Cape dc Verds.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



H 



distilled into brandy, and, with orchilla-weed, and a few small cattle, is 

 exported to Tenerifle. Water is extremely scarce here. 



COMMODITIES PROCURABLE AT THE CANARY ISLANDS. 



One rr ill a- Weed grows upon the rocks on the coast of the Canaries, 

 Cape de Verds, and Madeira ; but mostly, and of the best sort, at the for- 

 mer. It is a valuable ingredient in dying ; colour grey, inclining to white ; 

 the stalk spotted here and there with white ; many stalks proceed from one 

 root It grows to about the length of 3 inches, roundish, and of the 

 thickness of common twine. Those who are unaccustomed to the weed, 

 would scarcely find it, as it resembles the stone from which it springs. It 

 produces a beautiful purple, and brightens other colours. The darkest is the 

 best, and it should be exactly round. The more white spots, the better. 

 The prices of the different sorts vary greatly. 



Rose-Wood grows in the Canary Islands and in India : the colour 

 externally whitish ; internally deep yellow, with a cast of red. In the 

 most perfect specimens, the external part is pale, and nearest the heart the 

 wood is darker. These appear cut from a knotty tree, with an irregular 

 grain, having several convolutions, with clusters of circular fibres in the 

 midst, including a fine fragrant resin. Rose-wood has a slightly bitterish, 

 somewhat pungent balsamic taste, and a fragrant smell, especially when 

 scraped or rubbed. Choose the largest pieces, of the most irregular knotty 

 grain, well filled with resinous fibres, sound, heavy, and of the deepest colour. 

 There is much which passes for rose-wood, pale, inodorous, and of little value. 



SECTION IIL 

 CAPE DE VEKD ISLANDS. 



THESE islands, which take their name from Cape de Verd, the nearest 

 point of the Coast of Africa, consist of Sal or Salt Island, Bonavista, Mayo, 

 St. Jago, Fogo, Brava, St Nicholas, St Lucia, St. Vincent, and St. An- 

 tonio, besides several small islets. 



SAL is about 16 miles long, and 6 or 7 broad, and uninhabited. It 

 is high, and has a peak that may be seen afar. The N. W. part of the 



