TOWN OF RECIFE. 



is 



which are built of stone, and are situated upon 

 the sands opposite to the two entrances. Like- 

 wise there is the small fort of Bom Jezus, near 

 to the arch-way and church of the same name ; 

 and upon the south-east point of the sand-bank 

 of St. Antonio stands the large stone fort of 

 Cinco Pontas, so called from its pentagonal 

 form. They are said to be all out of order. 

 From what I have stated, it will be seen that 

 the ground upon which the town has been 

 built is most peculiarly circumstanced, and that 

 the manner in which the harbour is formed is 

 equally rare. 



The town is principally supplied with water, 

 which is brought in canoes, either from Olinda, 

 or from the river Capibaribe, above the influence 

 of the tide ; it comes in bulk, and although the 

 greater part of the vessels are decked, still it is 

 usually filthy, as too much care is not taken in 

 their cleanliness. The wells that are sunk in 

 the sand upon which the town stands only afford 

 brackish water. 



The three compartments of the town, toge- 

 ther, contain about 25,000 inhabitants, or more, 

 and it is increasing rapidly; new houses are 

 building wherever space can be found. The 

 population consists of white persons, of mulatto 

 and black free people, and of slaves also of seve- 

 ral shades. 



The reef of rocks, of which I have before 



