BAYS OF ST. MARCOS AND ST.JOZE. 



265 



state as the others. Those I saw are small, and 

 built of stone. The soldiers were well dressed 

 and well fed, and they looked respectable. The 

 barracks are new and large comparatively speak- 

 ing, and have been built in an airy situation, in 

 the outskirts of the city. The garrison consists 

 of one regiment of regular infantry, of about 

 one thousand men when complete ; but these 

 are much divided, being stationed in several 

 forts. Recruits are formed of the lower orders 

 of white persons, and of the people of colour. 

 The men were never exercised with the artil- 

 lery, and were merely accustomed to the com- 

 mon routine of mounting guard, though a few 

 detachments have on some occasions been sent 

 on to the main land at the back of the island, to 

 assist the planters against the wild Indians. 



The island of Maranham forms the S. E. side 

 of the bay of St. Marcos, consequently this bay 

 is to the westward of it. To the eastward of 

 the island is the bay of St. Joze. From some 

 similarity between the point of Itacolomi, by 

 which vessels are in part guided when about to 

 enter the Bay of St. Marcos, and another point 

 of land upon the small island of St. Anna, which 

 is at the entrance of the bay of St. Joze, in- 

 stances have occurred of vessels mistaking the 

 latter for the former, and entering the bay of 

 St. Joze. This error causes great danger and 

 inconvenience, because owing to the prevalence 



