or Azores

St Mary is a small Island immediately adjacent to St Michael's, through the medium of which its trade is conducted, as it has no good harbours of its own. It produces wheat in abundance, and exports a con siderable quantity. The soil is composed of clay, which is partly manufactured into pottery.

Tercera, though smaller than St Michael, being' placed in a more central position with respect to the other Islands, has been chosen as the seat of Govern ment. The port of Angra is also superior to any of those in St Michael. This Island does not ex hibit nearly the same extensive traces of volcanic ac tion : the summits of its mountains are generally le vel. It is represented by Adanson, however, as en of volcanic products. Its lava, he says, is of a thicker grain than that of Tenerife. It abounds in grain and cattle ; but its wines are infe rior, and its fruits raised merely for internal con sumption. The residence of the Government ren ders the society somewhat superior to that which is found in the other Islands. The number of inhabit ants is estimated at 50,000.

Fayal is the most frequented of all the Islands, as its harbour is the best in the Azores, and it lies di rectly in the track of vessels that are crossing the Atlantic in any direction. The principal town is called Villa de Horta. Captain Cook observes, that all sorts of fresh provisions may be got here ; the bullocks and hogs good, but the sheep small and wretchedly poor. The town is defended by two cas tles and a wall, both in decay, and serving rather for show than strength. The city contains two convents for monks, and three for nuns, with eight churches. These are the only good buildings in it ; no other having glass windows. The bay is two miles in length, and three quarters of a mile in breadth, the depth of water from six to twenty fathoms. Though a good road, it is not altogether free from danger in SSW. and SE. winds.

A considerable quantity of wine is exported from' this place, under the appellation of Fayal wine; but it is really the produce ofFico, one of the most remark able of the Azores. This Island is composed of an immense conical mountain, rising to the height of 7000 feet, and bearing every trace of volcanic formation.

The soil consists entirely of pulverized lava, and the ground has even been said to sound hollow when struck. All the lower parts of the mountain are in the highest state of cultivation, and covered with vine and orange plantations. The wine annually exported amounts to about 5000 pipes. It forms a sort of inferior Madeira, which, selling 50 per cent. cheaper, is in considerable demand. Pico produces also a valuable species of wood, resembling, and equal in quality to, mahogany.

Graciosa and St George are two small Wands, si

tuated between Fayal and Tercera. Graciosa is chiefly noted for the extreme beauty of its aspect and scenery. St George has recently been exposed to one of those awful visitations to which the Azores are subject. In 1808 a caldeira, sPuate in the centre of the Island, was observed to be in a state of violent fermentation'. It continued, during several days, to emit subterraneous noises, and to cause violent convulsions through every part of the Island. At length the great crisis came ; vast streams of fire issued forth in every direction, with clouds of smoke, which, but for the volcanic light, would have involved 'every thing in midnight darkness. The principal stream took its direction towards the beau tiful town of Ursula, which it seemed on the point of swallowing up ; but suddenly changing its direc tion, rushed into the sea by a different channel,—a happy event, which superstition ascribed to the prayers of the Ursuline nuns. Many hundred acres of fertile land, however, were covered with scoriae and ashes ; some lives were lost, and a general gloom and consternation diffused throughout the Island. The inhabitants, however, showed no disposition to emigrate, and soon applied themselves to repair the damages which their Island had sustained.

The two small and most westerly Islands of Corvo and Flores, seem but imperfectly to belong to the group. They lie also out of the usual tract of naviga• tors ; but to those who, missing their course, are led thither, Flores affords good shelter in its numerous bays. Its poultry is said to be the finest in the world ; the cattle are numerous, but Small. The surplus produce of these Islands is not of much im portance.