A winter seldom passes but some ships are driven ashore here by the south-west winds, and this happens generally between the 12th of December, and the 22d of January, the season called Liali by the Arabs, and the only period dangerous to shipping in the bay. Proceeding to the south along the coast, the next port we reach is Agadeer, or Santa Cruz, called, in the time of Leo Africanus, Guertguessem; it is the last port in the Emperor’s dominions, on the shores of the Atlantic. The town, which stands on the summit of the Atlas, is strong by nature, and almost impregnable; its walls are also defended by batteries; but the principal battery is at a short distance from the town, half way down the west declivity of the mountain, and was originally intended to protect a fine spring of fresh water, close to the sea; this battery also commands the approach to the town, both from the north and south, and the shipping in the bay. The town called by the Portuguese Fonté, and by the Shelluhs Agurem, is still standing at the foot of the mountain towards the sea, and the arms of that nation are yet to be seen in a building erected over the spring. This town was appropriated to warehouses for the merchants of Santa Cruz to deposit their effects during its establishment. Santa Cruz was walled round and strengthened by batteries in 1503, by Emanuel, king of Portugal, but it was taken from the Portuguese by the Moors in 1536. This place would make an excellent depot for the produce of South America; the natural strength of the place, situated on the summit of Atlas, would secure it from the attacks of the Shelluhs and Arabs, who would soon become hospitable and friendly: they are addicted to traffic. Plantations of olives, vines, dates, and oranges abound in the adjacent country; it produces also gum, almonds, copper, lead, salt-petre, and sulphur. Gold dust is brought here from Soudan, silver from the adjacent mountains, and ambergris from the coast to the southward. The bay of Agadeer is probably the best road for vessels in the empire, being large, deep, and well defended on every side from all winds: a proof of this is, that during my three years residence there, there was not a ship lost or injured. It abounds in exquisite fish, immense quantities of which are caught by the inhabitants of the town, and prepared in ovens, for transportation to the interior.[53]