PORTER^S JOURIYAL. 



mate, although employed from daylight in the morning, 

 until late at night. They were, however, shaded a consi- 

 derable part of the time by the groves of cocoa-nut trees 

 that grow between the landing-place and the well, and 

 they were not compelled to work in the middle of the day ; 

 added to this, those employed after the first day were very 

 temperate, and not known to enter into any excesses. 



On hauling around the east point of Port Praya, it is ne- 

 cessary to keep close in with the rocks, at the distance of 

 a cable or a cable and a half, as the current sets strong to 

 the westward, and the wind is generally variable and scant. 

 Without this precaution you will be likely to fall to lee- 

 ward of the anchorage ground. It is also advisable to run 

 in under top-sails, as it is frequently squally under the lee of 

 the point. It is best to anchor well on the east side of the 

 bay, in order that you may have room to clear the rocks 

 that lie off the Isle of Quails. The wind seldom blows 

 from the southward, and never strong enough to endanger 

 vessels lying in the roads. Vessels bound to Port Praya 

 should guard against entering, through mistake, into a bay 

 that is formed by the southeast point of the island and the 

 east point of Praya, which bears a strong resemblance to 

 Praya bay, and is very dangerous. 



Praya may be known by an old fort on point Tubaron; 

 by the black island of Quails, on which several guns are 

 mounted ; by the fort and town of Praya ; and by a flag- 

 staff, or signal estabhshment, situated on a mountain, at 

 the back of the east point of the bay. Praya is situated 

 on a plain, on the top of a rock overlooking the bay, the 

 sides of which, toward the sea, are everywhere nearly 

 perpendicular, rendering all approaches impracticable ex- 

 cept by two roads, one on the east, the other on the west, 

 which have been cut in the rock, and are very steep. 

 The houses, or cabins, except those of the principal offi- 

 cers, are built of rough stone, one story high, and covered 

 with the branches of the cocoa-nut tree. The police of 

 Praya is rigid ; no one is permitted to wear concealed 

 weapons ; and had I not been well assured, that there were 

 no better arms in the island, I should have supposed, that 

 fears of an insurrection induced them to put unserviceable 

 muskets and broken cutlasses into the hands of their naked 

 negro soldier?,, 



