Arms on occasion. The Magazine is on the Skirts of the Town, on a small rising between the Nunnery and the Soldiers Church. 'Tis big enough to hold 2 or 3000 Barrels of Powder; but I was told it seldom has more than 100, sometimes but 80. There are always a Band of Soldiers to guard it, and Centinels looking out both Day and Night.
A great many Merchants always reside at Bahia; for 'tis a Place of great Trade: I found here above 30 great Ships from Europe, with two of the King of Portugal's Ships of War for their Convoy; beside two Ships that Traded to Africa only, either to Angola, Gamba, or other Places on the Coast of Guinea; and abundance of small Craft, that only run to and fro on this Coast, carrying Commodities from one part of Brazil to another.
The Merchants that live here are said to be Rich, and to have many Negro Slaves in their Houses, both of Men and Women. Themselves are chiefly Portuguese, Foreigners having but little Commerce with them; yet here was one Mr. Cock, an English Merchant, a very civil Gentleman and of good Repute. He had a Patent to be our English Consul, but did not care to take upon him any Publick Character, because English Ships seldom come hither, here having been none in 11
