1(> PORTO PRAYA. 



After dinner we paid a visit to the shore ; the 

 landing-place is very inconvenient, and often 

 dangerous, from the surf, which at this time was 

 fortunately not high. After landing we had to 

 walk over a soft sandy road, varied only by 

 large stones coming in contact with our feet, 

 and assuring us of their presence by the pain 

 they occasioned. Several miserable date palms 

 and dusty plants of Aloe perfoliata (a few of the 

 latter being in flower) grew by the road side. 

 Then by a winding and steep ascent, covered by 

 loose stones, we arrived at the town, which is 

 built upon a table land of moderate elevation, 

 and on this side of the approach there is a battery 

 mounting twenty-one guns. From the descrip- 

 tions I had previously perused, the town appears 

 to have been much improved since they had been 

 written, but still it has nothing of interest to re- 

 commend it; but the view of the bay and shipping 

 from the elevated site is very pretty. The Plaza 

 (in which the American consul resides, and where 

 there is a small church, which as yet cannot boast 

 of a steeple,) contains the best houses and stores, 

 where almost any supplies of foreign manufacture 

 can be purchased, but at exorbitant prices. 



At the period of our visit, this, together with 

 the whole of the islands of the group were suffer- 

 ing from a severe and long drought ; this one. 



