FERNANDO DE Nortoxn, is the name of an island in the Atlantic, about 60 or 80 leagues from the coast of Brazil. It is no where above two leagues in extent. Its surface is unequal and mountainous; and in the middle of the island is a mountain called Campanario, or the Belfry, from the resemblance of its summit to a church tower.
The island is, in general, very fertile, notwithstanding the reports of its sterility so industriously propagated by the Portuguese. It produces every species of grain and fruits common in hot climates; but, for the want of mois ture, the crops are often destroyed. Two or three years often pass without rain, and excepting in some books, not a drop of water is to be found in the island. When TA loa visited the island, they had had no rain for two years, but violent showers came on upon the 19th of May. The in habitants save the water in pots resembling cisterns.
There is in the inland part of the island a Portuguese town, in which reside a governor and the parish priest.
When the Portuguese had compelled the French East India Company to evacuate this island, they erected seven elegant forts, in order to defend it. Three of these defend the north harbour, two the north-west, and two the eastern part of the island, where there is a small bay fit only for barks. The forts are all built of stone, are spacious, and are well garrisoned and provided with large artillery. Fort Remedios alone contained 1000 men, partly regulars, sent from Pernambuco, who are relieved every six months, and partly convicts from the opposite coast of Brazil.
The principal fort, called Fort Remedios, stands on a high steep rock washed by the sea, at the foot of which is a cavern, where vast quantities of water are continually pouring in without any perceptible outlet. " In this place, dreadful eructations of the wind are heard at short inter vals, which being compressed, struggles for a vent against the torrent of the water, and by filling the whole mouth of the cave in its ascent, leaves a large vacuity after its discharge, which is done with a noise resembling that of a volcano ; but neither on the opposite side of the island, nor throughout its whole circuit, is there any place or mark, which affords the least room for conjecture with regard to the other mouths of this cavern, so that it is supposed to be at a great distance from it in the sea."
There are two harbours capable of receiving ships of the greatest burden, one on the north, and another on the north-west side of the island. The first is the best, both for shelter, capacity, and the goodness of its bottom. Both the harbours are exposed to the north and west, and when these winds prevail they are both impracticable, the ships being in danger, and all emninunication with the shore totally precluded by the agitation and violence of the sur face. Even in caste' ly winds it is dangerous to attempt a landing.
The harbours or roads abound in fish of five or six dif ferent species, among which are lampreys and morenas of an enormous size. Between the months of December and April, when the turtles lay their eggs, the shores of the whole island are covered with them : they then retire into the sea, and disappear.
The inhabitants of all ranks subsist chiefly upon the Farina di pari, or wood meal, obtained from the roots call ed Moniato, Nane, and Vuca. It is little more than saw dust, both with regard to taste and smell. The position of the island, according to solar observations, is North Lat. 3° 56' 20", and West Long. 32° 37' 45". See Ulloa's Voyage to South ?lnzerica, book ix. chap. iii. and Cook's Second Voyage. (w)