PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
63 
nothing 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 ; handsome villages and houses 
built around, shores which gradually 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 pro¬ 
ductive ; all combine to render it, in appearance, the most delight¬ 
ful country in the world. We arrived, unfortunately, 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 abundance, and for a mere trifle. 
The people of this place appear to be the most happy of those 
who live under the Portuguese government, probably because the 
more they are distant from it, the less they are subject to its im¬ 
positions and oppressions; still, however, 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 govern¬ 
ment, for which they never receive payment. 
The peasantry are well clad, comfortable and cheerful in their 
appearance; the women are handsome and graceful in their man¬ 
ners ; the men have the character of being extremely jealous of 
them, and I believe they have sufficient reason to be so. 
Being desirous of determining the latitude and longitude of 
of St. Catharines from observation, and the old fortress on the 
high point of that island being the best situation, I communicated 
to Sabine my wishes of sending Mr. Adams there for the purpose 
of taking the necessary distances and altitudes, and requested him 
to write a line to the officer commanding the fort, explaining our 
object, which was done; but the stupid fool, who commanded the 
fort, supposing he had come with some other views, or not wish¬ 
ing to accommodate us, refused him the permission requested; 
he, however, was enabled to effect his object on the beach, and 
the result was as follows : 
Our anchorage, lat. 27° 26' 10" S.; long. 48° 2' 20" W. 
The fort at Ponite Groce, $7° 24' 46" S.; long. 47° 55' 30" W. 
