CAPTAIN TUCKEY’S NARRATIVE. 17 
of all shades of colour, from the swarthy European Portuguese 
to the Negro of Guinea; and, as if it was determined that 
there should be no incongruity in any part of the military de- 
partment, not one of their muskets inten has a lock, and 
many of the barrels are lashed to the stocks with rope yarns. 
From the town we descended by a zig-zag path to the 
valley on the left, named « Val de Trinidad,” over which 
are scattered some clusters of date trees ( Phanix dactylifera ), 
some mimosas, and other spontaneous vegetation; but the 
only attempt at cultivation is near the two wells, which supply 
the town and shipping, where a negro hut is surrounded by 
a miserable plantation of the cotton shrub (Gosszpiwm herba- 
ceum). ‘There can, however, be no doubt but that the soil 
of this valley wants only water to render it fruitful; and it 
seems equally certain, that water might be had in sufficient 
quantity by digging wells. ‘The present possessors of the 
island must however change their natures, before this 
or any other improvement is effected. Though a species of 
mimosa grows to a jarge size in the most burnt-up spots, 
and affords a good shade, they seem never to have thought 
of planting it in the town, where it would be not only orna- 
mental, but highly useful in moderating the excessive heat, 
caused by the action of the sun on the ferruginous sand. 
The wells we now found surrounded by negro washerwoe 
D 
