BOOK ir. CHAP. IX. 221 



North and South line, interfefting New Canaan eflatej from St. 

 Anne on the Eaft, by the Rio Bueno; on the North it is bounded 

 by the Sea; and Southerly by St. Elizabeth. .Its capital river is 

 the Marthabrae, which takes its fource among the mountains, 

 about twelve miles didance from the coaft, as commonly fuppofcd ; 

 for, there being no fettlement near the fpring-head, it is not exadly 

 known. It lerpentines through a courfe of about tliirty miles be- 

 fore it reaches the harbour ; from wiience it is navigable by canoes 

 and boats, for fome miles, to the bridge. The depth of its water 

 is fufficient for much larger vcliels, except at the mouth, where a 

 bar, occiifioned by the fund difgorged from the ftrcam, and repelled 

 by the tide, obftruils the navigation. The village of Marthabrae 

 flan ds about two miles above the mouth, on a rihng ground not far 

 from the bridge, and confifts of about thirty houfes or more ; as 

 the late partition of St. James has of confequence tended to the efta- 

 blifliment of a new town here, w'hich may grow in fize in propor- 

 tion as the lands, at prefent unfettled in the parifh, are brought into 

 culture. The river which glides by it abounds with fifh of various 

 kinds ; and the courfe fo delightfully twining, that its banks might 

 be laid out in gardens,, with a view to pleafure, as well as utility, 

 which is an additional circumftance in favour of the town's increafe. 

 The harbour is defended by a fmall fort, placed on Point Man- 

 grove, which projedls into the fea on the Wcfl fide. The only 

 fault in its llrudure feems to be the narrownefs of the gorges of the 

 baftions,. and of the baftions themfelves ; in which the guns cannot 

 traverfe fo freely as they ought. The fpot whereon it ftands, and 

 all around it, being altogether fuampy, there is reafon to fufpedl 

 that without draining thefe quarters will not be very healthy. In 

 other refpedts this fortrefs is well fituated for guarding the entrance, 

 or channel, w.hich.runs at right angles to it about North-Eafl: ; nar- 

 row, and hemmed. in by reefs and ihcals on either fide, for near a 

 mile. The barracks, for tlic accommodation of one hundred men 

 and officers, are at a fmall diftance. 



The harbour is covered, towards the Eafl: and North-Eafi:, by a 

 femicircular fweep of the main land on that fide, and by a fmall; 

 iflatul ; fo that within it is not only capacious, but well (helteredi 

 from the fea. 



The 



