366 A VOYAGE TO Book IX. 



the greatefl part of them have fince been buüt of 

 none. They all have only a ground floor, except 

 here and there one with a ftory. Befides the parida 

 church, which adds an ornament to the fquare where 

 it (lands, here is a college of Jeiuits, who have the 

 care of the fpiritual concerns of the inhabitants, and 

 difcharge it with exemplary afFeilion and fedulity. 

 Indeed at the firil fettlement of the French here, 

 the priefts were capuchins ; but the latter beimg ei- 

 ther unable to bear the climate, or not blefied with 

 a fufficient ftock of patience to reconcile themfelves 

 to it, fcrfook the churches, on which the Jefuits 

 took charge of them. Here is alfo a nunnery of 

 Urfelines recently founded, and a convent of reli- 

 gious of San Juan de Dios. About three quarters of a 

 league from the town is an hofpital, remarkably fpacious 

 and beautiful, and which receives all patients who 

 apply for admittance. The parilh church, though a 

 handfome building, has not yet recovered the damages 

 it fuilained at the fire. The college of Jefuits is a moft 

 elegant ftrufture in every refpeft; and though not 

 large, is fufficient for the conveniency of the fathers 

 generally refiding in it, which never exceed fix. The 

 nunnery is of greater extent; but by the king's order 

 that the increafe of the town may not be obllructed, 

 no young women natives of the country are allowed to 

 take the veil, fo that .it can only be confidercd as a 

 place of genteel and regular education, till they are of 

 age to enter on another ftate. 



The town lies open without any other defence 

 than a fingle rampart, two batteries on the fea-fide, 

 and a little fort on the point of Puolet for defend- 

 ing the entrance of the harbour, at about two 

 thirds of a league from the town. The regular gar- 

 rifon both for it and the place itfelf confifts partly of 

 French and pardy Switzers, befides a numerous and 

 complete body of militia formed of all the inhabi- 

 tants capable of bearing arms, who are difciplined, 



and 



