Ch.VI. south AMERICA. 3^7 



and on the fame footing as the regulars ; jointly 

 with whom, the better to fit ihem for fervice on any- 

 emergency, they mount guard and perform all other 

 military duties. No country can be better cultivated 

 than the neighbourhood of cape Francois. There 

 is not a fpot of ground capable of bearing any thing, 

 but is fown with the moll proper Ipecies of grain. 

 And by thefe farms or habitations, as they are ge- 

 nerally called, where the fcrvile work is ail done by 

 negroes, the people fubfifl in comfort and even in 

 affluence ; being enabled to fend vafl returns to 

 France for the European commodities brought hi- 

 ther. The grounds belonging to thefe habitations 

 are laid out in plantations of fugar, indigo, tobacco, 

 and coffee, the joint produce of which is fo large 

 that 3O5OOO tons are annually exported to France ; 

 and this vaft quantity only from the territories of 

 cape Francois •, that it may he conceived how im- 

 ■menfe the produce v/ould be, were all the country 

 which the French poflefs in this ifland cultivated. 

 The contrafh of this with the little advantage drawn 

 from the remaining part of it, v/hich though even 

 more fertile, cannot maintain icfelf, a fupply being every 

 year fent for the fubfiftence of the garrifon and ecclefi- 

 ailicks, ftrongly fhews the advantages accruing to a 

 country from TkIII and induftry. 



The large fleet of fnips which frequent the ports 

 of this colony, are fo plentifully fupplied with Eu- 

 ropean products and manufadures, that at all times, 

 and efpecially in time of peace, they enjoy a plenty of 

 every thing ; excellent bread made of wheat broughc 

 from France, wines, diftilled liquors and fruits of 

 all kinds. The only article of prcvifions the inhabi- 

 tants are obliged to procure from the Spaniards is 

 meat, in return for which they fupply them with 

 linen, and other European goods. This commerce is 

 indeed prohibited : but the want being reciprocal, it is 

 carried on with as little fecrefy and difguife, as if it had 



the 



