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Port of PalmeiraImmigrants from Sao NicolauIn 1720 an English Captain Roberts anchored offthe Cape Verde Ilha do Sal and Boa Vista.The Royal Navy had a small suadron based on Boa Vista. Captain Roberts was replenishing livestock and salt to take to the Caribbean islands. During his brief layover in Sal Captain Roberts described the settlement at Palmeira as "nothing more than a small cluster of fishermen's cabanas or huts." Roberts attempted to explore the island for 24 hours before sailing on. He stated that during the entire period he encountered "only donkeys and birds" and that he did not see a single human! On his next voyage, Captain Roberts wrote that he came upon a
few dozen men and two women who had been sent to Sal from the Island
of Sao Nicolau. The men made their living by butchering nesting
sea turtles and salting their meat. They begged every passing ship
for passage back to Sao Nicolau. |