328 A VOYAGE TO Book IX. 



fame condition in the ifland, with regard to recreation 

 and amufements, as if we had been at fea; being 

 hardly permitted to go aíhore ; the Portuguefe from 

 their natural fufpicion and jealoufy obferved their or- 

 ders with fiich precife ftri6lnefs, that to go from the 

 fhore to the principal fort where the governor of the 

 ifland refided, was the only walk allowed : and in this 

 he who went aíhore was attended with three or four 

 foldiers, who never left him till he returned to the 

 boat, which was immediately ordered to be put off. 

 Guards were placed in all quarters of the harbour; 

 and on feeing any boat, they immediately ran to the 

 place they fuppofed ihe intended to land at, in order to 

 accompany the paffengers. * Thefe difagreeable pre- 

 cautions, however, are to be imputed to the abrupt 

 fettlement made on this ifland by the French Eaft India 

 company, when the Portuguefe retired from it; and 

 now thinking it a" place of great importance to the 

 French, they preclude them from any acquaintance 

 with the inland parts of the ifland, lefl: fuch a know- 

 ledge might facilitate the execution of their fuppofed 

 defigns, namely of taking it from the Portuguefe, and 

 fortifying themfelves in fuch a manner as not to be 

 eafily diflodged. 



• The Portuguefe are very cautious in this refpeft, fearing 

 ftrangers IhouW know the fertility of au ifland, fo near to their rich 

 fettlcments the Erazils, from which ifland a contraband trade might 

 be carried on, if there were a lettlement, or the governor could 

 be br bed. But they take csre to make the molt dependent officer 

 governor, and prevent the ifland from properly becoming a fettle- 

 fn:;nt, by not permitting a woman to live on it. A, 



An 



