BOOK II. CHAP. IX. 209 



the foot: there, in the various duties which cultivation excites, 

 are labourers, cattle, and carriages; all biKkly employed. In ad- 

 dition to theie animated Icenes is a boundlcfs profpecft of the iea, 

 which fkirts the diftant horizon towards the North ; and, on the 

 other hand, a wood-capped battlement of hills, that fliuts in the 

 Southern view. Delicious as the face of this part of the country is, 

 it fcarcely exceeds in beauty the profpcft of Lucea and its environs. 

 The harbour at the entrance is half a mile acrofs ; and, continuing 

 its channel for about one mile inland, expands at once into a cir- 

 cular bafon of nearly the fame fpace in diameter every way; the 

 anchoring-ground every where good, and depth of water from four 

 to fix fathom. 



The town is inconfiderable, confifling only of one large flrect, 

 and about forty or fifty fcattered houfes. It (lands on the South- 

 VVefl fide, upon a fwampy bottom ; but no part of it is feen from 

 the road, until it is adually entered. The land behind and on each 

 fide is hilly : fo that the view from it is only open towards the 

 water. Two or three rivulets creep through it, more noifome than 

 the antient canal of Fleet-ditch. At the bottom of the harbour, 

 the Eaft and Weft Lucea Rivers difcharge their ftreams. Thouah 

 raifed to the dignity of a free port, its trade as yet is not very cx- 

 tenfive. The number of veflels which enter and clear here may be 

 reckoned at about fifty to f\xty fall per ^mium ; but the harbour is 

 very capable of receiving three hundred top-fail fhtips at a time, 

 were there but inducements to attract them. During the lafl war, 

 this town carried on a very aftive trade ; but this has been difcou- 

 raged fince by captures and other lofies ; fo that at prefent it is far 

 from being in a profperous condition. The prefent fituation is ill- 

 chofen, and naturally unadapted for healthful refidence. But the 

 port is conveniently fituated for traffic with the South- Wefl: parts of 

 Cuba ; and, enjoying as it does fo fine a receptacle for (hipping, it 

 is well defcrving of the public patronage. The fort, which com- 

 mands the entrance, ftands on the Weftern point, a fmall penin- 

 fula, and is built on a rock, rifing about twenty feet above the level 

 of the fea. It is very compleat in its defences, having embrazures 

 for twenty-three guns, of which twenty are mounted from fix to 

 nine-pounders, and in good condition for fervice ; fo that it is ca- 

 VoL. II, E e pable 



