Every  Objcft  wr  bchdd  in  t  Ahm  is  fo  fiftgular
in  i&  Kind,  that  I  have  frequently  lamented  -my
being  unfkill'd  in  dcflgning,  otherwife  I  flKxitd  have
prefented  you  with  a  Draught  of  what  I  can  defcribe
but  Tcry  imperfcdiy  in  Words  •.  The  great  Power
of  the  People  of  Acbtn  formerly,  is  well  ktrawn,  as
is  evident  from  the  Ltfeof  Sc.  Prancis  Xavier  j  but
I  beliere  the  prefent  State  of  this  Kingdom  is  vftry
little  fo,  or  its  Capital  City.  I  pofTibly  may  mifap'
ply  Terms,  in  giving  the  Name  of  Capital  to  a  con-
fijs.'d  Aflcmblage  of  Houfcs  and  Trees.
Figure  to  yourfelf  a  Foreft  of  Cocoa  Trees,  Banv
bou.  Ananas,  and  Bananas,  through  which  nins  a
confiderable  River  cover'd  with  Boats.  Interfperfc
this  Foreft  with  a  numberlefs  Multitude  of  Houfes
made  with  Canes,  Reeds,  and  Barks  of  Trees  ;  and
dirpofc  thefe  in  fuch  a  Manner,  that  they  may  fome-
times  form  Streets,  and  at  other  Times  feparate  Di-
ftridts.  Intermix  thefe  feveral  Diftrifts  with  Mea-
dows and  GrovcSj'and  people  every  Part  of  this
lai^e  Foreft  with  as  great  a  Number  of  Inhabitants
as  are  fcen  in  our  populous  Cities,  and  you  then  will
form  a  i«^tty  juft  Idea  of  the  City  of  ^chen  -f,  and

be

*  The  Father  hu  given  Co  beaatiful  a  Dercription,  in  Words,
orthii  Town,  ai  well  as  of  ihc  famous  Garden  of  the  Du/e^,  at
the  Cape  or  Gtod  Hnfr,  that  it  more  tliafl  compen&tes  for  ha
want  of  Skill  in  Drawing.
