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. *79a* . from Topftiam, in Devonfhire, which had been out thirty-two days.
"November. A t eight in the evening, the town o f Saint Jago, a town o f the
ifland o f that name, bore north, half weft, feven miles ^ and, at
three quarters after eleven, we came too in Port Praya bay. The
thermometer at noon ftood at 82 degrees.
Saturday 3. After the u&al faJiates,- feveral boats were employed in watering,
The Seine was alfo'hauled, and frefh fifh ferve^ to the-ftiip’s company.
Monday j. Lord Macartney went on Ihore in a private manner j and, after a
fhort ftay, returned to the Lion.
Tuefday 6. This day arrived three French and one American South-fea whale
filhermen.-—A canoe came along-fide the Lion, with grapes, cocoas
nuts, and other fruits, for fale. This is the only kind o f boat ufed in
thefe iftands, and nothing could exceed, in-the exterior appearances-of
wetchednefs, the owner o f it. The thermometer ftood, this day, on
Ihore, at 90.
Wednefday7. Several5 o f the men belonging to the coip%' o f * arfflldy went on fhoie
towafli and diy their linen* when they returned extremely' fcorchetl^
and their legs covered with blotches, from Handing in the burning
fands. Having given ifty linen to be waflied by a man o f; Praya,
and having reafon to apprehend, that I might fhare the fate o f others,
who had not found the natives o f the country perfectly corredr in
ftirar returns, I went in queft o f my waiherman, and was. obliged to
be content, not only with paying an exorbitant price for what he had
done very ill, but with the loft o f feveral articles which he could hot
he perfuaded to reftdre. I, however, took this opportunity o f view-
ing *he town o f Praya * in which there is very little to excite etui*
ofity, or encourage defcription.
Saint Jago is die largeft o f the Cape de Verd ifiands, which lie between
twenty-three and twenty-fix degrees o f weft longitude, and be-:
4 tween
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tween fourteen and eighteen north latitude. It is very mountainous, j 179*.
and has much barren land on it * nevertheleft, it is the moft fruitful
and. heft inhabited o f them all—»and is the refidence o f the Viceroy, or
Governor.
Praya is Unrated on the eaft fide o f the ifland, and is built on tfft
top o f a flat hill, about an hundred yards above the furface o f the bay j
having a miferable fort on the weftem fide, which, 'however, fuch a$
it ^commands the entrancer-into if; The ofriy landing; place is
©ppoftte the Governor's bOufe, which is utuated in a confiddrable
valley, formed by "two large mountains. A very rugged and afcendi*.
xng path, o f about a quarter o f a mile, and taking an easterly direction,
ledds to afi Arched gate-way, which formsthe entranfe to tbe
town ;-a mean and miferable place, confifting o f nothing morfe than one
wide ftreet, about half a m$&jn length, formed o f low bnufes, built o f
ftone and.-mud,- and.cov’ered with trees ;. and, except two, reach not
beyond the firft ftory. .The furniture of fuch as we eould loak into,
was perfectly fiiited to the 'exterior appearance j confifting of nothing
naote than planks,-which anfwered the double purpofe iof' feats and
tables,' while the beds were as humble as fohtary ftraw could .make
them. There is but one ftiop, and one -public horde in the town *
and the former is as deficient in point o f commodities, as the other ft .
incapable o f convenient accommodation. The church, and ihe governor's
houfe partake of, the general appearance o f the place. The
fjatives are all negroes, who fpeak the Portugaefe language, With
an intermixture pf exiles, 'baniftied from the Brazils and the
Madeiras for capital offences. There is one bonVent in the ifland,
and the" whole is »fubjedt to the fpiritual .jtrrifclidtion o f a Popifli
hilltop.
There appears to be great plenty o f goats Meres, but the fcoreh-
iftg beat o f the climate, and the confequent fcarcity o f every kind
o f herbage, is not calculated to give them a very thriving appearance,
. V
Praya