get the casks off. The water at this island does not deserve the bad
character given of it by some persons. It is, in fact, very good, and
it must, therefore, have been from negligence in procuring it, either
by disturbing it too much, or by using bad bungs, which allowed the
salt water to get in while floating off, that it acquired its
unfavourable reputation. It is supplied by several springs, issuing
from the side of the hill at the back of the town, which unite into one
stream, and as it approaches the sea, expands and forms into a basin,
the nearest part of which is forty yards from the beach. As this is
rarely dry, ships may be easily watered, by landing their casks through
the surf; and, when filled, floating them off to the ship. However,
when it is dry, or nearly so, as was the case when we were there, you
are obliged to roll the casks a considerable distance from the beach to
a well in the Governor's garden, from which they must be filled. This
mode is both tedious and laborious, while the sailors are almost sure
to get drunk on a bad spirit called _aqua dent_, which is sold to them
secretly by the blacks, who are ever on the watch to elude the
vigilance of the officers employed in that service.

During the time of the former Governor, (the present one not having
been long in command,) this garden received great attention, and was
kept in excellent order; but the present Governor does not take any
interest in it himself, and, consequently, it is very much neglected;
indeed, there appears to be such a general apathy in all the people at
Porto Pray a, that it seems more like a place allowed to go to decay,
than a colony under an European Government, visited so constantly by
vessels from all parts of the globe.

The population of Villa de Praya is about 4,000, and that of the whole
island about 28,000, which are principally blacks. A large proportion