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( 9 ) navigable channels between them. It is not uncommon for ſhips to get upon the bar, and ſometimes they are loſt.

The firſt place the ſlave-ſhips touch at in their paſſage to the Weſt Indies, is either the iſland of St. Thomas, or Princes island, where they uſually carry their ſick on ſhore, or the benefit of the air, and likewiſe repleniſh their ſtock of water. The former of theſe islands is nearly circular, being one hundred and twenty miles round, and lies exactly under the equator, about forty-five leagues from the African continent. It abounds with wood and water, and produces Indian corn, rice, fruits, ſugar, and ſome cinnamon. The air is rather prejudicial to an European conſtitution, neverthesleſs it is well peopled by the Portugueſe. Princes iſland, which is much ſmaller, lies on 1 deg. 30 min. north latitude, and likewiſe produces Indian corn, and a variety of fruits and roots, beſides ſugar-canes, black cattle, hogs and goats are numerous there; but it is infeſted with a miſchievous and dangerous ſpecies of monkeys.

During one of the voyages I made, I was landed upon the iſland of St. Thomas, with near one hundred ſick negroes, who were placed in an old houſe, taken on purpoſe for their reception. Little benefit however accrued from their going on ſhore, as ſeveral of them died there, and the remainder continued nearly in the ſame ſituation as