ffected Geſtures and Strains of Voice, as ſhewed to their Diſhonour, they had no other Aim than pleaſing us; and what I think was ſtill worſe, it was not without a View of Intereſt; for as theſe Clergy are the chief Traders, they ſtoop to pitiful and ſcandalous Methods for ingratiating themſelves: They and the Government, on this trading Account, maintain as great Harmony, being ever jealous of each other, and practiſing little deceitful Arts to monopolize what Strangers have to offer for ſale, whether Toys or Cloaths, which of all Sorts are ever Commodious with the Portugueſe, in all Parts of the World; an ordinary Suit of Black will ſell for ſeven or eight Pound; a Turnſtile Wig of four Shillings, for a Moidore; a Watch of forty Shillings, for ſix Pound, &c.
The Town is of mean Building, but large and populous, the Reſidence of the greater Part of the Natives, who, thro’ the whole Iſland, are computed at 10000, the Militia at 3000, and are in general, a raſcally thieviſh Generation, as an old grave Friend of mine can Witneſs; for he having carried a Bag of ſecond hand Cloaths on Shore, to truck for Proviſions, ſeated himſelf on the Sand for that Purpoſe, preſently gathered a Crowd round him, to view them; one of which deſired to know the Price of a black Suit, that unluckily lay uppermoſt, and was the beſt of them, agreeing to the Demand, with little Heſitation, provided it would but fit him; he put them on immediately, in as much hurry as poſſible, without any co-licentia Seignor; and when my Friend was about to commend the Goodneſs of the Suit, and Exactneſs they ſet with, not dreaming of the Impudence of running away from a Crowd, the Raſcal took to his Heels, my Friend followed and bawled very much, and tho’ there was 500 People about the Place, it ſerved to no other End but
