1838.] PORTO PRAYA. 39 



as hunters and travellers on the American prairies use the 

 bois de vache of the buffalo. Horses are found here, but the 

 principal beast of burden is the ass, which carries its load in 

 panniers. A long string of the animals, frequently seen 

 dashing at full speed over the sand, is called a hato. 



White cotton shirts, aprons, and trowsers, are worn by the 

 men, with dark vests, generally purchased at second hand 

 from the crews of the vessels frequenting the islands. Some- 

 times they wear straw hats on their heads, but oftener noth- 

 ing. Party-colored turbans and handkerchiefs form the head- 

 gear of the women ; a shawl fastened about the waist, and 

 another thrown over the bust and tied behind, complete the 

 dress. 



The gobernddor, or governor, of the islands, resides at 

 Porto Praya, in St. Jago. This island is about sixty miles 

 in circumference, and is the most fertile and productive of the 

 group. The former capital was Ribeira Grande, but Porto 

 Praya now enjoys that distinction. The latter contains be- 

 tween two and three thousand inhabitants, and is situated on 

 an elevated plateau overlooking the bay. Its whitewashed 

 walls and battlements may be descried far out at sea, and 

 betoken a greater degree of cleanliness than is witnessed on 

 landing. Blind beggars and naked children, — pigs, fowls, 

 and monkeys, — cross the path at every step. Black soldiers, 

 wi th huge muskets generally out of repair, patrol the entrdda 

 of the Presidio, or governor's house ; and a squad of dirty 

 recruits going through the manual exercise is usually the 

 most striking object in the -plaza. Officers, as well as men, 

 including the governor, are black. A market is held daily in 

 the square, when there are any vessels in port. 



A rocky ghaut, or pass, leads to the Valley of Dates, half 

 a mile west of the town, which is one of the most attractive 

 features of the island. Here was formerly the public foun- 

 tain, from which water was obtained for the inhabitants and 

 shipping. They are now supplied by a reservoir, constructed 

 at the expense of the government, and filled with water 

 brought in iron pipes a distance of two miles. The soil of 



