(that stands on a point at the inner part of the harbour and is called the Dutch Fort) but must ride nearest to the former, all along against the town:  where there is good holding ground, and less exposed to the southerly winds that blow very hard here.  They commonly set in about April, but blow hardest in May, June, July and August:  but the place where the ships ride is exposed to these winds not above 3 points of the compass.

Beside these there is another fort fronting the harbour, and standing on the hill upon which the town stands.  The town itself consists of about 2000 houses; the major part of which cannot be seen from the harbour; but so many as appear in sight with a great mixture of trees between them, and all placed on a rising hill, make a very pleasant prospect; as may be judged by the draught.

There are in the town 13 churches, chapels, hospitals, convents, beside one nunnery, namely the ecclesia major or cathedral, the Jesuits’ college, which are the chief, and both in sight from the harbour:  St. Antonio, St. Barbara, both parish churches; the Franciscans’ church, and the Dominicans’; and 2 convents of Carmelites; a chapel for seamen close by the seaside, where boats commonly land and the seamen go immediately to prayers; another chapel for poor people, at the farther end of the same street, which runs along by the shore; and a third chapel for soldiers at the edge of the town remote from the sea; and an hospital in the middle of the town.  The nunnery stands at the outer edge of the town next the fields, wherein by report there are 70 nuns.  Here lives in archbishop, who has a fine palace in the town; and the governor’s palace is a fair stone building, and looks handsome to the sea, though but indifferently furnished within:  both Spaniards and Portuguese in their plantations abroad, as I have generally observed, affecting to have large houses; but are little curious about furniture, except pictures some of them.  The houses of the town are 2 or 3 stories high, the walls thick and strong, being built with stone, with a covering of pantile; and many of them have balconies.  The principal streets are large, and all of them paved or pitched with small stones.  There are also parades in the most eminent places of the town, and many gardens, as well within the town as in the out parts of it, wherein are fruit trees, herbs, saladings and flowers in great variety, but ordered with no great care nor art.

Of its governor, ships and merchants; and commodities to and from Europe.