The only industry practised by the inhabitants is illicit trade with
the Danish islands of Saint Thomas and Saint Cross. The people of
Fajardo are the commission agents for the people there. What else
could be expected from indolent soldiers and vagabonds without any
means of clearing forests or building houses? If no other measures are
adopted this settlement will remain many years in the same unhappy
condition and be useful only to foreigners." In 1780 there were 243
heads of families in the district; the town proper had 9 houses and a
church.
With regard to the remaining settlements mentioned in Governor Bravo
de Rivero's list, there are no reliable data.
From 1759, the year in which a general distribution of Government
lands was practised and titles were granted, to the year 1774, in
which Governor Miguel Muesas reformed or redistributed some of the
urban districts, many, if not most of the settlements referred to were
formed or received the names they bear at present.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 81: The first landing of the American troops was effected
here on July 25, 1898.]
[Footnote 82: These two episodes have given rise to several fantastic
versions by native writers.]
[Footnote 83: Ten by twenty "cuerdas." The cuerda is one-tenth less
than an English acre.]
CHAPTER XL
AURIFEROUS STREAMS AND GOLD PRODUCED FROM
1509 TO 1536
If a systematic exploration were practised to-day, by competent
mineralogists, of the entire chain of mountains which intersects the
island from east to west, it is probable that lodes of gold-bearing
quartz or conglomerate, worth working, would be discovered.
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