Page:A voyage to New Holland - Dampier.djvu/43

Rh But we soon found out one of the English Merchants that resided here; who entertain'd us handsomly at Dinner, and in the Afternoon shew'd us the Town.

Laguna is a pretty large well-compacted Town, and makes a very agreeable Prospect. It stands part of it against a Hill, and part in a Level. The Houses have mostly strong Walls built with Stone and covered with Pantile. They are not uniform, yet they appear pleasant enough. There are many fair Buildings; among which are 2 Parish-Churches, 2 Nunneries, an Hospital, 4 Convents, and some Chapels; besides many Gentlemen's Houses. The Convents are those of St. Austin, St. Dominick, St. Francis, and St. Diego. The two Churches have pretty high square Steeples, which top the rest of the Buildings. The Streets are not Regular, yet they are mostly spacious and pretty handsome; and near the middle of the Town is a large Parade, which has good Buildings about it. There is a strong Prison on one side of it; near which is a large Conduit of good Water, that supplies all the Town. They have many Gardens which are set round with Oranges, Limes, and other Fruits: In the middle of which are Pot-herbs, Sallading, Flowers, &c. And, indeed, if the Inhabitants were curious this way, they might have very pleasant Gardens: For as the Town stands high from the Sea, on the Brow of a Plain that is all open to the East, and