196 HISTORY OF THE [book m. 
two thousand and fifty-two whites, and two thou¬ 
sand two hundred and forty-one blacks) have been 
of late years considerably augmented by emigrants 
from North America; but of their present numbers 
no precise account is given.* 
Concerning Bermudas, governor Brown is more 
explicit. From his answers to their lordships’ que^ 
ries, it appears, that they contain from twelve to 
thirteen thousand acres of very poor land, of which 
nine parts in ten are either uncultivated, or reserved 
in woods for the supplying of timber for building 
small ships, sloops, and shallops for sale; this be-r 
ing in truth the principal occupation and employ¬ 
ment of the inhabitants; and the vessels which 
they furnish, being built of cedar, are light, buoy¬ 
ant, and unexpensive. 
Of the land in cultivation, no part was appropri¬ 
ated to any other purpose than that of raising In¬ 
dian corn, and esculent roots and vegetables, (of 
which a considerable supply is sent to the West 
Indian islands), until the year 1785, when the 
growth of cotton was attempted, but with no 
* The Bahama islands, comprehending those which, either front 
their smallness, the barrenness of the soil, or the want of water, are 
■uninhabited, are some hundreds in number. They are situated be¬ 
tween the 2zd and 23d degrees of north latitude. The principal of 
them are Providence, (twenty-seven miles long and eleven broad), 
Bahama, Abaco, Harbour Island, Eluthera, Exuma, St. Salvador?, 
Long Island, Andros, Bimini, &c. The seat of government is at the 
town of Nassau in Providence. Vid. vol, i. p. 5. 
