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An. 1683
Isle of St. Jago.
a few Fowls; living very poor, yet much better than the Inhabitants of any other of these Islands, St. Jago excepted, which lieth 4 or 5 leagues to the Westward of Mayo, and is the chief, the most fruit- ful, and best inhabited, of all the Islands of Cape Verd; yet mountainous, and much barren Land in it.
On the East side of the Isle of St. Jago is a good Port, which in peaceable times especially is seldom without Ships; for this hath long been a place which Ships have been wont to touch at for Water and Refreshments, as those outward bound to the East Indies, English, French, and Dutch; many of the Ships bound to the Coast of Guinea, the Dutch to Surinam, and their own Portugese Fleet going for Brazil, which is generally about the latter end of September: but few Ships call in here in their return for Europ. When any Ships are here the Country People bring down their Commodities to sell to the Seamen and Passengers, viz. Bullocks, Hogs, Goats, Fowls, Eggs, Plantains, and Cocoa Nuts; which they will give in Exchange for Shirts, Drawers, Handker- chiefs, Hats, Wastecoats, Britches, or in a manner for any sort of Cloath, especially Linnen, for Woollen is not much esteemed there. They care not willingly to part with their Cattel of any sort but in exchange for Money, or Linnen, or some other valuable Commodity. Travellers must have a care of these people, for they are very thievish; and if they see an opportunity, will snatch any thing from you, and run away with it. We did not touch at this Island in this Voyage; but I was there before this in the year 1670, when I saw a Fort here lying on the top of an Hill, and commanding the Harbour.
The Governour of this Island is chief over all the rest of the Islands. I have been told that there are two large Towns on this Island, some small Villages, and