54 



RAINY SEASON — STORMS, 



Jan. 



The natural dye is blue, approaching to purple ; but by 

 using metallic and other solutions, it may be turned to purple, 

 crimson, or scarlet. 



Money having been slowly remitted of late years from 

 the mother-country, a great part of the archilla has been 

 applied to the payment of the authorities, the clergy, and the 

 troops (such as they are). A story is told of the last governor 

 having caused a sham mutiny, in order that he might have a 

 good reason for selling the archilla gathered that year, and with 

 the produce paying the troops — and himself. He was brought 

 out with a rope round his neck into the street, and there 

 obliged to promise that he would sell the archilla, then in the 

 government storehouse, to the best bidder. 



A kind of castor-oil plant is found, from which a small 

 quantity of oil is obtained, and a sort of soap. Yams are very 

 scarce, being grown only at one part of the island. Mandioca 

 is common, but it degenerates rapidly, and will not produce 

 even a second crop. Vegetables of various kinds are abun- 

 dant in their seasons. 



From August to October is the rainy and sickly season. In 

 September, a south-west gale is usually experienced ; but from 

 five to ten hours before its commencement, a dark bank of 

 clouds is seen in the southern horizon, which is a sure 

 forerunner of the gale. Should a vessel be at anchor in the 

 port at such a time, she ought to weigh and put to sea, until 

 the storm has ceased and the swell subsided. In the month 

 of September preceding our visit, an American merchant-brig 

 and a Portuguese slaver were at anchor in Port Praya. A 

 bank of clouds was seen during the day in the S.W., and the 

 American went to sea ; but the slaver remained at anchor. 

 A storm arose at night, drove the slave-vessel ashore, and 

 dashed her to pieces in less than half an hour, yet did the 

 American no damage whatever, and the next day she an- 

 chored again in the port. 



In a valley near the town is a very remarkable tree, 

 of the Baobab kind, supposed to be more than a thousand 

 years old ; but I am not aware of the grounds upon which this 



