5 9 6
jvlr a VCI7 different ufe, and now ferves to pay and fupport the
garrifori, which nominally confifts of one hundred, but in
efleift of only forty men, without either difcipline or arms.
In confequence of this abufe, there are at prefent no public
inftitutions for the improvement of children, and thofe only
who can afford to pay for inftruttion, can give their children
a lettered education. There is a profeflbr appointed indeed,
who has pafTed the examination-; but as he receives no-
falary, he podrly earns his bread by teaching the rudiments
of Latin. It muft be confeffed, that the impoft upon the
wine, is not the only one which is mifapplied in this
ifland. There is another much more confiderabl'e, of two
per cent, kid on all the exports, the produce of which is-
intended to maintain the fortifications in good repair. However,
it is at prefent thought fit to fuffer the batteries to-
decay, and to tranfmit the money to Terceira, where it is
not better employed. One tenth on all the produirions of
the Açores belong to the king, and the fingle article of
tobacco, which is monopolized by the crown, brings in a
confiderable fum. The polTefiion of thefe iflands, fmall as
they are, can therefore never be indifferent to Portugal.
Wheat and maize are the chief produâs of payai ; and
of the former, it fends feveral fhip loads to Lifbon in plentiful
years, Some flax is like wife raifed there; but the
wine known by the name of Payai wine, is all raifed on
the ifland of Pico, which lies direétly oppofite, and has no
harbour.
harbour. The number of inhabitants in Payai is computed f g .
at i i - o o o , diftributed in twelve parifhes; and one third
of the number live in the town, or Villa da Horta, which
contains three of the above parifhes. Its road or bay is
reckoned tolerably fafe in fumnaer, but in winter it is open
to fouth and fouth-eaft winds, which, I was told, blow hard
at that feafon. However, as the bottom is a good fand,
the American veffels fometimes ride there in the worft
weather, by three or four anchors. The wine of Pico is -
chiefly carried from Fayal to North America, and to-
Brafil.
The ifle of Pico has its name from the peak or high
mountain upon it, which is frequently capt with clouds,,
and ferves the inhabitants of Payai nearly the fame purpofe
as a barometer. The ifland is not only the greateft, but
alfo the moft populous of the Açores, containing 30000
inhabitants. It has no corn-fields, being every where,
covered with vineyards, which have a moft enchanting
appearance on the eafy flope at the foot.of the mountain.
The corn, and other neceffaries for the confumption of the
natives, are therefore fiipplied from Payai, moft of the:
principal families of that ifland having large pofifeffions- on
the oppofite, or weftern part of Pico. The feafon of vintage,
is the feafon of mirth and feftivity, when a fourth, or even „
a third part of the inhabitants of Fayal, remove to Pico
with their families, down to the fmalleft dotneftic animals,
It