y uninhabited until 1795; in 1829 its population numbered
about 100. Its harbour, an extinct crater on the north coast, with an
entrance eroded by the sea, affords complete shelter from every wind.
An English speculator founded a coaling station here in 1851, and the
town of Mindello, also known as Porto Grande or St Vincent, grew up
rapidly, and became the commercial centre of the archipelago. Most of
the business is in English hands, and nine-tenths of the inhabitants
understand English. Foodstuffs, wood and water are imported from Santo
Antao, and the water is stored in a large reservoir at Mindello. Sao
Vicente has a station for the submarine cable from Lisbon to
Pernambuco in Brazil.

_Santa Luzia_, about 5 m. south-east, has an area of 18 sq. m., and
forms a single estate, occupied only by the servants or the family of
the proprietor. Its highest point is 885 ft. above sea-level. On the
south-west it has a good harbour, visited by whaling and fishing
boats. Much orchil was formerly gathered, and there is good pasturage
for the numerous herds of cattle. A little to the south are the
uninhabited islets of Branco and Razo.

_Sao Nicolao_, or _Nicolau_ (12,000), a long, narrow, crescent-shaped
island with an area of 126 sq. m., lies farther east, near the middle
of the archipelago. Its climate is not very healthy. Maize,
kidney-beans, manioc, sugar-cane and vines are cultivated; and in
ordinary years grain is exported to the other islands. The interior is
mountainous, and culminates in two peaks which can be seen for many
leagues; one has the shape of a sugar-loaf, and is near the middle of
the island; the other, Monte Gordo, is near the west end, and has a
height of 4280 ft. All the other islands of the group can be seen from
Sao Nicolao in clear weather. Vessels frequently enter Preguica, or
Freshwater Bay, near the south-east extremity of the island, for water
and fresh provisions; and the custom-house is here. The island was one
of the first colonized; in 1774 its inhabitants numbered 13,500, but
famine subsequently caused a great decrease. The first capital, Lapa,
at the end of a promontory on the south, was abandoned during the
period of Spanish ascendancy over Portugal (1580-1640) in favour of
Ribeira Brava (4000), on the north coast, a town which now has a
considerable trade.

_Sal_ (750), in the north-east of the archipelago, has an are