1838.] THE CAPE DE VERDES. 37 



tall bluff upon which stands the flag-staff and a ruined forti- 

 fication, on the right of the entrance to the harbor, and came 

 to anchor in the bay of Porto Praya. 



The Cape de Verdes were discovered by the Portuguese, 

 in 1460, and are still subject to the crown of Portugal. The 

 islands are about twenty in number, and contain seventy-five 

 thousand inhabitants, thirty thousand of whom reside in St. 

 Jago. The population is principally composed of mulattoes 

 and blacks, — there being but few native Portuguese. Some 

 of the blacks adhere to their vernacular tongue ; but the 

 common medium of conversation is a horrid jargon com- 

 pounded of the Negro and Portuguese dialects. Near the 

 sea, the islands are low, sandy, and barren ; but further in- 

 land, there are lofty hills and mountains, which afford pas- 

 turage for numerous herds of cattle and goats. On the coast, 

 the water is brackish ; but it is brought from the interior — 

 except in St. Jago — of good quality, in goatskins, on the backs 

 of asses. The islands are only tolerably fertile, and are sub- 

 ject to frequent droughts, probably occasioned by the preva- 

 lence of the dry hot winds blowing from the Sahara, or Great 

 Desert of Africa. In 1832, the inhabitants suffered severely 

 from a visitation of this character. Their cattle were starved, 

 and they would themselves have perished, had it not been for 

 the contributions made for their relief in other countries, par- 

 ticularly in the United States. The generous conduct of the 

 citizens of the latter government is still remembered among 

 them with the liveliest emotions of gratitude. The climate 

 is said to be healthy, though very warm. The rainy season 

 continues only three months ; it commences about the middle 

 of July, and terminates about the middle of October, when 

 everything assumes a livelier, fresher, and more verdant ap- 

 pearance. 



The productions of this group of islands are not numerous, 

 and the inhabitants are dependent on the vessels stopping 

 there for many articles of comfort and convenience, for which 

 they exchange their own products. Beef, poultry, eggs, fresh 

 fish, cabbages, beans, pumpkins, squashes, corn, sweet pota- 



