porter's JOURNAt. 



ty years. The town, which appears to be in rather a thriving 

 state, is situated on that point of the island nearest the con- 

 tinent, and may contain about 10,000 inhabitants ; here the 

 captain-general resides. It appears to be a place of con- 

 siderable business : several brigs and schooners were ly- 

 ing before the town, and the stores were numerous, and 

 well supplied with dry goods, which were sold cheap. The 

 town is pleasantl}^ situated ; the bay before it apparently 

 commodious ; and the people industrious. It is defended 

 by two small forts, one opposite the middle of the town on 

 a small island, joined to it by a causeway ; the other on a 

 point projecting towards the continent. The houses are 

 generally neatly built, and the country at the back of the 

 town is in a state of considerable improvement. But no- 

 thing can exceed the beauty of the great bay to the north, 

 formed by the island of St. Catharines and the continent. 

 There is every variety to give beauty to the scene ; hand- 

 some villages and houses built around, shores which gra- 

 dually ascend in mountains, covered to their summit with 

 trees which remain in constant verdure ; a climate always 

 temperate and healthy ; small islands scattered here and 

 there, equally covered with verdure ; the soil extremely 

 productive ; all combine to render it, in appearance, the 

 most delightful country in the world. We arrived, unfor- 

 tunately, in the worst season for fruit ; there were no 

 oranges to be had now ; but in the proper season for them. 

 I was informed, they were to be had in the greatest abun- 

 dance, and for a mere trifle. 



The people of this place appear to be the most happy of 

 those who live under the Portuguese government, proba- 

 bly because the more they are distant from it, the less they 

 are subject to its impositions and oppressions ; still, how- 

 ever, they complain. There are two regiments of troops 

 at St. Catharines : if provisions are wanted for them, an 

 officer goes to the houses of the peasantry, seizes on their 

 cattle or grain, and gives them a bill on the government, 

 for which they never receive payment. 



The peasantry are well clad, and comfortable and cheerful 

 in their appearance ; the vfomen are handsome and grace- 

 ful in their manners ; the men have the character of being 

 extremely jealous of them, and I believe they have somt^ 

 reason 4o be so. 



