as their Poſſeſſions, three or four hundred Miles into the Country. A Country abounding with fine Paſtures and numerous Herds of Cattle, and yields a vaſt Increaſe from every thing that is ſown: Hence they bring down to us Parrots, ſmall Monkies, Armadillos and Sanguins, and I have been aſſured, they have, (far In-land,) a Serpent of a vaſt Magnitude, called Siboya, able, they ſay, to ſwallow a whole Sheep; I have ſeen my ſelf here the Skin of another Specie full ſix Yards long, and therefore think the Story not improbable.
The Harbour of Pernambuca is, perhaps, ſingular, it is made of a Ledge of Rocks, half a Cables length from the Main, and but little above the Surface of the Water, running at that equal Diſtance and Heighth ſeveral Leagues, towards Cape Auguſtine, a Harbour running between them capable of receiving Ships of the greateſt Burthen: The Northermoſt End of this Wall of Rock, is higher than any Part of the contiguous Line, on which a little Fort is built, commanding the Paſſage either of Boat or Ship, as they come over the Bar into the Harbour: On the Starboard Side, (i. e. the Main) after you have entered a little way, ſtands another Fort (a Pentagon) that would prove of ſmall Account, I imagine, againſt a few diſciplined Men; and yet in theſe conſiſts all their Strength and Security, either for the Harbour or Town: They have begun indeed a Wall, ſince their removing from Olinda, deſigned to ſurround the latter; but the ſlow Progreſs they make in raiſing it, leaves Room to ſuſpect ’twill be a long time in finiſhing.
The Road without, is uſed by the Portugueze, when they are nigh ſailing for Europe, and wait for the Convoy, or are bound to Bahia to them, and by Strangers only when Neceſſity compels; the beſt of it is in ten Fathom Water, near three Miles W. N. W. from the Town; nigher in, is foul with the many
