Sau DOMINGO. 



95 



Puerto de la Plata is thirty-five leagues north of San Domingo^ 

 Ovando fixed a colony herein 1502. It ftands conveniently on the fea 

 coaft, has a caftle, and was reckbned the fecond place of trade in the ifland ; 

 but has been fo often deftroyed by pirates, that it is now dwindled to a 

 mere fifhing-village. 



The City of Conception de la Vega ftands twenty-five miles north 

 of San DomwgOf was formerly a bidiop's fee, founded by Columbus^ who 

 had from this town the tide of Duke de la Vega conferred on him and 

 his pofterity by the king of Spain. It has an abbey of Francifcans^ a cathe- 

 dral, whofe bifliop is futfragan to San 'Domingo, feveral parifh churches 

 and convents. 



St. Jago de LOS Cavellej^os, twenty-nine leagues N. W. from San 

 Domingo, is a very pleafant place, fortified with a cafde, and was, for- 

 merly inhabited by the Buccaneers or Hunters', 



Saona, or Savona, on the S. E. point of the illund, has pleaf- 

 ant woods and pafi:ures, abounds with tortoifes and other fiih, as alfo 

 with'guaiacum ; and formerly fupplied Hifpaniola with calTave, hut is now 

 uninhabited and frequented only by SpaniJJ: fiihermen, at the time that the 

 tortoifes come to lay their eggs. It is but five iniles from the nearefl 

 part of San Domingo ifland. The north and Ibuth fides of this ifland are 

 rocky and foul, nor is the eaft fide, where fhips may ride in eight fathom^, 

 well fheltered. 



Mona Is I and, is very fmall, and is faid not to be three leagues in cir- 

 cuit, lies between Puerto Rico and San Domingo, and its climate and foil are 

 excellent. There is great plenty of good water and the oranges that grow 

 here are by much the largeft and fined in America. It is well peopled, 

 for its extent, and is under a particular governor for the king of *S/^/>2. 



P a E R T O R I C O, 



CALLED by its antienf inhabitants Boriquen, was difcovered by Co- 

 lumbus \r\ the year 149 ^, but it coft the Spaniards a great deal of 

 trouble to reduce, it, the inii.hitants being a brave gallant people, and 



. ' ■ .- extremely. 



