Tlie Conflaff ration in the Fifteenth Century. 6^ 



island, only six or seven specimens in existence, which are 

 shown as curiosities to strangers. The Til-tree ( OreodapJme 

 fcetens), the Vinhatico {Per sea indica), and the Folhado 

 (Clethra arhored), formerly the most numerous representa- 

 tives of the native flora, arc likewise at present very rarely 

 to be met with, and their places are occupied by plants 

 and trees of the temperate zone, particularly the Spanish 

 chestnut, the fruit of which furnishes the inhabitants with food, 

 whilst the tree itself has served hitherto in the north of the 

 island as a support to the vine. The destruction of the forests 

 has, at the same time, considerably contributed to the modifica- 

 tion of the climate in general, and to the diminution of 

 humidity in particular. At the date of the discovery of the 

 island, and a long time after, the Rio Socorridos, the largest 

 river in the island, is said to have been so deep, as to float 

 timber from the interior to the sea ; at present this river 

 is quite insignificant, and almost dried up. 



The island remained for two centuries in the possession 

 of the direct heirs of the original owners, and when at last, 

 from want of legal successors, these privileges lapsed, the 

 crown granted them to other favourites ; but with some re- 

 strictions. The exclusive rig-ht to corn and saw mills was 

 then entirely abolished, and the salt monopoly with other 

 privileges was retained by the crown. The descendants of 

 the first settlers had in the mean time acquired considerable 

 property in land, whilst the cultivation of the sugar-cane, 

 now very generally adopted, the introduction of negro slaves 



r 



