Ch. III. SOUTH AMERICA. 325 



Here are two tranfports belonging to the kihg of Por- 

 tugal, for bringing provifions and foldiers, the latter of 

 which is done fo methodically, that the time when they 

 are to leave Brazil is fettled: and thus while one is 

 coming towards the ifland, the other is returning witi> 

 the late garrifon. 



After the fecond fettlement of the Portuguefe 

 here, befides the little plantations which was one of 

 their firit cares, they alfo brought over cows, hogs, 

 and iheep, in order to breed thofe ufeful creatures; 

 and as a fmall quantity of flcfh ferves the Portuguefe, 

 they are, even in this barren foil, fo greatly increafed, 

 that during our ftay here we had the pleafure of viftual- 

 ling our crews with freíh provifions ; and at our de- 

 parture took on board a quantity fufficient to laft us for 

 feveral days. 



These harbours or roads abound in fiih of five 

 or fix difi^erent fpecies: and among thefe are lam- 

 preys and Moreiios} the laft are of an enormous 

 fize, but neither of them palatable. At the bottom 

 of this harbour is taken a fiih called cope, from its 

 triangular figure. It has a fnout not unlike that of 

 a hog; and its whole body inclofed in one bone re - 

 fembling horn, within which is the fleih, entrails and 

 other parts. On the two upper fuperficies it is co- 

 vered with green fcales, and underneath with white. 

 It has two fmall fins like other fiihes, and its tail, 

 which is horizontal, is alfo fmall. On being taken 

 out of the water it immediately emits from its 

 mouth a greeniih froth of an infupportable fmell, 

 and which continues for a confiderable time. Some 

 of our people who had ken this fiih in other parts 

 affirmed, that its fleih is of fuch a poiibnous na- 

 ture, as to caufe the bodies of thofe who eat, though 

 but moderately of it, to fwell till they burft. But 

 the people on this ifiand were as poifitive to the 

 contrary, and affirmed it from their own experience. 

 y 3 They 



