28o THE LIFE or 



and from thence continue their voyage to Por- 

 tugal ; but now they are divided into feparatc 

 fquadrons, one of which fails every three months. 

 Belides thefe articles of commerce, there are a 

 few diamonds ; but not fo good as the oriental 

 ones, from which chemifts affert they differ,in not 

 being inflammable; chryflal is alfo produced 

 here, of very great bulk and beauty ; and fur- 

 nifhes the optician with the very befl lenfes for 

 fpedacles. There is likewife a fpecies of cot« 

 ton, which, from its filky appearance, is called 

 filk cotton ; but its fcarcity excludes it from com- 

 merce; and, though it might certainly be raifed 

 in any quantity, the lazinefs of the inhabitants 

 proves an infuperable bar to its cultivation. 

 Fruit is remarkably plentiful here, though not 

 "iX Rio Qrande \ but, in return, horfes are fcarce 

 •whereas, as has already been feen, there they 

 abound. 



The port lies a confidcrable diftance inland j 

 the channel is flrongly defended by iflands which 

 are well fortified, and is in many places fo nar- 

 row that a cannon-lhot will reach acrofs; in 

 fhort, if well defended, I deem it impoflible for 

 an enemy to enter it. 



The harbour is large enough to hold all the 

 fhips in Europe ; and in it, oppofite to the town, 

 is a large ifland,called//^^i/£'/ojCi?^r<3j,which ferves 

 for a llate prifon ; the fortifications upon it are 



of 



