Page:A voyage to New Holland - Dampier.djvu/70

32 so that here is good Wat'ring and good Landing at any time; tho' the Road be rocky and bad for Ships. Just by the Landing-place there is a small Fort, almost level with the Sea, where is always a Court of Guard kept. On the top of the Hill, above the Town, there is another Fort; which, by the Wall that is to be seen from the Road, seems to be a large Place. They have Canon mounted there, but how many I know not: Neither what use that Fort can be of, except it be for Salutes. The Town may consist of 2 or 300 Houses, all built of rough Stone; having also one Convent, and one Church.

The People in general are black, or at least of a mixt colour, except only some few of the better sort, viz. the Governor, the Bishop, some Gentlemen, and some of the Padres; for some of these also are black. The People about Praya are Thievish; but these of St. Jago Town, living under their Governour's Eye, are more orderly; tho' generally poor, having little Trade: Yet besides chance Ships of other Nations, there come hither a Portuguese Ship or two every Year, in their way to Brazil. These vend among them a few European Commodies, and take of their principal Manufactures, viz. striped Cotton-cloth, which they carry with them to Brazil. Here is also another Ship comes hither from Por-