Ch. in. SOUTH AMERICA. 533 



the ifland, and be pretty well out of the reach of the 

 guns of fort St. Anthony, or Sr. Maria, which lies 

 a httle above; but I v/ould advife thofe who may be 

 ncceffitated to fail into this bay, in fpite of the faid 

 forts, to keep the lead going and to come no nearer the 

 iOand than twelve fathoms water, as the H^iore is very 

 foul. 



This city is fituated on an high eminence at the 

 bottom of which, on the ftrand, is a large town called 

 the Praya, which properly is the port, but generally 

 they are colle6Hvely taken, and called Cidade de Bahia. 

 The city and tov/n are connected by three ftreets, 

 which run flantwife up the eminence, as it would be 

 almoft impoiTible to go right up : in tA^o or three 

 places they have long pulleys (inclined planes} tivo 

 hundred yards in length, built up the fide of this iteep 

 eniinence, to draw up the goods from the Praya, 

 where they have large warehoufes. Here is a fpacious 

 market-place, furrounded by piazzas, under which is 

 kept a continual fair for goods, brought in from all 

 parts of this country. At the hrfl arrival of the fiect 

 from Portugal it is difficult to find room to (land, as 

 the inhabitants of the whole city flock down to mar- 

 ket to buy up the private trade, which the faiiors 

 bring over ; every one of v/hom is allowed a certain 

 quantity according to his flation. 



At the fouchernmoft part of the Praya is a confi- 

 derabie dock yard, where they build large fnips, or 

 m.en of war. They alfo prepare vail quantities of 

 timber for the purpofe, in order to fend to Portugal 

 by thofe men of war that convoy the fleet home. Is 

 it not a pity our men of war from the coaft of Ame- 

 rica are not loaded home v-;ith fuch a cargo ? 



The city of Bahia is pretty regular, and as well laid 

 out as the unevennefs of the hill on which it ftands 

 will permit. But I wifh I have not exceeded my firit 

 propofal, as it is difHcuk to fuppofe, that a city and 

 bay io well known, fl-iould have efcaped the pens of 



all 



