These islands, during the last half-century, have increased very little either in value, or in population. The navigation in their neighbourhood is dangerous; their situation is not favourable for trade ; and they have been found very deficient in many of those ad vantages, which they were at first supposed to pos sess. It has been alleged even, that, in many re spects, they have suffered a gradual deterioration ; and particularly, that from the cutting down of the large cedar forests, which once covered the islands, sheltering them from the violence of the north winds, and protecting the growth of the more delicate plants, their climate has actually become less temperate, and their soil less productive.
The Bermudas are about 400 in number; but their whole compass does not exceed above six or seven leagues. Most of them are merely islets and rocks ; and very few of them are habitable. The four prin cipal islands are Bermuda, 'which resembles a hook in its form, 35 geographical miles in length, and about two in breadth ; St George's, which has a capital of the same name, and which contains about 3000 inha bitants ; St David's, which is contiguous to the for mer, and which supplies the town of St George with provisions ; and lastly, Sommerset. The population of all the islands is not much above 10,000 ; and near ly one half of the inhabitants are blacks. The people in the Bermudas have been often celebrated for the correctness of their morals, their gentle treatment of their slaves, and their many useful and benevolent in stitutions. The women are said to be handsome ; and both sexes are represented as fond of dress. They are clothed chiefly with British manufactures ; and most of their implements also are made in this country. The government is conducted by a gover
nor, council, and assembly. The prevailing form of religion is that of the church of England ; but there is one presbyterian place of worship.• The chief productions of the Bermudas are a soft white stone, which is easily cut, and which is export ed to the West Indies, for building ; maize, vegeta bles, and most of the West India fruits in sufficient abundance for the support of the inhabitants ; a great variety of tame and wild fowl ; excellent turtle, which forms a very profitable branch of trade ; palmetto leaves, which are manufactured into women's hats ; tobacco, which is rather, however, of an inferior qua lity ; and ambergris, once very abundant, but now procured in &Mailer quantities. A considerable num her of the inhabitants are employed in the manufac sure of sails ; but their chief resource and occupation is the construction of small ships of cedar wood, which they sell to the Americans to gcod advantage, and which are much valued, in those seas especially, for the purpose of privateering. Part of their trade consists, also, in carrying salt from Turk's island to America; and they engage a little in the whale fishery. Several plans have been proposed for improving these islands ; and their soil is considered as well suited for the culture of vines, silk, and cochineal. In 1785, the growth of cotton was attempted, but with little •-• success ; and in 1800, there were not more than 200 acres applied to that purpose. See Pinkerton's Geo graphy, vol. ii. p. 631. Edward's Mist. of West Indies, vol. i. p. 516. , Raynal's Mist. of !Vest Indies, vol. v. p. 52. Modern Univ. Hist. vol. xli. p. 339. (q)