The people in general are black, or at least of a mixed colour, except
only some few of the better sort, namely the governor, the bishop, some
gentlemen, and some of the padres; for some of these also are black. The
people about Praya are thievish; but these of St. Jago Town, living under
their governor's eye, are more orderly, though generally poor, having
little trade: yet besides chance ships of other nations there come hither
a Portuguese ship or two every year, in their way to Brazil. These vend
among them a few European commodities, and take of their principal
manufactures, namely striped cotton cloth which they carry with them to
Brazil. Here is also another ship comes hither from Portugal for sugar,
their other manufacture, and returns with it directly thither: for it is
reported that there are several small sugar-works on this island from
which they send home near 100 ton every year; and they have plenty of
cotton growing up in the country wherewith they clothe themselves, and
send also a great deal to Brazil. They have vines of which they make some
wine; but the European ships furnish them with better; though they drink
but little of any. Their chief fruits are (besides plantains in
abundance) oranges, lemons, citrons, melons (both musk and watermelons)
limes, guavas, pomegranates, quinces, custard-apples, and papaws, etc.

OF THE CUSTARD-APPLE, ST. JAGO ROAD.

The custard-apple (as we call it) is a fruit as big as a pomegranate, and
much of the same colour. The outside husk, shell, or rind, is for
substance and thickness between the shell of a pomegranate, and the peel
of a seville orange; softer than this, yet more brittle than that. The
coat or covering is also remarkable in that it is beset round with small
regular knobs or risings; and the inside of the fruit is full of a white
soft pulp, sweet and very pleasant, and most resembling a custard of any