Ch. in. SOUTH AMERICA. 323 



them to fpare no expence for keeping the forts in a 

 condition to affert their fovereign right againft any 

 intruders. 



The principal fort (lands on a high fteep rock 

 waihed by the fea, at the foot of which is a ca- 

 vern, where vaft quantities of water are continually 

 pouring in without any fenfible outlet, in this place 

 are heard at fhort intervals, very dreadful eruita- 

 tions of the wind, which being compreiTed ftruggles 

 for a vent againft the torrent of the water, and by. 

 filling the whole mouth of the cave in its afcent, 

 leaves a large vacuity after its difcharge, which is 

 done with a noife refembling that of a volcano: 

 but neither on the oppofite fide of the iiland, nor 

 throughout its whole circuit, is there any place or 

 mark wliich affords the leaft room for conjedure, with 

 regard to the other mouth of this cavern ; ih that 

 it is fuppofed to be at a great diftance from it in the 

 fea. 



The barrennefs of the ifland does not proceed 

 from any defeéV in its foil, which produces every fpe- 

 cies of grain, and fruits common in hot climates, as 

 experience has fufficicncly demonftrated ; but from the 

 want of moifture : for befides two or three years 

 often pafs without any rain, there is not the leaft 

 drop of water to be found throughout the iiland ex- 

 cept in fome brooks j and by realon of this fcarcity 

 the plants wither and die away in their growth. The 

 moft fruitful parts of the ifland, unleis when foftencd 

 by moifture from the clouds, become as arid and bar- 

 ren as rocks. At the time we were there it was two 

 years fince they had any rain; but on the nineteenth 

 of May came on violent ihowers, which continued 

 the whole time we remained near rhc ifland. The 

 inhabitants ufe the water which ihey lave in pits re- 

 fembling cifterns, but chib as well as tne waters of the 

 brooks on its bc^^innnig to rain, grow thick and 

 Y 2 brackiíh. 



