The 19th day of February, at about one o’clock in the morning, I weighed from Mayo Road in order to water at St. Jago, which was about 5 or 6 leagues to the westward.  We coasted along the island St. Jago and passed by the port on the east of it I mentioned formerly which they call Praya; where some English outward-bound East-Indiamen still touch, but not so many of them as heretofore.  We saw the fort upon the hill, the houses and coconut-trees:  but I would not go in to anchor here because I expected better water on the south-west of the island at St. Jago Town.  By eight o’clock in the morning we saw the ships in that road, being within 3 leagues of it:  but were forced to keep turning many hours to get in, the flaws of wind coming so uncertain; as they do especially to the leeward of islands that are high land.  At length two Portuguese boats came off to help tow us in; and about three o’clock in the afternoon we came to an anchor and took the prospect of the town.  We found here, besides two Portuguese ships bound for Brazil whose boats had towed us in, an English pink that had taken in asses at one of the Cape Verde Islands and was bound to Barbados with them.  Next morning I went ashore with my officers to the governor, who treated us with sweetmeats:  I told him the occasion of my coming was chiefly for water; and that I desired also to take in some refreshments of fowls, etc.  He said I was welcome, and that he would order the townsmen to bring their commodities to a certain house, where I might purchase what I had occasion for:  I told him I had not money but would exchange some of the salt which I brought from Mayo for their commodities.  He replied that salt was indeed an acceptable commodity with the poor people, but that if I designed to buy any cattle I must give money for them.  I contented myself with taking in dunghill-fowls:  the governor ordering a crier to go about the town and give notice to the people that they might repair to such a place with fowls and maize for feeding them where they might get salt in exchange for them:  so I sent on board for salt and ordered some of my men to truck the same for the fowls and maize while the rest of them were busy in filling of water.  This is the effect of their keeping no boats of their own on the several islands, that they are glad to by even their own salt of foreigners for want of being able to transport it themselves from island to island.

St. Jago Town lies on the south-west part of the island in latitude about 15 degrees north, and is the seat of the general governor and of the bishop of all the Cape Verde Islands.  This town stands scattering against the sides of two mountains, between which there is a deep valley, which is about 200 yards wide against the sea; but within a quarter of a mile it closes up so as not to be 40 yards wide.  In the valley by the sea there is a straggling street, houses on each side, and a run of water in the bottom which empties itself into a fine small cove or sandy bay