the very words of his interpreter, who was a Swede, and spoke English very well.  I did not think it necessary to ask permission for the gentlemen to come on shore during the day, or that, when I was on shore myself, I might be at liberty, taking for granted that nothing was intended to the contrary; but in this I was unfortunately mistaken.  As soon as I took leave of his excellency, I found an officer who had orders to attend me wherever I went:  Of this I desired an explanation, and was told that it was meant as a compliment; I earnestly desired to be excused from accepting such an honour, but the good viceroy would by no means suffer it to be dispensed with.[73]

[Footnote 73:  Mr Barrow notices the extreme jealousy and circumspection of the government, as to strangers.  None, he says, is permitted to walk the streets in the day time, unless a soldier attend him.  Bad governments are usually fearful, and often expose their weakness by the very means they employ to conceal it.  On this principle, admitting its truth, the policy of the Portuguese in general forfeits all claim to admiration.  What changes have been wrought in it, since the transatlantic emigration of the royal family, remain to be elucidated.—­E.]

With this officer, therefore, I returned on board, about twelve o’clock, where I was impatiently expected by Mr Banks and Dr Solander, who made no doubt but that a fair account of us having been given by the officers who had been on board the evening before in their paper called a Practica, and every scruple of the viceroy removed in my conference with his excellency, they should immediately be at liberty to go on shore, and dispose of themselves as they pleased.  Their disappointment at receiving my report may easily be conceived; and it was still increased by an account, that it had been resolved, not only to prevent their residing on shore, and going up the country, but even their leaving the ship; orders having been given, that no person except the captain, and such common sailors as were required to be upon duty, should be permitted to land; and that probably there was a particular view to the passengers in this prohibition, as they were reported to be gentlemen sent abroad to make observations and discoveries, and were uncommonly qualified for that purpose.  In the evening, however, Mr Banks and Dr Solander dressed themselves, and attempted to go on shore, in order to make a visit to the viceroy; but they were stopped by the guard-boat which had come off with our pinnace, and which kept hovering round the ship all the while she lay here, for that purpose; the officer on board saying, that he had particular orders, which he could not disobey, to suffer no passenger, nor any officer, except the captain, to pass the boat.  After much expostulation to no purpose, they were obliged, with whatever reluctance and mortification, to return on board.  I then went on shore myself, but found the viceroy inflexible; he had one answer ready for every thing I could say, That the restrictions under which he had laid us, were in obedience to the king of Portugal’s commands, and therefore indispensable.