2'9o TRAVELS IN 
up, carrying at the same time a quantity of salt water into 
the rivers. Close to the landing-place, however, there is a 
copious spring of excellent water at the extremity of a nar- 
row slip of ground, hemmed in between a ridge of sand-hills 
on one side, and by a sudden rise of the country on the 
other. This slip is about four thousand feet long by five 
hundred in width. It is composed of excellent soil, has 
a gentle slope to the shore of the bay, and is the prettiest 
situation for a small fishing village that could possibly be 
imagined. 
After indeed General Dundas bad decided on the expedi- 
ency of erecting a small work for the defence of the landing- 
place, and caused a block-house to be built and surrounded 
with apallisade for the protection of the men to be stationed 
there, the face of the surrounding country began to put on 
a new appearance. The slip of ground, contiguous to the 
landing-place, was converted into gardens ; and the stupid 
boors stared with wonder, and were struck with astonishment, 
at the variety and quantity of vegetables they produced. 
These people, also, soon found the benefit of a ready market 
for the consumption of their produce. Many trifling articles, 
such as milk and eggS;, from which they had never before de- 
rived the least advantage, were now commuted into money. 
Their sheep and cattle were sold at higher rates than the 
butchers were accustomed to give them ; and their butter, 
soap, and candles, which they were always under the neces- 
sity of carrying more than five hundred miles to market, 
fetched now, upon the spot, double the usual prices. 
