mpt of the Danes to land and build a
Fort.--Eligibility of the Situation of Santa Cruz, for a Commercial
Depot to Supply the whole of the Interior of North Africa with East
India and European Manufactures.--Propensity of the Natives to
Commerce and Industry, if Opportunity offered._

TO THE SAME.

Santa Cruz, 20th March, 1792.

The road up the mountain of Santa Cruz was so dangerous and
impassable, that I undertook to repair it; accordingly, I agreed
with a Shilluh to make it safe and convenient for transporting
goods for shipment; and such was the eager desire of the people for
the establishment of the port, that hundreds brought stones and
assisted gratuitously in the construction of this road; so that
what would have cost in England thousands of pounds, was here
completed for a few hundred dollars.

The natives of this long-neglected territory were too acute not to
perceive the field of wealth that was thus opened to their
63 industry; they were convinced, from the traditions of their
fathers, of the incalculable benefits that would arise from a
commercial reciprocity; and they were determined to cultivate the
opportunity that was now offered to put them in possession of those
commercial advantages which their fathers had enjoyed before: the
benefits of which they had often related to their children, when
they talked of the prosperity and riches of the country during the
reign of Muley Ismael, when this port was before open to foreign
commerce. Agreeably to these well-founded anticipations, the genial
influence of commerce began, soon after my arrival, to manifest
itself throughout all ranks and denominations of men; _the whole
population visibly improved in their apparel and appearance; new
garments were now becoming common, and were every where substituted
for the rags and wretchedness before witnessed on landing here._

About four miles east of Santa Cruz, in a very romantic valley
surrounded by mountains, are found the ruins of a Portuguese tower.
_Tildie_, which is the name of this place, abounds in plantations
of the most delicious figs, grapes of an enormous size and
exquisite flavour, citrons, oranges, water-melons, walnuts,
apricots in great abundance, and peaches, &c. &c.

I invited a party of Arabs to accompany me to this