CUB A. 



83 



wa^ not In Augujt 1759) feems to be the mod advantageous fpot to com- 

 mand the town, being higher than any part of it except the land-gate, which 

 it leems to be nearly on a level with. 



From the north fide of this rifing ground the Punt a gate may be Hanked, 

 and from the fouth-eaft fide the dock-yard is commanded. Along the north 

 fide runs an aquedudl, which falling into the ditch at the land gate, runs 

 dov/n to the dock-yard both for watering the fliips and turning a faw-mill. 



About half a mile from the church, is a bridge made over a rivulet that 

 runs into the bay about 100 yards. That road leads to the center of the ifiand, 

 and extends to Baracoa above 600 miles diftanL 



From this bridge to the Lazaretto is about two miles, with arifing ground 

 betwixt them. A trench thrown up between thefe two places, would cut off 

 the communication with the town by land, 



The Lazaretto is about a mile and a half from the point-gate ; near this 

 place is a fmall fandy bay, where there had been a fmall redoubt. 



From the bay to the Pimtal the coaft is a low flat rock about three feet 

 higher than the furface cf the fea. 



The garrifon in Augujl 1759, confilled of two regiments of foot, and 

 part of a regiment of horfe, 300 mulattos, and 4 or 5000 militia. The 

 iilanders, (excepting thofe that cultivated the land) are hunters, well mounted, 

 and inured to fatigue, provifions good and plenty, their beef wild cattle 

 caught by the hunters in the woody parts of the ifiand. 



From the above obfervations, it is evident, that though the Havaita is well 

 fortified, and perhaps ftronger than any other place belonging to the Spaniards 

 in thtWeJl-Indies^yti it is far from being impregnable, as fomehave pretended. 

 A proper force landed on the wefl: fide of the city, would foon become 

 mafters of it, as the v/alls on the land fide are low and in a perifhing flate ; 

 nor could either the caflles above defer ibed prevent their approaches, unlefs 

 the hill upon which the church of Guadaloupe ftands, is properly fortified: the 

 'Spa?2mrds,[i{ they do their duty) maybafHe thebeft conducted attempts, as the, 

 rainy feafon fets in in July. But if the hill on the eaft fide of the entrance 

 was taken poficffion of, the town might foon be reduced, and then the forts 

 could not long defend themfelvei, when attacked from the land by the army, 

 and from fea by the fhips. 



To conclude; this city is of the greatefi; importance to the Spaniards of any 

 in all the fVtf-Indicj as the lofs of this place would ruin the Sfanijli 



M 2 trade J 



