and as full of holes as a pigeon-house, which are much frequented by the tropic-birds already described. Among the fish that are found about this and the neighbouring islands are the lamantins, or sea-cows, which bring forth two young ones at a time, and suckle them with their milk like calves. There is also a fish called recune, about eight feet long, that kills other fishes by its bite, which is said to be as poisonous as that of a mad dog.

BUILDINGS, &c..

HAVANNAH, the chief city on the island of Cuba, was built by Diego de Velasquez, who conquered the island. It was named originally the port of Carenas," but afterwards, when it began to increase, it was called "St. Christopher of the Havannah." In 1536 it was so inconsiderable, that being taken by a French pirate, he ransomed it for seven hundred dollars. Some time after, it was taken by the English, and a second time. by the French; yet its value was not understood, nor any care taken to put it in a posture of defence, till the reign of Philip II. But since the accession! of the house of Bourbon to the Spanish crown, it has been completely fortified.

This town is particularly famous for its harbour, which is, in every respect one of the best in the West Indies, and, perhaps, in the world. It is entered by a narrow passage, upwards of half a mile in length, which afterwards expands into a large bason; and is sufficient, in extent and depth, to contain a thousand sail of large vessels, having almost six fathom water throughout, and being perfectly sheltered from every wind.

The city stands on the west side of the harbour; in a pleasant plain; and is the residence of the governor and other royal officers of Cuba. The buildings are chiefly of stone, and some of them superbly finished; among which are eleven churches and monasteries, and two handsome hospitals. The churches are remarkably rich and magnificent; the lamps, candlesticks, and ornaments for the altars being of gold and silver, and some of the lamps weighing near a hundred pounds, The Recollect's church has twelve beautiful cha pels in it, and in the monastery are cells for fifty nionks. The church of St. Clara has seven altars adorned with a profusion of plate, and the nunnery contains a hundred women and servants clothed in blue. The church of the Augustines has thirteen altars; and that of St. Juan de Dios nine, with an hospital for soldiers, of twelve thousand dollars.

revenue.

The city is supplied with water by the Lagida, which runs through it by two streams. The entrance to the harbour is defended on the east side

by a strong castle called El Moro, situated on a high rock; and on the walls and bastions are mounted forty pieces of cannon.

Under the faces

of the south-west bastion of the Moro, and within the entrance of the harbour, is a stone battery called the Twelve Apostles, almost level with the water; and the guns carry each a ball of thirty-six pounds. A little higher, and opposite to the Pointgate, is the Divina Pastora or Shepherd's Battery of fourteen guns, level with the water. On the west side of the entrance at the Point, is a square fort called the Punta with four bastions "well mounted with cannon. On the bastions of the town, next the harbour, are a number of cannon;

and about the middle of the city is the Fuerte, a square fort with four bastions, mounted with twentytwo pieces of cannon. In this last the governor resides, and his Catholic majesty's treasures are deposited till the arrival of the galleons.

On the land side, from the Punta-gate to the dock-yard, there is a rampart with bastions, faced with stone, and earthen parapets with a ditch, which in several places is fallen in, and is almost filled up, particularly behind the Punta and and gates, near the stone quarries, which, if joined to one another, might be of great detriment to the place in case of a siege, as a lodgement might be made in them. The ground here rises with an easy ascent to the land gate; and is either open pasture or garden ground, well stocked with cabbage trees. Before the land gate is a ravelin. The hill on a rising ground from this gate (which is the highest part of the town) to the dock-yard, is steeper than on the other side.

The fortifications of the Havannah, though strong, have many defects; and from the situation of the town and forts, are commanded by many eminences of which an enemy might take advantage. On the east side of the harbour, the Cavannas, on a part of which the Moro is built, commands in a great measure that fort, and absolutely commands the Punta, the Fuerte, and the whole north-east part of the city, which is the best fortified. the west side runs a suburb called Guadaloupe, whose church is situated on an eminence about half a mile from the land gate, with which it is on a level, and higher than any other part of the fortifications. From the north side of this rising ground, the Punta gate may be flanked; and from the south-east side the dock-yard is commanded.

On

Along the north side tuns an aqueduct, which, falling into the ditch at the land gate, runs down to the dock-yard, both for watering the ships, and turning a saw-mill, About half a mile from the

.church is a bridge, thrown across a rivulet that runs into the bay about a hundred yards. From this bridge to the Lazaretto is about two miles, with a rising ground between them. And if a trench were thrown up betwixt these two places it would cut off the communication with the town by land. From these observations, therefore, it plainly appears that the Havannah is not impreg nable.

The Havannah has greatly contributed to the maritime strength of Spain, many ships having been built here within these few years, from sixty to eighty guns: the island furnishing the finest materials, such as oak, pine, cedar, and mahogany. The only defect of the harbour is the narrowness of its entrance, for, though free from bars and shoals, yet only one ship at a time can enter it; from which circumstance the galleons have sometimes been insulted, and even captured, at the mouth of the harbour, the forts being unable to afford them any assistance.

Upon the rupture with Spain in 1762, the British ministry sent a squadron and army against this place, under Admiral Pocock and lord Albemarle. The Spaniards had in the harbour at that time a fleet of twelve sail of the line, two of them but just launched, two more on the stucks nearly finished, and several merchant ships. The men of war were almost ready for sea; but the governor had received no intimation of the projected attack. The place, however, was gallantly defended, and sustained a siege of two months and eight days

before it could be reduced; but at the expiration of that time a capitulation was signed, and a district of a hundred and eighty miles was yielded up along with the city. This conquest was the most considerable, and in its consequences the most decisive of any the English had made since the beginning of the war; and in no operation were the courage and perseverance of the British troops and the conduct of their leaders more conspicuous. The acquisition of this place united in itself all the advantages which can be acquired in war. It was a military atchievment of the highest class; by its effect on the Spanish marine it was equal to the greatest naval victory; and in the plunder it equalled the produce of a national subsidy. Nine line-of-battle ships were taken; three capital ships had been sunk by the Spaniards at the beginning of the siege; and two more were afterwards destroyed by the captors. The Spaniards on this occasion lost a whole fleet of ships of war, besides a considerable number of merchant ships; and in ready money, tobacco, and other valuable merchandise, the sum lost did not fall short of three millions sterling. Havannah was restored by the peace of 1763; and is of the greatest importance to Spain, being the rendezvous for all their fleets to return from America to Eu rope, lying at the mouth of the gulf of Florida, through which they are all obliged to pass. Here the Spanish navy stationed in the West Indies rides; and here the galleons, flota, and merchant ships from other ports, meet in September, to take in provisions and water, with great part of their lading, and likewise for the convenience of returning to Spain in a body.

St. Domingo, the capital of Hispaniola, is situ