Untitled - University of Limerick Institutional Repository

3 td M A G A 2 1 H ^ of M AG A 2 1 ^
pomegranates over all the country, and and other countries, pot into this island
that which makes travelling very dif- for refreshments, and purchase the maficulf,
,is, that you often meet with nufactures oS the inhabitants of this
rocks a league or half a league long, and the neighbouring islands, at a vawhich
are So ragged and sharp, that it ry ^ood price.
is hardly possible to walk on litem We staid only six days at this island,
without cutting your shoes off your and the Weatber being favourable,
feet : At the same time it is very re- and the wind fair, we pursued our
maskable that thoSe rocks are So Sull of voyage, in a very pleaSant manner, till
vines, that tn the Summer-time you we catne into the latitude oS sixteen
cannot see them, being covered all over decrees south ; and hoped to reach the
with the leaves of these plant^. The Cape of Good Hope in a little time ;
vines shoot their roots through the but, one morning, about Sun- rising,
cracks or openings of the rucks, which the skv towards the east was covered
are so fraall, that it seems surprizing with dismal black clouds, and the wind
how they find any nourishment ; and began to rife, which made us apprevet
a vine will not grew in any other hend a storm would fiion overtake us:
part os the country. The corn and o- Nor were we deceived ; Sot, besom
ther fruits, will neat keep above a year ; noon, it bl^v terribly hard, and connay,
if you keep the com above tinued increasing in violence till night,
sour months, without burying it under We neow gave ourselves over for lost ;
ground, it will rot and be spoiled t To our mainmast was blown over the Side,
prevent this, each inhabitant has a pit and alk we could do w as to keep the
out of the town, the mouth as Which is ship right before the wind, and commit
Covered with a stone, and some of them ourselves to the care of Providence.
large enough to contain a great quan- In this terrible condition we continued
tity of Corn. They put their corn into all night ; but, in the morning, to our
theSe pits in July, covering the stone inexpressible comfort, we Saw the uland
with earth to preserve it the better, as St. Helena ; and, the wind being
and take it not at christmas, when it is Some what abated, we bappilly got
as good and as fine as when put into Safely into the pot as that island.
the pits. The ifland of St. Helena lies in the
Tie oxen areas large and fine as a- latitude os 16 deg. 15 min. south, any
in Europe; their horns are mon- hotlt 55o leagues from the cape as
stronSwide; every one lias his name Goul Hope, $oo leagues Srom the coast
like our dogs ; and are So very famili- as Brastl, and 35oSmm Auanda, which is
at, that when the master calls one of the nearest land. This island is about
them by his name, though among a seven leagues in cirtu inference, covered
thousand, lie will presently come to lrim. with rocky hills. which in a clear day
This island produces excellent lim- may be seen forty leagues off at see
bet, especially cedar, which is so coin- It is really Surprising to see fo small an
msn, that they make carts and wag- island in the midst of the ocean, and at
gons, of it, and even use it for fuel. so great a distance, from land, with So
Here are several hot Springs, which deep a Sea round it, that there is searce
are good in several disorders, and the any anchorage to be found. TheForwater
of Some is hot enough to boil tnguese first discovered it, and that to
an egg. their cost, having one oS their large
The chief trade of the island as Ten- India Ships wrecked here, of the remains
Cera eon lists in wood, of which they of which they built a chapel. which,
have great pl^.ry t Tne fleets of Por- though song since decayed, still gises
tngal and Spain, which fail to the Fast. name to tire finest valley in the island
Ia^es, Brass/, Cape de Vard, Gain.y, They placated lemons, ^ranges, and