number, they are seen, there in great plenty. To one of these
places, about seven miles froiq the town, we went; I t was a
small dirty puddle,, yet it was the first drop of water I had met
with since leaving the well near Port Pray a. We hid ourselves in
an hole of the cliff h i the side of the spring* but after waiting
above an hour, I concluded he was deceiving me in hopes of
getting the reward I had promised. While remaining at the
place I observed numbers of cattle and goats eome to drink,
without any person to drive thern, or being even marked * from
which I concluded they were wild cattle. Seeing us they would
not approach, but hastened off. On enquiring of my guide
whether they were wild, I could not make him understand
me; and on my return to Port Praya* I put the same question
to several people who understood a little Fkighsh, and? could
answer most questions I put to them, but, to my surprize* they
pretended ignorance. I therefore conjectured this to be. a subject
on which they wished, or were desired to be s il e n tm y
reasons for this conjecture will appear hereafter.
Pindinglittle chance of seeing any Guinea fowls,; ! expressed
my great disappointment to my guide,: who then informed me
that there was a place at a considerable distance farther*;wherC
we might be certain of meeting with them, observing at the
same time that they seldom came to drink, except very early in
the morning, or late in the evening. Being anxious to become
better acquainted with the country, I determined on proceeding
thither. We passed several little farms inhabited by the natives;
who resemble African negroes. These farms are mostly situated
in the valleys, and appear to have great labour bestowed on the®.
The houses are mere cabins, exhibiting much misery; yet
wretched as they appeared, the women, on our entering any of
them, received us with kindness* offering us milk. The men»
we were told, were at work in the fields. The females were all
busily
busily employed in spinning cotton, which they did With great
dexterity from a distaff with a spindle, whitening every now and
then the forefinger and thumb through: which the thread passed
with a powder like ehalk, though I had ndtÿe t seen any chalk
or lime in any p a rto f th e ‘coüntrÿ-Ihad passed through. Some
were employ edritv weaving a kind ofelotb, peculiar to the island,
on small hand-looms. ; From the information of these people we
again set off in search of -the Guinea fowls, but weie told that
it was more than probable we shcmld not’ see any till’the following
morning^ On reaching a small-stream in & valley-we took
posMill ©Ur patience was exhausted^ Leaving that situation we
reached another noted place, and were for tun ateienough to spring
meoïièÿxff near thMy;which led us a ehaee of several miles without
being able to get within shot bf them. Finding that we
were going farther inland than my time would admit of, I abandoned
the pursuit, and returned to the first huts already - mentioned,
where the hospitable people gawemsisome eggs,, and a
sort of macaroni which they used as bread ; this with-miik and
some biscuit we had with us;' enabled us to make a cémfprtable
meal. ‘While ...thus employed several of the-'meh camejhbme
from work.' They areriii general more robust and strong than
the-Portu‘gurèsb>:': as they'havêwobüy. hair and flat noses their
origin may be easily traced. They are zealous Catholic;; ttólïry
cabin we entered had a crucifix plaeedfwn some conspicuous
situation^ After experiencing the-hospitality of thèse people,
which, from the account of some voyagers, ! was led not tpex&
pect, we returned heartily lired to Port Praya* the day, more-'
diver, had been uncommotely^hltry. Walking in this island i&
attended with many disagi^fiable^ms&tfon$, particularly from
the sulphureous effluvia arising from the e a rth ..
Salt is the principal article of trade of the Cape de Verd
Islands ; but it does i* > pjtenty in St. Jâgo.
D 2 In