226 PROFESSOR SMITH’S JOURNAL. 
April 9. In the mornmg we were under the island of 
Mayo, which appeared to be lower than Bonavista; and 
soon after we got sight of St. Jago. It is only a few days 
since the Captain informed us that we were to touch at Porto 
Praya, though we had reason to suppose this to be the 
plan long ago. All eyes were therefore with double 
eagerness bent towards the island as we approached it. 
After having for so long time seen nothing but the heaven 
and the ocean, even the barren rocks, which were the first 
objects that met our scrutinizing eyes, conveyed an 
agreeable impression: though, in looking through the 
telescope, it was with difficulty I could discover the least 
vegetation, and scarcely expected on these rocks a richer 
harvest than in the deserts of Lonzocolo last year. This 
island appeared much higher than either of the two we had 
just passed. In itsgeneral formation it resembles the Ca- 
naries. It is surrounded by a perpendicular wall of rock 
without any strand, and it rises gradually up to the summit 
of the hills, ‘Uhe highest mountain is about the middle of 
the island. Its shape is that of an oblique cone, the top of 
which rears its head above the clouds, appearing at a dis- 
tance like a black spot. ‘The harbour soon opened out 
between the rocks, in the form of an half circle. On both 
sides batteries have been erected, but merely for the sake 
of appearance. Guns without carriages, negro-soldiers 
having muskets without locks, and the barrels tied to the 
stocks with twine, constitute the defence of the harbour. 
At the bottom of this circular inlet is situated the principal 
sea-port town of the island, which is nearly in the same 
