in the Pocific Ocean. 



5 



been ten years since they had received any pay, or supplies of 

 clothing or arms. ^ 



The two greatest evils to guard against in refreshing at Port 

 Praya, is the bad rum of the country, and the heat of the sun, to 

 both of which the watering party are unavoidably exposed. The 

 negroes and seamen have such a variety of expedients for getting 

 rum on board, that it is almost impossible to detect them. They 

 hover about the beach with the bottles under their arms, where 

 the shawls of the females serve the better to conceal them ; and 

 at a favourable opportunity they bury them in the sand, receive 

 their money, while the sailor watches his opportunity for getting 

 it on board, or drinking it. They sometimes draw the milk from 

 the cocoa-nuts, fill them with rum, and sell them to the seamen in 

 that state at a high price. The first day we were employed in 

 watering, we had several men drunk ; but after that we were 

 more fortunate, as I selected the most trusty men to fill and roll 

 the casks to the beach, with directions to make a signal when they 

 were ready to tow off. By this means, we prevented our boats'* 

 crews from having any communication with the shore. A similar 

 precaution was used in getting our supplies of fruit on board : 

 they were brought to the beach by the negroes, and on a signal 

 being made, boats were sent for them. I should advise ships 

 that intend getting any considerable supplies of water, to employ 

 negroes altogether for filling the casks, and rolling them down to 

 the beach, as it would entirely prevent the necessity of exposing 

 the men, either to the inclemency of the sun, or the temptations 

 held out to them. 



The watering-place is a well at the back of the town, in a 

 valley, and the only place from whence the inhabitants receive 

 their supply. 



The following determinations were made at Port Praya, by 

 astronomical observations : — 



Latitude . . l¥ 54' 05" north 



Longitude . . 23*^ 30' 17'' west 



Variation of tlie compass . 14" 58' 00'' west. 

 Praya at present has no commerce. It derives its principal 

 support from vessels that casually stop for refreshments, and its 

 only importance, from being the residence of the captain-general 

 of the islands of Cape de Verd, who receives a salary from the 

 crown of two hundred dollars per month, and draws some portion 

 of the revenue arising from the sale of cattle, to foreign vessels, on 

 every head of which is a duty equal to one half tlie amount paid 

 by the purchaser. Whether this is an imposition of the officers 

 of government, I will not pretend to decide ; I would, however, 

 recommend it to such vessels as require fresh provisions, to pur- 

 chase sheep, hogs, and poultr}", in preference to beef, on account 



