Final answer:
The people in the town of Barkley Cove are described as sharp-minded and perceptive, with a sense of bitterness or disappointment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general impression of the people in the town of Barkley Cove can be inferred from the given passage:
The description of the people in the town suggests that they are sharp-minded and perceptive. The passage mentions their ability to conjure pictures of incompetency, blindness, and cowardice. It also implies a lack of signs or communication coming from the populous land, which suggests a certain level of bitterness or disappointment.