance for the northerly set, there were fully 550 miles to be accomplished before Maranham could be reached.

Still the Sumter held patiently on her course in hopes of a change; but no change came.  Wind and current were as hostile as ever, and the observations of the 11th August giving lat. 2 deg. 38’ N., long. 47 deg. 48’ W., the question of the voyage to Maranham, or even to Para, appeared definitely settled, and letting his fires go down, Captain Semmes put up his helm, made all sail, and stood away on a N.W. course, hoping to find a fresh supply of coal at some of the ports of Guiana under his lee.

The afternoon of that day saw the sky clear, the sea almost calm, and the little Sumter, rolling along on the long, lazy swell, with all her starboard studding-sails set, at about three or four knots an hour, towards Cape Orange, from which point it was intended to make her way into Cayenne.

Here she arrived on the 15th August, but her hopes were again doomed to disappointment.  On coming to anchor, officers were at once despatched with the usual complimentary messages to the Governor, and a request to be informed whether the vessel could be supplied with coal.  These officers, however, were not permitted to land, the reason given being, that they were without a clean bill of health from their last port.  It was in vain to represent the perfect state of health of the crew, and the length of time they had been at sea.  The official mind was closed against any argument but that of the consigne.  Five days’ quarantine were ordered, and five days’ quarantine must be undergone, before the salubrious shores of Cayenne could be exposed to the danger of infection from the new comers; and as the authorities accompanied this fiat with the statement, that there was no coal to be had in the place even for the supply of their own government vessels, our captain determined to make no further trial upon the discussion, but to seek his supplies elsewhere.