^74 A VOYAGE TO Book IX. 



a ftrndlure for receiving any the entrance to it is in- 

 deed over a draw-bridge, on one fide of which is a 

 corps de garde, and advanced centinels on the other. 

 "Within this building is the apartment for the gover- 

 nor, the barracks for the garrifon, an arfenal, and 

 tinder the platform of the redoubt, a magazine, 

 always well furnifhed with military (lores. The parifli 

 church, or rather chapel, which ferved as fuch, alfo 

 ilood within this citadel, and without it was another 

 belonging to the hofpital of St. Jean de Dieu, which 

 is an elegant and fpacious ftructure all of ftone, 

 though founded long fince. ^ 

 The harbour is large and fafe ; but the entrance" 

 very narrow, being confined by an iQand called Goat 

 ifland, on which ftands a pretty large fort and on 

 the oppofite fide is a very high tower which fervcs as 

 a light houfe. The coaft on this fide within forms a 

 point, which advances towards the Ihore till it faces 

 the mouth of the harbour. Here alfo is a large forti- 

 fication called the royal battery, being that which de- 

 fends the entrance of the harbour, and the fort on that 

 fide. From this fort the coaft winds inward, and 

 forms a large bay, which ferves as an excellent 

 careening place for veflels of any burden, having a 

 good depth of water, and being in a great meafure 

 land-locked : and as fuch the country veflels lay up 

 here in winter. In fummcr they all come to an an- 

 chor before the town at about a quarter of a league 

 diftance, though the fmaller veflels may come within 

 a cable's length of the fliore, where they lie quiet from 

 all winds except the eaft, which blows right into the 

 harbour's mouth, and caufes fome agitation; but 

 without any danger to the fliips at anchor in it. 



Betwixt the royal battery point and that of the 

 lighthoufe, but nearer to the former, lies a fand al- 

 ways above water ; but every where clfe the harbour 

 is clear, fo that fliips may tack with the greateft fafety 

 in going out or coming in when the wind is not 



