20 CAPTAIN TUCKEY’S NARRATIVE. 
the negroes, we could scarcely believe that they are subject 
to be momentarily dragged away to receive the lashes com- 
manded by a brutal owner, were we not painfully convinced 
by the indelible marks of the whip on their naked bodies. 
The strictest precautions are taken against the evasion 
of slaves on board foreign vessels that touch here, and par- 
ticularly by not allowing boats of any kind to the inhabi- 
tants, the want of which gives to the port the appearance 
of a deserted settlement. 
The industrious pursuits of the islanders appear to be- 
limited by their absolute wants, being confined to produc- 
ing the stock and vegetables for their consumption, manu- 
facturing a little sugar also for their own use, and weaving 
the cotton of the island chiefly into shawls for the women. 
As there is scarely any thing exported from the island, 
there is no other ingress of money, than what is paid by 
ships for refreshments, or that which is sent from Portugal to 
pay the expenses of the establishment; and this cannot be 
much if all are paid in the same proportion as the Governor, 
who told us that his salary was but four dollarsa day. Pos- 
sessed by a more industrious people, and better governed, 
this island might however be made highly productive of 
colonial objects ; the sugar cane is equal to that of the West 
Indies, the indigo plant succeeds perfectly, and the dye it 
