f t
August, We may perhaps conclude from hence, that the
Cape-Verd iflands in the hands of an aftive, enterprifing,
or commercial nation, would become interefting and ufe-
ful, and might be cultivated to the greateft advantage.
The cochineal-plant, indigo, fome fpices, and perhaps
coffee, would thrive particularly well in this hot and
parched climate ; and thefe productions would be fuf-
ficient to fupply the natives not only with the neceffaries,
but likewife with the conveniencies and luxuries of life,
under the benign influence of a free and equal government,
like that under which we have the happinefs to
live in this country. Inftead of feeding on a fcanty allowance
of roots, we fhould fee their board heaped with
plenty, and convenient houfes would then fupply the
place of wretched hovels.
. Some of the lower hills were dry and barren, fcarce
any plants growing upon them -, but others had ftill fome
verdure on them, though we were now at the end of
the dry feafon. They are all covered with abundance of
flones, which appear to have-been burnt, and are a fpecies of
lava. The foil, which is fertile enough in the vallies, is a
kind of rubbilh of cinders, and ochreous afhes; and the
rocks on the fea-fhore are likewife black and burnt. It
is therefore probable, that this- ifland' has undergone a
change from volcanic eruptions ; and it will not be deemed
jjnreafonable to form the fame opinion of all the Cape-
Verd
A VO Y A GE ROUND THE WORLD. 3 9
Verd iflands, when we confider that one of them, the
ifland of Fuogo, ftill confifts of a' burning mountain. The
interior mountains of the country are lofty, and fome of
. t-iem appear fteep and eraggy, being perhaps of a more
ancient date than the volcanic parts 'which we could
examine.
In the evening we returned on board ; but as the furf
ran confiderably higher than at our landing, we were
obliged to ftrip in order to wade to our boats, which our
heft fwimmers had loaded with water-calks, and fucli re~
frefhments as. could be purchafed on fliore , not without
fome danger of being hurt by fharks, which are numerous^
in the harbour. The captains, aftronomers, and matters,
had fpent this day in making aftronomical obfervations
upon the little iflet in the harbour, named Ilha dos Codornizes,
or Quail ifland, from the birds which are in great plenty
upon it. The commandant of the fort informed us, that'
the officers of a French frigate had likewife made aftronomical
obfervations on this identical fpot fome time ago
having feveral watches of a new conftruftion on board *.
The next day captain Cook invited the governor-general, TMty
and the commandant to dinner, and we ftaid on board,
in order to aft as interpreters on this occafion; The cap-
* T h is was the Ifis frigate, commanded by M. de Fleurien^orr board of-which,
was M . Pingre, with feveral time-keepers. A journal.of the-voyage and obferva--
tions made in that fhip,. has fince been publifiied in 2. vols.< quarto.
taiQi