I 



486 THE AZORES— TERCERA. [1831. 



thirty and thirty-five for about a mile and a quarter, when it deepens 

 suddenly to sixty fathoms, and then no soundings. The bottom in the 

 road is coarse sand and gravel. You will find no soundings until 

 you come abreast of Rupert's Valley, where there are from eighteen 

 to twenty fathoms. One watering-place is just without James's Fort, 

 where there is a crane for striking the casks into the boats. The 

 other is at Lemon Valley, where there is the best water, and you may 

 fill the casks in your boats with a hose." 



April 9th. — On Saturday, the 9th of April, at ten, P. M., we got 

 under way, and steered to the north, with a fine breeze from the south- 

 east and fair weather, which continued about ten days. 



April 19th. — We crossed the equator on Tuesday, the 19th, in long. 

 20° 15' west. We now had almost continual calms, with occasional 

 light baffling winds, for more than three weeks, during which time we 

 made only about two hundred and fifty leagues to the north. 



May 13th. — On Friday, the 13th of May, we took the north-east 

 trade-winds in lat. 13° 0' N., long. 23° 0' W., and continued stand- 

 ing to the north, until we arrived at the island of Tercera, one of the 

 Azores, lying in lat. 38° 39' N., long. 27° 12' W. 



June 1st. — On Wednesday, the 1st of June, at six, P. M., we touched 

 at the port.of Angra, the capital of Tercera. This is a bishop's see, 

 and the residence of the governor of the Azores. The town is well 

 built, and presents a favourable appearance to the eye of a stranger. 

 It contains five parishes, and has an elegant cathedral, several churches, 

 four monasteries, and as many nunneries. The word angra signifies 

 a small bay, or creek, or station for vessels ; this harbour being the 

 only convenient one in all the Azores. It is defended by a strong 

 castle and deep ditch. King Alphonso VI. was imprisoned in this 

 castle by his brother Peter II. in 1668. The Americans, English, 

 French, and Dutch have consuls residing here. The population of 

 Angra is about fifteen thousand, while that of the whole island is esti- 

 mated at double that amount. 



The island of Tercera, or Terceira, as it is often spelled, is supposed 

 to have derived its name from its local situation, being the third in 

 counting the whole group ; though it ought to rank as number one in 

 point of dignity and importance, as appears from a number of circum- 

 stances, such as its being the seat of government, and the focus of 

 business, and because the whole cluster is sometimes called the Ter- 

 ceras. This island is nearly circular, and more than fifty miles in 

 circumference ; it being twenty-five miles in length, while its medium 

 breadth is about fifteen. The shores all around it are high,steep, rocky, 

 and craggy; so much so that it is considered to be impregnable, as every 

 accessible part on the coast is defended by a strong fort, mounted with 

 heavy cannon, and well garrisoned with a competent number of soldiers. 



The soil is rich and productive, and the climate pleasant and healthy ; 

 the very rocks, which elsewhere are dry and barren, are here covered with 

 vines producing excellent grapes, though not equal to those of the Cana- 

 ries and Madeira. Lemons, oranges, and other tropical fruits grow here 

 abundantly, as do also the fruits of colder climates. The land yields 

 large crops of wheat and other grain, together with excellent pasturage 



