in such payments as they can make.  Being ready to sail, we called a council to consider what was to be done in respect to the absence of our linguist, who had promised the deputy-governor to wait for him at the water-side, but had broke his word; and therefore, as his absence seemed to be entirely his own fault, it was unanimously resolved that we ought to leave him behind, rather than our two ships should wait for one man, who had disobeyed orders.  We were the more inclined to this, that others might learn, by this example, to comply with their instructions when sent ashore, and might come aboard again without delay, after completing their business, and not flatter themselves that fair words and fine excuses were to atone for breach of duty, to humour the fancies of individuals, at the expence of delaying the voyage.  This was certainly but an indifferent place for our linguist to be left in; but he knew the people and the language, and might easily get a passage home.  We persisted therefore in our resolution, and gave orders for sailing as soon as possible, that we might not lose the proper season, and be obliged to double Cape Horn at a wrong time of the year.

Captain Dampier and others in our ships, who had formerly put in at St Jago, another of the Cape Verd islands, said that this island of St Vincent, though not so much frequented, is preferable to St Jago for outward-bound ships, as its road is much better, has better land, and is more convenient for wood and water.  The island is mountainous and barren, its plainest part being over against the sandy bay where we anchored.  The wood growing upon it is short, and only fit for fuel.  We watered at a little stream that flows from a spring down the hill, and is good fresh-water, the others in that neighbourhood being brackish.  It was formerly inhabited and had a governor, but is now only frequented by the inhabitants of the other islands in the season for catching turtle, these islanders being mostly negroes and mulattoes, and very poor.  The stock of wild goats on this island has been mostly destroyed by the inhabitants of St Nicholas and St Antonio.  The heat at this place was so excessive to us, newly from Europe, that several of our men became sick, and were blooded.  There are a few wild asses; and some of our officers wounded one, after a long chase, yet he held out, and tired them.

These islands are named from Cape Verd, on the coast of Africa, whence they lie about 170 leagues to the west.[218] They are ten in number, of which St Jago, St Nicholas, Bonavista, St Antonio, Brava, Mayo, and Fuego are inhabited. St Jago is much the largest and best, and is the seat of the chief governor.  Besides sugar and tobacco, this island produces a small quantity of indigo, which, with goat-skins and some other articles, are sent to Lisbon.  The capital is named likewise St Jago, and is the see of a bishop.  There is another town, named Ribera grande, said to consist of 500 houses, which has