DEC. 1768 FORTIFICATIONS 41 
fortification, Santa Cruz, and another opposite it. There is 
also a platform mounting about twenty-two guns, just under 
the Sugar-loaf on the seaside, but it seems entirely calculated 
to hinder the landing of an enemy in a sandy bay, from whence 
there is a passage to the back part of the town, which is 
entirely undefended, except that the whole town is open to 
the guns of the citadel, St. Sebastian, as I said before. 
Between Santa Cruz and the town are several small batteries 
of five or ten guns, and one fairly large one called Berga Leon. 
Immediately before the town is the Ilhoa dos Cobras, an 
island fortified all round, which seems incapable of doing 
much mischief owing to its immense size; at least it would 
take more men to defend it, even tolerably, in case of an 
attack, than could possibly be spared from a town totally 
without lines or any defence round it. Santa Cruz, their 
chief fortification, on which they most rely, seems quite 
incapable of making any great resistance if smartly attacked 
by shipping. It is a stone fort, mounting many guns 
indeed, but they lie tier above tier, and are consequently 
very open to the attack of a ship which may come within 
two cable lengths or less; besides, they have no supply of 
water but what they obtain from a cistern, in which they 
catch the rain, or, in times of drought, which they supply 
from the adjacent country. This cistern they have been 
obliged to build above ground, lest the water should become 
tainted by the heat of the climate, which a free access of air 
prevents; consequently should a fortunate shot break the 
cistern, the defenders would be reduced to the utmost necessity. 
I was told by a person who certainly knew, and I 
believe meant to inform me rightly, that a little to the 
southward, just without the south head of the harbour, was 
a bay in which boats might land with all facility without 
obstruction, as there is no kind of work there, and that from 
this bay it is not above three hours’ march to the town, 
which is approached from the back, where it is as defence- 
less as the landing-place; but this seems incredible. Yet 
I am inclined to believe it of these people, whose chief 
policy consists in hindering people as much as possible from 
