a people inhabiting the Curdistan, or Persian mountains, subsisting chiefly by plunder, and the scanty pittance afforded by their own mountainous country. “They were much reduced (says Mr Ives) by the late bashaw Achmet of Bagdad, who pursued them in person to their subterranean retreats, and destroyed many by the sword, and carried off great numbers of prisoners, who were sold for slaves.” Notwithstanding this check, in the year 1758, they were again become so daring that they would attack caravans of 700 men, and sometimes carry all off. They are said to be worshippers of the evil principle.

SAN JUAN DE PUERTO RICO, usually called Porto Rico, one of the West India islands belonging to Spain, is situated in about 18° N. Lat. and between 65° 36' and 67° 45' W. Long. and is about 40 leagues long and 20 broad. The island is beautifully diversified with woods, valleys, and plains, and is extremely fertile. It is well watered with springs and rivers, abounds with meadows, &c., divided by a ridge of mountains running from east to west, and has a harbour so spacious that the largest ships may lie in it with safety. Before the arrival of the Spaniards it was inhabited by 4 or 500,000 people, who, in a few years, were exterminated by its merciless conquerors. Raynal says, that its whole inhabitants amounts at present only to 1500 Spaniards, Moors, and Mulattoes, and about 3000 negroes. Thus one of the finest islands in the West Indies has been depopulated by the cruelty, and left uncultivated by the indolence, of its possessors. But it is the appointment of Providence, who seldom permits flagrant crimes to pass unpunished, that poverty and wretchedness should be uniform consequences of oppression.