CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 17 



of all shades of col our, from the swarthy European Portuguese 

 to the Negro of Guinea; and, as if it was determined that 

 there should be no incongruity in any part of the military de- 

 partment, not one of their muskets in ten has a lock, and 

 many of the barrels are lashed to the stocks with rope yarns. 

 From the town we descended by a zig-zag path to the 

 valley on the left, named " Val de Trinidad,'' over which 

 are scattered some clusters of date trees (Thoeinx dactyUfera ) , 

 some mimosas, and other spontaneous vegetation ; but the 

 only attempt at cultivation is near the two wells, which supplv 

 the town and shipping, where a negro hut is surrounded b}- 

 a miserable plantation of the cotton shrub (Gossipium herha- 

 cevm). There can, however, be no doubt but that the soil 

 of this vallc}' wants only Avatcrto render it fruitful; and it 

 seems equally certain, that water might be had in sufficient 

 quantity by digging Avells. The present possessors of the 

 island must however change their natures, before this 

 or any other improvement is effected. Though a species of 

 mimosa groAvs to a large size in the most burnt-up spots, 

 and affords a good shade, they seem never to have thought 

 of planting it in the town, where it Mould be not only orna- 

 mental, but highly useful in luoderating the excessive heat, 

 caused by the action of the sun on the ferruginous sand. 

 The wells we now found surrounded by negro washcrwo- 



D 



