From GDP/57 James Bennetts Williams

James Bennetts Williams (1856-1924) worked in the Cornish tin mines. During the latter decades of the nineteenth century, the tin-mining industry in Cornwall went into decline. Looking for work, Williams emigrated to Bolivia. Here, he describes his arrival in Montevideo whilst en route.

Wednesday October 24 1883

I got up about 1/2 past 3 A.M. but it was very cold they weighted anchor about 4 & we are now right in front of the city. There are lots of ships in the harbour, there is an arm of land runs right out into the river which forms a nice shipping place. There is a mount on the arm of land with a castle on top. I can see a lot of ships. The town is situated on flat piece of land & can’t be seen afar off. It seems to be very fertile here as everything looks green & we got a lot of vegetables sent on board, also sixteen bullocks and fifty sheep. All the beds are taken ut of the steerage since we got rid of the foreigners [at Rio] & the cattle are put to take their places which are a great deal quieter and quite as decent. We are put in a nice room to ourselves all we Cornish boys, it is much more comfortable than we had it before. There is a place for any one to sit down & read or write without being molested. We went below & had a lot of music from the Orguinette & went to bed about 10P.M.