BRITISH ISLANDS IN NORTH AMERICA. 263 



presses it, " walled with rocks." The air of these islands, which 

 Waller celebrates in one of his poems, has been always esteemed 

 extremely healthful ; and the beauty and richness of the vegetable 

 productions are perfectly delightful. Though the soil of these islands 

 is admirably adapted to the cultivation of the vine, the chief and only 

 business of the inhabitants, who are about 10,000 in number, is the 

 building and navigation of light sloops and brigantines, which they 

 employ chiefly in the trade between North America and the West 

 Indies. These vessels are as remarkable for their swiftness, as the 

 cedar, of which they are built, is for its hard and durable quality. 

 The chief town is St. George's, in the island of the same name ; it 

 contains about 500 houses. Edwards states the whole population of 

 *.he Bermudas at 10.381 



