20 CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 



the negroes, we could scarcely believe that they are subject 

 to be momentarily dragged away to receive the lashes com- 

 manded by a brutal owner, were we not painfully convinced 

 by the indelible marks of the whip on their naked bodies. 



The strictest precautions are taken against the evasion 

 of slaves on board foreign vessels that touch here, and par- 

 ticularl}^ by not allowing boats of any kind to the inhabi- 

 tants, the want of which gives to the port the appearance 

 of a deserted settlement. 



The industrious pursuits of the islanders appear to be 

 limited by their absolute wants, being confmed to produc- 

 ing the stock and vegetables for their consumption, manu- 

 facturing a little sugar also for their own use, and weaving 

 the cotton of the island chietly into shawls for the women. 



As there is scarely any thing exported from the island, 

 there is no other ingress of money, than what is paid by 

 ships for refreshments, or that which is sent from Portugal to 

 pay the expenses of the estabhshment ; and this cannot be 

 much if all are paid in the same proportion as the Governor, 

 Avho told us that his salary was but four dollars a day. Pos- 

 sessed by a more industrious people, and better governed, 

 this island might however be made highly productive of 

 colonial objects ; the sugar cane is equal to that of the West 

 Indies, the indigo plant succeeds perfectly, and the dye it 



