the ljland of St. Miguel. 603 
wind can prevent their going to fea in cafe of ftormv 
weather. 
The country round the city is plain for feveral miles, 
well cultivated, and laid out with good tafte into fpacious 
fields, which are fown with wheat, barley, Indian corn, 
pulfe, &c. and commonly produce annually two crops; 
for as foon as one is taken off, another is immediately 
fown in its place. The foil is remarkably gentle and 
eafy to work, being for the moil: part compofed of pul- 
verized pumice ftone. There are in the plains a number 
of pleafant country feats, with orchards of orange trees, 
which are efteemed the befi in Europe. 
The fecond town is Ribeira Grande, fituated on the 
North-fide of the ifland, containing about as many in- 
habitants as the city; a large convent of Francifcan 
friars, and one of nuns. It gives title to a count, 
called the Conde Ribeira Grande, who firffc inftituted 
linen and woollen manufactories in the ifland. 
The third town is Villa Franca, on the South-fide of 
the ifland, about fix leagues Eaft of Ponta del Guda. It has 
a convent of Francifcan friars, and one of nuns, which 
contains about three hundred. Here, about half a mile 
from the ihore, lies a finall ifland (Ilhao) which is hol- 
low in the middle, and contains a fine bafon with 
only one entrance into it, fit to hold fifty fail of veflels 
4 E 2 fecure 
