196 



irremediable, for, after the eye had been ac- 

 cuftomed to the rich foliage, the houfes, the 

 towns, the fields, and all the peculiarity of 

 tropical fcenery, the impreffion we now felt 

 could never have been excited. The mind 

 was, at this moment, in a ftate to enjoy them : 

 the novelty was great, and every objed: ftrik- 

 ing. We had been long at fea, and the 

 eye fought, eagerly, the fhore. Land was 

 anxioufly defired : the view of it opened to 

 us very favorably ; and, from all the various 

 circumftances confplring to its improvement, 

 the profped w^as rendered more delightful 

 than it could have been at any other period. 



The harbour is a fine open bay, the 

 whole of which, viixh its varied fhores, were 

 before the eye : many fliips were riding at 

 anchor, and a multitude of boats and fmall 

 veffels were failing and rowing to and fro. 

 The two points of land, at the entrance, ferve 

 as a defence ; while they augment the beauty 

 of the harbour. On one of them appears a 

 formidable battery, together with an exten- 

 five barrack for troops : on the other is a fine 

 grove of mountain cabbage, and coco nut 



