# A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica/Volume 1/Introduction

THE INTRODUCTION.
The first Discovery of the West-Indies, to me seems to have been accidental, as has happen'd in most other great Discoveries. Christopher Columbus, first solicited the King of Portugal to set him out; but that Prince being wearied with the Discoveries, and little Advantage of Guinea, would not meddle in it. Christopher then sent his Brother Bartholomew into England, on the same Errand, in the Year 1488. I have made as good a search as I could, after a Map which was made at London, by this Bartholomew Columbus, whereby he would have induc'd King Henry VII, to have been the fitter of him out, but I could not hear of it, neither at the Royal Library at St. James's, nor anywhere else. This Map, and this Proposal were not regarded, and 'tis a common Tradition, that instead of discovering the West-lndies, there was bought at Antwerp, a Suit of fine Tapistry Hangings, with Money that had been set apart, and thought sufficient for that purpose. These Hangings are now said to remain at Hampton Court. This Map, which seems to me to have been made from the Letters ofCol. cap. 8. Paolo Fisico of Florence, in 1474. 'tis likely was a Sea-Chart of the Parts of the World then known; wherein those to the West were Ireland, the Azores, Cape Verd, and the Coast of Guinea. It had to the East, the Parts of China, then lately discover'd, which they then thought were fifteen Hours East of Portugal, and they were still of Opinion, that they had not reach'd the extreme Parts of the East-Indies or Cipango, call'd Japan, where Report had told them, were great Riches. Therefore, there being, as they thought, only about one third of the way to Cataio and China, if they went by the West, they concluded the best and nearest way to take that Course. On this mistaken Foundation, (China, by later Discoveries, being only about eight Hours East) and some probabilities from some Artificial and Natural things, driven on Shore by the Winds and Currents on the Azores and Porto Santo, which came to the Knowledge of Columbus, (who had been wreck'd at Lisbon, and was married to the Widow of one ​Perestrello, who was Discoverer of Madera and Porto Santo) he projected going to the farther Part of the East-Indies, not yet discover'd; where common Fame, and the assurance of People come from thence, told them, were Houses covered with Gold, (in some parts some of them at the Day are Guilded) Spices and other very rich Commodities in great plenty. He was oppos'd in this project by learned Men, and with Difficulty was at last believ'd by Isabella, then Queen to Ferdinand King of Spain, who being influenced by their Confessor, Luigi de S. Angelo, in favour of his Project, pawn'd her Jewels to equip Columbus, who ** Mariana, l. 20. c. 3. by this means got seventeen thousand Ducats. He set out August 1492. and went through many Disasters, endured much Pain, Watching and perpetual Labour. He by these means, kept his Men from Mutinies, and at length discover'd some Birds, afterward some Land-herbs and Fruits the Sea, and at last Saint Salvador or Guanabani, one of the Lucaie or Bahama Islands, on the 12th of October, and on the 15th he came to the North-side of Hispaniola. He left there some Men, and took thence, to shew in Spain, some Indians, Gold, Parrats, Maiz, or Indian Corn, and other valuable or strange things. On the 4th of January, 1493. he set Sail from Hispaniola for Spain, and arrived at Lisbon the 4th of March in the same year, and at Palos in Spain the the 13th of the same Month, that is, in seven Months and eleven Days from going out.
Columbus, likewise brought into Europe in his Ship, and first Voyage, from these places, the Pox, which spread so quickly all over Europe, that Antonius Benivenius, who was at that time a great and famous Practiser in Physick at Florence, in the first Chapter of his Book de Abditis nonnullis ac mirandis morborum, & sanationum causis, tellsp. 318. us, that the Lues Venerea then beginning in Spain, had spread itself through Italy, and France, and that in the Year 1496, it had possess'd many People in all the Provinces of Europe. Dodonæus, likewise tells us, that this Disease very much raged in the War that Charles VIII. King of France had with Alphonsus King of Naples in the Year 1494. and yet thinks Gulielmus de Saliceto, †† P. 318. who liv'd in 1270. Valescus de Tarenta, ‖‖Lib. 6. cap. 5 who liv'd in 1418. and Bernardus de Gordonio, who died in 1305. give us an account of some Symptoms of it.
I am of Opinion notwithstanding what these have said, and some other less material Passages in antient Writers and Historians, and what Joannes ab Arderne has written about An. 1360. and likewise what Stow ** P. 449. says of the Laws of the publick Stews in Southwark, that ​this was a Distemper altogether new in Europe, Africa and Asia, before it was brought from the West-Indies. The Diseases mention'd by the before-cited Authors being different from that Distemper, both in Symptoms and Cure, only perhaps communicated somewhat after the same manner; I have seen some such singular Cases, attended with considerable inconveniences and Fears, and yet not at all pocky.
The 25th of September, 1493. Christopher Columbus set Sail a second time for Hispaniola, and discover'd the Caribes. After he came to the Fort he had left, †† Col. cap. 49 he found all the Spaniards dead, and this account of them from the Indians, that so soon as he had sail'd for Spain, mortal Discords had arisen about Gold and Women, each of the Spaniards pretending to barter for himself; and to take as many, and what Women he pleas'd, without being satisfied with what was thought reasonable, and allotted them by the Cacique, Indian Captain, or King; that some of them had gone on these Errands towards the Mines, where one Caunape, a Cacique, had killed most of them, and come and burnt their Fort, whereby the remainder flying had been drown'd, and were perished.
‖‖ Col. c. 54 After Columbus's Return to Hispaniola, he went to discover the South side of Cuba, thinking that to be the Continent, and not an Island.
He was inform'd in the other Isles, that in Jamaica was Gold, wherefore he went towards it, discover'd it on Sunday the 3d of May 1494. and on Monday the next day, he came thither. He found none of that Metal, but great Number of Canoes and armed Inhabitants, who had better Understandings than those of the other Islands, and who oppos'd his Landing. Some of them were hurt by Guns, and the rest yielded, and were peaceable. Columbus, as he coasted the North side, was extremely pleas'd with this Island, thinking it surpassed any he had yet seen, for Verdure, Fertility, Victuals, &c. which he judged to come from its being water'd with Showers drawn thither by the Woods, which he had observ'd to produce the like in the ** Oviedo, Cor. c. 48. Linschot. deser. Amer. Canaries and Madera before their being clear'd of Trees.
When Columbus, in †† Col. c. 104 Martyr. his third Voyage, had been to discover the Continent, he met with very contrary Winds and Currents (which ran always here Westwardly) so that he was forc'd to this Island, where his Ships being worm-eaten, could carry him no farther. ​He was here in great distress, and his Men had mutiny'd. Some of the sent in a Canoe to Hispaniola, the others remained with him at Porto Buono, in the North-side of Jamaica, being an extraordinary good Port, and the place which was afterwards called by the Spaniards Sevilla, and at this day St. Anns. The Indians murmured, thinking one Christian eat as much as twenty of them, and would not support them, till Columbus ‖‖ Col. c. 103 took the advantage of an Eclipse was to be the next night, viz the 29th of February, 1504. He told them the God of the Christians was angry with them, and would send them Pestilence and Famine, if they did not relieve his Men. As a sign of the truth of it, next night they should see the Moon eclipsed. The Indians brought him Victuals, when they saw the Prediction fulfill'd, desiring he would intercede for them, and promise to fight their Enemies. This he engag'd to do, and came out of his Closet at the time when he knew the Eclipse was to end, saying his Prayers were granted. He liv'd by the effects of this Eclipse till Boats came from Hispaniola, and carried him and his Men thither. This Story is the more Authentic, because the Author ** Fernan Col. Galvanos, 1679. was there present with his Father. †† Oviedo, Cor. cap. 49. This Island was conquered under Don Diego Colon by Juan de Esquivel, and other Captains. In some small time the Indian Inhabitants, to the number of sixty thousand ‖‖ Bart. de las Casas. were all destroyed by the Severities of the Spaniards, sending to Mines, &c. I have seen in the Woods, many of their Bones in Caves, which some people thought were of such as had voluntarily inclos'd or immured themselves, in order to be starved to death, to avoid the Severities of their Masters.
However the Spaniards planted here as at Hispaniola, and from hence ** Galvanos, p. 1084. Garay Governour of it in 1523. went in three Ships and discover'd Florida from the Cape of that name to Vera-cruz, and would have planted it, had he not been hindered by Cortes. This Island had in it, in the North side †† Laet. p. 20. Sevilla now called St. Anns, the Ruins of which are now to be seen. In this Town were large Houses, and a Cathedral Church, of which the famous Peter Martyr was Abbot. ‖‖ Ib. p. 9 The Abbot of this place was Suffragan to the Archbishop of Santo Domingo in Hispaniola. On the same side of the Island, about eleven Leagues to the East of Sevilla was Melilla, and fourteen Leagues from it on the South side was Oristan. It was very meanly inhabited by the Spaniards, ** Chilton. had no Money †† Alex. Ursine. 1419. and only fifty Persons in one Town, but they had ‖‖ Earl of Cumberland, p. 1147. Sir Anthony Sherley, p. 596 and 601. Crawles and Stancias, where was planted Cassada. It had Beeves wild, and so consequently Hides and dry'd Beef, &c. and was reckoned the most pleasant and fruitful Isle in the West-Indies, and a Store-house for the Main. Notwithftanding this ​it was was taken in 1596 by one Shirley, to whom its people submitted.
The Island Jamaica, had this name at the time of its first Discovery by Columbus ** Col c. 54.. The Spaniards write it either Jamaica, Jamayca or Xamaica, J Consonant and X, amongst them, being pronounc'd as a Greek X. It afterwards was called St. Jago; †† Martyr. dec. but soon obtained again its first name, which it retained when it was taken by the English Army, sent into these parts under General Venables in the year 1655. The Descendents and Posterity of Columbus were, and are still called Dukes of Veragua and Vega, and Marquesses of Jamaica. Columbus had this Island given him and his Heirs by the Crown of Spain, in place of several Privileges and Duties he was by agreement to have had, as first Discoverer and Admiral of these Seas, which were, after coming to the knowledge of them, thought too great for a subject to enjoy. It is called la Jamaique by the French, and Gjamaica, by the Italians. The Island of Antego, one of the Antisles or Caribes, had the same name with the Island given it by the Indians, but it was soon changed to that of Santa Maria del Antigua from whence the present name is by corruption ‖ ‖ Col. c. 472 derived.
Jamaica lies in that part of the North Sea, which washes the East side of the Continent of America. This Sea is called the Mare Boreale, Septentrionale, or Mar del Nort, to distinguish it from the Pacific or South Sea, called Mar del Zur, which lies West of the main Land of America. It lies nearer the Continent or Main, than most of the other considerable American Isles; which Islands, as it were, guard it from the violence of the Winds, and great Atlantic Ocean, and render it fitter for the produce of the Manufacture and Trade of those parts, than any of them. It has many Cayos, commonly called Keys, Shoals and Rocks round it, whereby ignorant Sailers are incommoded. It lies to the South West of England at about fifteen hundred Leagues, or four thousand five hundred Miles distance from it. It has to the East of it Hispaniola, or Santo Domingo, about thirty five Leagues distant. To the North Cuba distant about twenty Leagues, to the South Porto Belo, and to the South-East Santa Martha, both about one hundred and sixty Leagues off, and it has also Cartagena one hundred and forty Leagues distant. These three last places are on the Continent of America and very great places for Trade, Cartagena for Gold and Silver, Portobelo for the same, Cascarilla, the Bark of Peru, or Jesuits Powder, and Sarsaparilla, and Santa Martha for Pearls, all which are brought to Jamaica, in exchange for Blacks and European Commodities. Besides, it lies near Campeche and Vera Cruz, the first a very considerable place for Logwood, and the other being the Port ​Town to Mexico, for its trading in Gold and Silver, Cochenille, and Sarsaparilla. It has a situation very happy, likewise in this respect, that it is near the Caymanes, the Cayos or desert Rocks or Isles, of Cuba, and the Isle de Vacas, des Vaches, or of Ash, where the Turtlers seldom fail of getting plenty of Turtle or Tortoises, to furnish the inferior sort of people with good Food, at an easie and moderate price.
The Latitude of St. Jago de la Vega, or Spanish Town in Jamaica is 17°. 30′. North of the Ecquinotial, between it and the Tropic of Cancer, so that it is placed in the Torrid Zone. Its Inhabitants are Amphiscii, that is, have their Shadows thrown South of them, that part of the Year when the Sun is to the North of them, and North the greatest part of the Year, viz. when the Sun is to the Southwards of them. When the Sun is vertical, or directly over their Heads, they are Ascii, that is, their Bodies at Noon have no Shadow at all, and this happens twice a year, that is, when the Sun is going to the Tropic of Cancer, and returning from the same.
It is easie to find from its Latitude, that 'tis in the Arabic, or second Climate, according to that division of the Earth, whereby 10°. of Latitude is allowed each Climate, and which has its Name from Arabia, which is comprehended in it, It is also plain, that the days and nights must be very near equal the year round; so that there will be only an hours difference between the length of the longest day in Summer, and the shortest in Winter. This Latitude, likewise demonstrates that the Twilight here, between the Sun's setting, and no perception of any of his Rays at night (which is when it is about 18°. under the Horizon) or some of his Rays being seen, and his Body visible in the morning, will be very short, or not near so long, as the same continues in places that are situated in an oblique Sphere.
The Longitude of the middle of this Island is about 76°. West of London, this has been ascertain'd by Observations of several Eclipses by Mr. Charles Boucher, who sent these Observations to Mr. Halley, so that I cannot but wonder how Christopher Columbus could mistake so much as ** Cap. 59. to say that by an Observation of an Eclipse of the Moon, the East end of Hispaniola was five hours twenty three minutes West of Cadiz, whereas by Mr. Boucher's, and later Observations, it is certain Jamaica is not much over five hours West of London. That is to say, when 'tis about twelve a Clock at Noon at London, 'tis about seven in the morning at Jamaica, and when 'tis five a Clock in the evening in London, 'tis about twelve at Noon at Jamaica. But the value of the Philippine Islands, which were to belong to the Crowns of Spain or Portugal, by the Popes Bull, ac​cording to their distance from the Line of Division of the World, was the occasion of great Mistakes in the Relations and Maps of Seamen, which have some of them but very lately been rectified, and I doubt some may yet be left wrong placed.
This island lies East and West, and is about one hundred forty Miles long, and about sixty broad in the broadest place, which is near to its middle, it decreasing towards both extreams, in many places, being not half so broad. But it is not very easie to be very exact in this, because of the many turnings of the ways, or courses of the Gullies or Torrents, by which those who cross the Country, must pass.
I find by an account given to Sir Thomas Lynch, when he was Governor of Jamaica, that from Point Morant to Point Negril, the Course N.W. 81. deg. 140 Miles dist. The breadth from Portland-Bay, between Rio-Nuevo and White River, the Course North 0 d. 51½ dist. and from Great Point Pedro, to Dunkin's Cliffs, the Course Northward 48½ dist. From Salt-Pond-Point, to the Mouth of Annotto River, falling into Port Antonio Harbour, over against Lynch-Island, the Course North 26 distance. From Cabarito-Point to Cove-Harbour, the Course North, 22½ dist. From the Southward of Point-Negril, to Negril-Coi, Course North 10½ dist.
The quantity of Acres are 7450000, whereof are Savanna 350000 Acres. Manurable 6100000. Unmanurable 100000.
Rivers of Jamaica, running into the Sea, are eighty.
Rivers in Jamaica, beginning at Point Morant, and so along the South-side, to the Westward.
SAwl's River, Cane-Garden River, Crawle River, Lynch River, Seymar's River, White River, Nut's River, Middle River, Morant River, Lin's River, Negro River, Clark's River, Spring River, White River, Yallah Little River, Black River, and two small River, more, Yallah Great River, Barbicon River, Cane River, Hope River, Mamee River, Rock River, Rio Cobre River, Rio Pedro River, Dry River, Rio de Coco Forked River, Rio Mana Gully, Nelson's River, Salt or Black River, Boure's River, Cock Pit River, Mino River, Rock River, Pindar's River, Tick River, St. Thomas's River, Crooked River, Green River, Milk River, Vere River, Ryme's River, Swift River, Black River, Caju River, Wiet's River, Grass River, One Eye River, Cave Little River, Dean's River, Cabarito River, Three Mile River, Roaring River, Alegator River, Magotty River, Flint River; Great River, Little River, Great River, Morosse River, ​Mantica River, Negro River, Little River, Rio Para Matartiboron River, Cameron's River, Rio Bueno Still River, Bear-Garden River, Langland's River.
Rivers on the North-side are,
St. Anne's Great River, Ochorios or Rivers, White River, Stone-Bridge River, Rio Nuevo River, Rio Sambre Tiabo River, Oro Cabeça River, Six Mile River, Plantain Walk River, Negro River, Puerto Maria River, Crawle River, Water's River, Stony River, Aqua alta, Anotto River, Flinty River, Trunnel's River, Orange River, Ugly River, Ginge's River, Little Tom's River, Fox's River, Sandy River, Plantain Walk River, Church River or Pencarne River, Iterboreale River, Dry River, Haycock River, White River, Buffe Bay River, Spanish River, Devil's River, Swift River, Great Devil's River, Back River, Lousie River, Daniel's River, Rio Grande White River, Fox's River, Sandy River, St. Antonio River, Cameron River, Back River, Annotto River, Guava River, Savanna River, Snaky River, Negro River, Stony River, Annotto River, Porto Antonio River, Turtle Crawle Rivers, Priest Man's River, Mulato River, Manchinil River, Crawle River, Driver's River, White River, Hector's River, Horse-Savanna River, Savage River, Plantain-Garden River, Muddy River, Sulphur River, Clark's River, Coquar-Tree River, Cove River.
The whole Island has one continu'd ridge of Hills running East and West through its middle, which are called generally the blue Mountains, from their appearing of that colour, which comes from the Eyes going through a vast quantity of Æther, or Air, as looking to the Heavens in a clear day. The tops of some are higher than others, one of the highest is called Mount Diablo. Other Hills there are on each side of this Ridge of Mountains; which are lower.
Although this place be situated in the Torrid Zone, yet the Air of it may very well be affirm'd temperate, in that the heat of the days is qualified by the length of the nights, which here is about twelve hours long all the year round; so that the Sun has not that length of time to heat the Atmosphere, as where the days are longer, and the nights shorter, or none at all. 'Tis on the same account that the evenings are much hotter than the mornings, although the Sun be equally distant, and the Rays fall the same way, the heat becoming then extraordinary, because it has been warm'd from morning to that time, by the beams of the Sun, a great many of which continue to act with those coming fresh from the Sun. The Breezes blowing all the year between from North-East to South-East, and ​rising gradually as the Sun rises, is another cause of this Air's being the more temperate. There is before Rain, very often here, a great heat (although the Sun be over-clouded) as well as uneasiness on Men's Bodies, especially those that are sickly, which so soon as the Rain falls is quite removed. This is common to other parts of the world as well as this place, and seems to proceed from moisture, or rather from the spring of the humours of the Body distending the Vessels, the Atmosphere being then lighter, and more moist. The Breeze from Land at night is very cooling, though thought very unhealthy by the Spaniards, on what account I know not. 'Tis usually argued from Irons rusting very soon here, that the Air is corroding; but this I believe comes from the Heat, whereby most People sweat, which being salt and very penetrating corrodes the Iron, and rusts it when they touch it, or keep it in their Pockets. On the Mountains and high Land 'tis much cooler than in the Valleys; in these last the Sun Beams are reflected, from the sides of the neighbouring rising Grounds so on one another, that they seem to make in several places a kind of Focus as in a Burning-Glass. I never found more heat here than as in some Valleys near Montpelier where the situation of the Hills in their neighbourhood occasioned excessive heat. The Savannas are here likewise the more Temperate; because they are places where few Sun Beams are reflected on the Body, having few small rising Hills to interrupt the course of the Breezes, or reflect the Sun Beams.
The Air here, notwithstanding the heat, is very healthy, I have known Blacks one hundred and twenty years of Age, and one hundred years old is very common amongst Temperate Livers.
The Mercury in the Barometer stands at about the same heighth and has the same alterations as in England, though it change not so often as in England.
The Air is here not more Nitrous that in England, nor is there any Salepetre to be had from any natural Earth; but some kind of Tincal or Borax out of a red Earth, which is improper for the culture of Sugar-Canes. What Salepetre is to be had here, is from the Earth dug out of Caves where Indians were buried, or where Bats, and their Dung, are in great quantities. This I am certain of, because the Duke of Albemarle carried several people to Jamaica on purpose to try to make Saltpetre, having had a Patent for that Design.
'Tis frequent, riding in the night, to meet with here and there an hot Blast, for some few paces of Earth you ride over; these Blasts, which are also met with in Egypt, and other parts of the World, are counted very unhealthy, as are also Norths, which blow clear over the Island for a Month together, about Christmas, in which time, in the North side, no Canes will grow, but if planted, the Worms eat them.
​Butter, through the heat of the Air, is so soft here as 'tis when half melted in England; and Tallow-Candles here are very often so soft as not to be able to stand upright, without falling and doubling down, which makes the nicest sort of people desire those of Wax.
The Dog-days, and some weeks about that time, are intolerably hot, and unhealthy, few people find themselves then perfectly well and easie, be they either the antient Inhabitants, or new Comers.
The heat of the Air here is endeavour'd to be amended by great Fans in some Parlours, such as are us'd about Montpelier, and by lying in Hamacs.
There are as many sorts of Water here as in England; River-water, Pond water, Well-water, Spring-water, &c.
Fresh-water is very scarce in dry years, or some parts of the year, in the Savannas distant from Rivers, so that many of their Cattle die with driving to water. If the place be near the Sea, or sandy, the Well-water, as at Port-Royal is brackish. This brackish water, which is very common in Wells on Sea-shores, is not wholesome, but the cause of Fluxes, and other Diseases in Sailers drinking of it. It may be easily discovered by dropping a solution of fine Silver into it, which according to Mr. Boyles computation precipitates a white settlement, if it contain $^1$⁄$_{1500}$ of Salt in it. I have not yet known, or heard of any method which will clear Water of this brackishness but Destillation.
Pond-water, or River-water here, is more pure and not so much infected with Weeds as in England, because of the swiftness of the Currents, or great Inundations, destroying the Water-Herbs at certain Seasons of the year. River- water, because of its great Descents and Precipices, carries with it much Clay and Earth, whereby 'tis muddy and thick; this drunk, has an odd taste, which, in the Town-River, gave occasion to the Spaniards to call it Rio Cobre, and the English to say 'tis not wholesome, and tasts of Copper; whereas on trial of Sand and other Sediments, there is no Metal found therein. This River water, if suffered to settle some days in earthen Jars, the Sediments go to the bottom, and the Water is good. It's thought that Pebbles in the bottom of the Jar promote this separation; and Seamen think a lead-holed plate does the same; but 'tis likely these two methods only hinder the subsidence from rising easily. The porous Stones for percolating water is the best remedy for this muddiness; they must be clean'd every day, and sometimes the water put through them twice or thrice. They are brought from the Canaries to the Spanish Main, and thence to Jamaica. They are made into the form of Mortars, the water being put into their Concave side, foul and troubled, passes through them, and is filtred, leaving its filth in the pores of the Stone. Sometimes this ​water is pass'd through three of these plac'd one under another. Thames-water, at Sea, is generally thought to ferment, and to rise to a vinous Spirit, but it is not so; for this is to be ascrib'd mostly to the filth or tincture of the Cask, for the Water itself in Jars, does not ferment nor smell; in Cask first it acquires a colour from the filth or Wood, then ferments, smells, and turns vinous, neither is it all so, but only that in some Casks. Brandy, by the Cask, from limpid, turns yellowish in colour, but does not so in Jars or Bottles. Water gather'd off the Ships Decks from Rain, smells and ferments presently, because of Spittle, Dung, &c. Thames-water is accounted the best for Ships, though probably passing by so great a City as London, it be the foulest in Contents.
Spring-water is reckon'd preferable to other kinds; there are fine, large Springs here, many of them as well as Rivers, petrify their own Channels, by which they sometimes stop their own Courses, by a Sediment and Cement uniting the Gravel and Sand in their bottoms. When this petrifying water falls drop by drop, it makes the Stalactites. Several Caves have their bottoms and tops united by this Stone, so that they appear Pillars.
Upon the whole matter, the cleansing Water from Clay, Mould, Water-Herbs, and other accidental Impurities it meets with in its Course, seems to be the way of making it good in all parts of the World. In many places the Inhabitants let it purifie itself by quiet and subsidence, in others they do it by help of a sort of Beans, or rather nux vomica, as on the Coast of Coromandel; in others by precolating through porous Stone Mortars. I have seen in London the muddiest Water made as fine as ever I saw any, by filling a Cistern with Sand, scattering the muddy Water on the upper part of it, which soaking through by a Hole (guarded so as not to be choak'd with mud) at the bottom of the Cistern, left behind all its impurities in the Sand. This Sand is turn'd into a soft Stone, which once a year is taken out, broken with Mallets, cleans'd of its Clay, and put again into the Cistern to serve for the same purpose another year.
A hot Bath or Spring is near Morant in the Eastward part of the Island, situated in a Wood, which has been bathed in, and drunk of late years for the Belly-ach with great Success.
A great many Salt-Springs arise in level Ground under Hills, in Cabbage-Tree bottom, at about a Mile or two distance from the Sea, which united make what is call'd the Salt-River.
Salt is made here in Ponds, where into the Sea or Salt-water comes and by the Heat of the Sun, the moisture being exhal'd, leaves the Salt, which is in great plenty at the Salt-Ponds, about Old Harbour, &c. The Salt is not perfectly white, nor in small Grains, but in large lumps, and has an Eye of red in it, as some sal gemmæ I have ​seen come from Spain, or what comes from the Island called Salt Tortugas near the Main of America, which is here reckoned the stronger and better Salt.
Lagunas, or great Ponds, are many here, one whereof, Rio Hoa Pond, receives a great deal of water by a River, which yet has no visible Rivulet, or Discharge runs from it.
Rivers here in the Mountains rise above, and go under ground again in a great many places, as Rio d' Oro falls under, and rises above ground above Sixteen Miles-Walk, three or four times, and so it is in many others.
At Abraham's Plantation in the North-side, is a River which has stop'd it's own Course by letting a settlement fall, and petrifying its own bottom.
It's ordinary to have Cataracts, Cascades or Precipices, in Rivers amongst the Mountains fifty or sixty Foot high. I have heard some people have been in Currents forc'd down these without hurt. The Water making a great Noise down such Precipices, gave the name to the roaring River in the North side.
The Rivers, especially that called the dry one, (because 'tis sometimes dry) when it rains in the Mountains, come down with great force, carrying along any thing in their way. These Rivers have done dammage to several people by coming down, they being not aware of them, it having rain'd above in the Mountains by their Springs, though not below them in the Plains. Many Fish are in these Rivers, up in the Mountains, especially Cray-fish, wild Hogs feed on them when the Springs are low. The Fish oft are brought down and left in Holes, where Negroes take them by intoxicating them with Dogwood-bark.
Many fallen Trees come down the Rivers, and crossing one another make a stop, whereby the Neighbouring grounds suffer great Inundations, this, as it is beneficial to some, so it is hurtful to others, according to the wetness or driness of the Soil.
Milk-River, is so called from the bottom, which being a white Clay, has given it it's Name: it is dangerous fording it, because the Fords remove as the water puts the Sand by it's Current on one side or other.
Rocks of incredible bigness are brought down by the impetuosity of Rivers which sometimes almost stop their ancient Courses making them run another way.
By this steepness of the Hills, and consequently impetuous motions of the Current, are made the very steep and deep Gullies and sides of Rivers, so that the Banks or Brinks of a River are sometimes a great many yards perpendicularly high above the waters surface.
​The Tides here are scarce to be taken notice of, there being very little increase or decrease of the water, and that depending mostly, if not altogether, on the Winds, so that the Land-Winds driving off the water of the Island, makes a Foot, two, or more Ebb, which is most apparent in the mornings: in the Harbour of Port-Royal one may see the Coral-Rocks then sensibly nearer the surface of the water, and all along the Sea-shore, the water is gone for a small space, leaving it dry, and this much more on the South side of the Island, when the Norths blow. On the contrary the Sea-breeze driving the water on the shore of the island, makes the Flood, so that in the evening it may be said to be high water, especially if a South, or other Wind, blows violently into the Land for some time together, with which the water comes in, and is much higher than ordinary. The Breezes being stronger or weaker according to the Moons Age, it may be thought the Tides or Currents may follow that; but I rather believe they only are the effect of the Winds.
The outward face of the Earth seems to be different here from what I could observe in Europe, the Vallies in this Island being very level, with little or no rising Ground, or small Hills, and without Rocks, or Stones. The Mountainous part for the most part is very steep, and furrowed by very deep Gullies on the North and South sides of the highest Hills, on each side of which are very great Precipices. The Ridges left are where the High-ways are made, to pass from one side of the Island to the other. The Gullies are made here by frequent, and often very violent Rains, which every day almost fall on these Mountains, and first making a small Trough or Course for themselves, wash away afterwards whatever comes in their way and make their Channel extraordinary steep.
The greatest part of the high Land of this Island is stony, rocky, or clayey; these sorts of Soil resist the Rains, and so are not carried down violently with them into the Plains, as are the Mould proper for Tillage, and other more friable Earths, either natural to these places, or made of the faln and rotten Leaves, and Trunks of Trees, or Dust carried by Wind and Rain; hence it is that in those mountainous places, one shall have very little or none of such Earths, but either a tenacious Clay, or a Honey-Comb, or other Rock, on which no Earth appears; and this is generally true, unless in some few places where the Rain may carry some of this Earth, and there leave it, the situation of the place being the cause of such an accident, by being a bottom among Hills.
​On the same account that the high Land wants tillable Earth, and is barren, the low Land is very deep of fat and black Mould in some places a great many yards deep, so that the fat, black Earth of Olaus Rudbeck, would be no certain Argument of the length of time from the Deluge, there being none in the high Land, and a great deal more than enough in the low. Hence it comes that all low Land, near high, is the most fertile, and all high Land is scarce cultivated, the one being extreamly fertile, the other not.
All the high Land is covered with Woods, which are great high Trees, some of them very good Timber; they are very tall slender, straight, and one would wonder how such Trees could grow in such a barren Soil, so thick together, among the Rocks. The Trees send down their fibrous Roots into the Crannies of the Rocks, where here and there they meet with little Receptacles, or natural Basins, wherein the Rain water is preserv'd not only for the Roots of the Trees to give them Nourishment; but likewise to give Birds and Insects drink, and sometimes Passengers on the Roads. It is likewise ordinary for Rain-water co be kept in the Spurs of Cotton, and other Trees made hollow, and to be drunk by Hunters, and others, sucking it out with a wild Cane.
'Tis a very strange thing to see in how short a time a Plantation formerly clear'd of Trees and Shrubs, will grow foul, which comes from two causes; the one the not stubbing up of the Roots, whence arise young Sprouts, and the other the Fertility of the Soil. The Settlements and Plantations of, not only the Indians, but even the Spaniards, being quite overgrown with tall Trees, so that there were no Footsteps of such a thing left, were it not for old Palisadoes, Buildings, Orange-Walks, &c. which shew plainly the formerly clear'd places where Plantations have been.
There are the same Layers of Earth one over another, as are to be met with in Europe. And the same difference of Soil, appears here, that does in England, on digging of Wells, &c.
Most of the Savannas, or Plains fit for Pasture, and clear'd of Wood like our Meadow-Land, lie on the South side of the Island, where one may ride a great many Miles without meeting any the least Ascent. Some of these Plains are within Land encircled with Hills, as the Magotty Savanna, &c. 'Tis probable, these being void altogether of Trees, that they are either so naturally, or rather have been clear'd by the Indians, in order to plant their Maiz there, and other Provisions.
These Savannas answer our Meadow-Grounds in Europe, and after Seasons, i.e. Rain, are very green and pleasant, but after long droughts are very much parch'd and withered.
​Low Land clear'd of Wood is very proper for Hay, which has been here made in very few days, and feeds Horses very well, but the greatest part of the Nourishment of Horses is Scotch Grass, and Indian Corn.
After Seasons, i.e. three or four, or more days Rain, all manner of Provisions, Maiz, Guinea Corn, Pease, Patatas, Yams, Plantains, &c. are planted. The Ground, after these Grains and Provisions are gathered, is clear'd, before they expect a new Season, of the remaining Weeds, Stalks and Rubbish, which are put in heaps and burnt.
Their new clear'd Grounds are too rich, those which have been manur'd for a long time need Dung, which now they begin to look after, not burning their Trash as formerly, but keeping it in great heaps to rot, in time to make the better Dung.
The Stalks of Guinea-Corn and trash, (that is the marc, or remaining part of the Sugar Canes, after the Expression of the Juice whereof Sugar is made,) is used in Barbados, for fire wood, in three or four of the Stoke-holes, where a less degree of Fire is sufficient, and begins to be in use in Jamaica, in places where Fire-wood is scarce.
In places clear'd, and ruin'd or grown wild again, the several sorts of scandent or climbing Plants, especially Convolvuli, do so much abound and prosper, that there is no passing without a Bill to cut ones way; they are so high, as not only to mount up the young Shrubs but even to the tops of the tallest Trees, whence they hang down, and often pull down the Trees with them.
Trees faln in the Path, and turning to Mould or Earth, I have observ'd here to yield just the same sort of Earth for colour, &c. as the Soil is, in which they grew.
The Meat of the Inhabitants of Jamaica, is generally such as is in England, as Beef, Pork, and Fish, salted and preserved, and sent from hence and Ireland, Flour, Pease, salted Mackrels, &c. from these Places, and New-England, or New-York; on which not only the Masters feed, but also they are oblig'd to furnish their Servants both Whites and Blacks with three Pounds of Salt-Beef, Pork, or Fish, every week, besides Cassada Bread, Yams, and Patatas, which they eat as Bread, and is the natural Product of the Country.
Although there is here in the Savannas great plenty of Cattle, yet they cannot keep Beef past some few days, and that salted, otherwise in three or four hours 'tis ready to corrupt. Butchers always kill in the morning just before day, and by seven a Clock the Markets for Flesh-Meat are over.
​Their Beef here is very well tasted, and good, unless when Guinea Hen-weed rises in the Savannas, which is immediately after Rains, or when they are so parch'd that Cattle can find nothing else to feed on, this having a very deep Root, and being then green. Then their whole Flesh tasts so much of it, that one cannot well eat it, at which time likewise it infects their Milk, and very much their Kidnies. Every thing made of Milk tasts, when the Cows eat it, so strong of it, that there is no using with pleasure any thing made therewith. This is commonly thought to come from their eating Calabash-Tree-Leaves, which in that scarcity are fell'd to feed their Cattle; but it comes from this Herb, and not thence as is vulgarly supposed. Cattle feed on the Calabash Fruit in dry times. Horses in the Woods are sometimes kill'd by them, the Fruit sticking so fast to their Teeth that they are not able to open their Chaps to feed.
The Butchers remedy the smell of the Guinea Hen weed in Cattle, by putting them into other feeding Grounds before they are slaughtered.
Veal is very common, but none thought good but what comes from Luidas, where the Calves are very white flesh'd; whether this comes from this places being mountainous, or bleeding and giving them Chalk, as in Essex, I cannot tell, but the price of it was so extravagant, that in the Assembly they past an Act that it should not be sold dearer than twelve pence per Pound.
A great part of the Food of the best Inhabitants, for their own Tables, of the produce of the Island, is Swines-flesh, and Poultry of their own raising.
Swine are of two sorts, one running wild in the Country amongst the Woods, which feed on the faln Fruits, &c. and are sought out by Hunters with gangs of Dogs, and chiefly found in the more unfrequented, woody, inland parts of the land. After pursuit, and that they are wearied by the Dogs, when they come to a Bay, they are shot or pierc'd through with Lances, cut open, the Bones taken out, and the Flesh is gash'd on the inside into the Skin, fill'd with Salt and expos'd to the Sun, which is call'd Jirking. It is so brought home to their Masters by the Hunters, and eats much as Bacon, if broil'd on Coals. These Hunters are either Blacks or Whites, and go out with their Dogs, some Salt and Bread, and lye far remote from Houses, in Huts, in the Woods, for several days, in places where Swine come to feed on the Fruits, &c. returning with more or less Meat, according to their good or bad Fortune. The Indians are very exquisite at this Game. The same method is used for wild Kine which are now but very few, and those in the Woods in the North side, Wild Goats there are some on the Salt-Pan Hills, not to be seen but in dry Seasons when they come down for water.
​Swine fed at Crawles are in very great plenty. These Crawles, or Houses and Sties built for feeding and breeding Hogs, are kept by some Whites, Indians or Blacks. The Swine come home every night in several hundreds from feeding on the wild Fruits in the neighbouring Woods, on the third sound of a Conch-Shell, where they are fed with some few Ears of Indian Corn thrown in amongst them, and let out the next morning, not to return till night, or that they hear the sound of the Shell. These sort of remote Plantations are very profitable to their Masters, not only in feeding their own Families, but in affording them many Swine to sell for the Market. It was not a small Diversion to me, to see these Swine in the Woods, on the first sound of the Shell, which is like that of a Trumpet, to lift up their Heads from the Ground where they were feeding, and prick up their Ears to hearken for the second, which so soon as ever they heard they would begin to make some movements homewards, and on the third sound they would run with all their speed to the place where the Overseer us'd to throw them Corn. They are call'd home so every night, and also when such of them as are fit for Market are wanted; and seem to be as much, if not more, under Command and Discipline, than any Troops I ever saw.
A Palenque is here a place for bringing up of Poultry, as Turkeys, which here much exceed the European and are very good and well tasted, Hens, Ducks, Muscovy Ducks, and some very few Geese. Muscovy Ducks are here most plentiful, and thrive extreamly, they coming originally from Guinea. These Poultry are all fed on Indian or Guinea Corn, and Ants Nests brought from the Woods, which these Fowls pick up and destroy mightily.
Cattle are penn'd every night, or else they in a short time run wild. These Pens are made of Palisadoes, and are look'd after very carefully by the Planters. The Oxen who have been drawing in their Mills, and are well fed on Sugar-Cane-tops, are reckoned the best Meat, if not too much wrought. They are likewise fatted by Scotch Grass.
Turtle, (Tortoises) are of several sorts, those of the Sea call'd green Turtle from their Fats being of that colour, feed on Conches or Shell-fish, are very good Victuals, and sustain a great many, especially of the poorer sort of the Island. They are brought in Sloops, as the Season is for breeding or feeding, from the Caymanes, or South Cayos of Cuba, in which forty Sloops, part of one hundred and eighty, belonging to Port-Royal, are always imployed. They are worth fifteen Shillings apiece, best when with Egg, and brought and put into Pens, or Palisadoed places in the Harbour of Port-Royal, whence they are taken and killed, as occasion requires. They ​are much better when brought in first, than after languishing in those Pens, for want of Food.
They infect the Blood of those feeding on them, whence their Shirts are yellow, their Skin and Face of the same colour, and their Shirts under the Armpits stained prodigiously. This I believe may be one of the reasons of the Complexion of our European Inhabitants, which is chang'd, in some time, from white to that of a yellowish colour, and which proceeds from this, as well as the Jaundies, which is common, Sea Air, &c.
Land-Tortles are counted more delicate Food than those of the Sea, although smaller. They are, as I have been told, on the main Continent of America, pen'd and fed with Patata-slips, &c. and drawn out as occasion requires either for victualling the Flota, or for the private expence of their Houses.
All sorts of Sea Tortle, except the green, are reckon'd fishy, and not good Food.
Manati, is taken in this Island, very often in calm Bays, by the Indians; It is reckoned extraordinary good Victuals.
Fish of all sorts are here in great plenty; but care must be taken they be not poysonous, this is known by the places where they use, where if Mançaneel-Apples are commonly eaten by them, they are very dangerous.
Salt Mackarel are here a great Provision, especially for Negros, who covet them extreamly in Pepper-Pots, or Oglios, &c.
What is used for Bread here, by the Inhabitants, is very different from that in Europe: that coming nearest our Bread is Cassada. The Root dug up is separated from its outward, small, thin Skin, then grated on a Wheel, or other Grater. After searcing, the powder is put into a Bag, and its juice squeez'd out, the ends of the Roots are kept for other uses. The searc'd and dry Farina, is spread in the Sun to dry further, then put on a Gridiron set on Coals, and there bak'd as Oat-Cakes are in Scotland. 'Tis observable, that although it be a Powder when put on the hot Iron, yet presently it sticks together very fast, and becomes one solid Cake, which being bak'd on one side for some few minutes, is turn'd and bak'd on the other almost as long, then put on the side of a House to Sun. The ends of the Roots are made into a coarser Flour, and a Bread is made of a coarser sort, for making a kind of Drink call'd Perino. The juice is poisonous, so that any creature drinking of it (after swelling) dies presently. But if Swine be by degrees accustomed to it, 'tis the most fatning Food that is. This juice is whitish, and if let settle, has a Settlement or Fæculæ subsiding, which make a very fine Flour, and this fine Flour by some is reckoned the best and most wholesome Farina.
​This Bread is eaten dry as ours, or dipt in water, on which it immediately swells, and has no very pleasant taste this way, though dry it has none at all. Dipt in sugar'd water this Bread is still more pleasant, and if it be a little tosted afterwards, it eats yet better. If dipt in Wine, it will not swell as if dipt in Water. It will keep a long time without Corruption, so that it is taken as Provision for the Sloops trading to the Spanish Main, &c. This Bread is worth about seven Shillings and six pence the hundred weight, sometimes double that, according to its scarcity. People who feed altogether on this, live as long, and in as good Health as they who feed on any other sort of Bread.
Plantains is the next most general support of Life in the Island. They are brought in from the Plantain-Walk, or place where these Trees are planted, a little green; they ripen and turn yellow in the House, when, or before they are eaten. They are usually rosted, after being first clear'd of their outward Skins, under the Coals. They are likewise boil'd in Oglio's or Pepper-Pots, and prepar'd into a Past like Dumplins, and several other ways. A Drink is also made of them.
The next Succedaneum for Bread, in this place, are Patatas. They are rosted under the Coals, or boil'd, and are eaten as the former.
Yams are likewise us'd here in lieu of Bread, and are prepar'd as the others, only because they are very large, they are usually cut in pieces.
Grains in use here, are, 1. Guinea-Corn. 'Tis prepar'd, and us'd as Rice, and tasts as well, and is as nourishing. It is usually the Food of Poultry and Pigeons.
2. Indian Corn or Maiz, either tosted or boil'd, is fed on by the Slaves, especially the young Ears of it, before ripe, are rosted under the Coals and eaten; this is thought by them very delicious, and call'd Mutton; but 'tis most us'd for feeding Cattle and Poultry.
3. Rice is here planted by some Negros in their own Plantations, and thrives well, but because it requires much beating, and a particular Art to separate the Grain from the Husk, 'tis thought too troublesom for its price, and so neglected by most Planters.
Pease, Beans, and Pulse of sorts different from those of Europe, are here very common. They are eaten when green, as ours of Europe, and when dry, boil'd, afford the Negros very good and strong Provision.
Flour from New-York is counted the best, but this as well as all other Flour, and Bisket, are subject to be spoil'd with Weevils, or small Scarabæi, if long kept.
​Chocolate is here us'd by all People, at all times, bur chiefly in the morning; it seems by its oiliness chiefly to be nourishing, and by the Eggs mixt with it to be render'd more so. The Custom, and very common usage of drinking it came to us from the Spaniards, although ours here is plain, without Spice. I found it in great quantities, nauseous, and hard of digestion, which I suppose came from its great oiliness, and therefore I was very unwilling to allow weak Stomachs the use of it, though Children and Infants drink it here, as commonly as in England they feed on Milk. Chocolate colours the Excrements of those feeding on it of a dirty colour.
The common use of this, by all People in several Countries in America, proves sufficiently its being a wholesome Food. The drinking of it actually warm, may make it the more Stomachic, for we know by Anatomical preparations, that the tone of the fibres are strengthened by dipping the Stomach in hot water, and that hot Liquors will dissolve what cold will leave unaffected.
Besides these ordinary Provisions, the Racoon, a small Quadruped, is eaten. Rats are likewise sold by the dozen, and when they have been bred amongst the Sugar-Canes, are thought by some discerning people very delicious Victuals. Snakes or Serpents and Cossi (a sort of Worms) are eaten by the Indians and Negros.
As I have formerly observed some wonderful contrivances of Nature, for propagating the Kind, I shall now on this occasion take notice of one very obvious, and yet not regarded for the preservation of the individuum. 'Tis the great variety of Foods Mankind is sustained by, not only here but in the several parts of the Earth. Mankind would be at a great loss were they restrain'd by Nature to any certain limited kind of Food. For when they should come to multiply and replenish the Earth, and live in all Climates, where the difference of Air and Soil raises variety of Vegetable and Animal Productions, they would come to want necessary sustenance for Life, were they not fitted by Nature, or rather the All-wise Author of it, to make use of what they find ready for that purpose.
'Tis for this reason Man has cutting and tearing as well as grinding Teeth, and a natural Menstruum or dissolvent in his Stomach and Guts, of great force and power in extracting Nourishment from the great variety of Meats, found and used in the several parts of the World. Chymists have with great industry many years sought after an Alcahest, Universal Dissolvent, or Menstruum, whereby to open or extract the Quintessence of Bodies, and have not, so far as I can see or learn, been yet able to attain it. We see every day Nature surpass them in this particular, for whereas with them so many kinds of Drugs or Bodies, so many kinds of Menstrua are required, the Spittle, or whatever is the Menstruum comes from ​the Blood into the Stomach and Guts, and is there mix'd with our comminuted Victuals, is able to open and extract from them what is good and proper, whether they be Roots, Stalks, Leaves, or Seeds of Vegetables of several kinds; Fat or Lean of the Flesh of Animals, of parts of them, sweet or sower, acid or Alkali, 'tis all one, the best parts are kept, and the worst, unuseful, or earthy, thrown off by Excrements. There will be no need of proving this, if we do but consider how many live very well on Vegetables only, thinking it inhuman to kill any thing to eat; others live on Flesh only, most on both Vegetables and Flesh. Many live on the Irish Patatas, a sort of Solanum, (on which, I have heard, they live in the Mines of Potosi, and in Ireland) the common Brakes, as in the late Famine in France; on the Roots of Argentina, called Mascorns, in Scotland and the North of Ireland, the Stalks of the Fucus Phasganoides called Tangle in Scotland, or on the Roots of Bulbocastanum or Pignuts. The greatest part of Mankind have their chief Sustenance from Grains; as Wheat, Rice, Barley, Oats, Maiz, Buck-wheat, Zea or Spelta, Rye, some from the Seeds of a wild Grass called Gramen Mannæ in Poland, or from wild Oats, or Folle Avoine, growing in the Lakes of Canada, on which the Indians feed; or from the Seeds of the several sorts of Millet and Panicum. Some in Barbary feed on Palm Oil, others on that drawn from Organ or Erguen Nuts, many on Oil Olive, or that from Walnuts or Sesamum, which last is much used in Egypt and the East-Indies. Kine, Goats, Swine and Sheeps Flesh sustain most people in these parts, and so does Camels in Arabia, and Horses in Tartary. Most in Groenland feed on large Draughts of Train Oil; and in England the poorer sort have strong Nourishment from Milk-meats, (on which feed the longest Livers) Butter and Cheese. In many parts of the World, as Lapland, &c. Fish is their chief subsistence.
Besides these already above mentioned, Joachimus Struppius, has written a Book printed Francof. 1573. in quarto, called Anchora Famis, &c. and Giovanni Battista Segni, trattato sopra la Carestia è fame, &c. Bol. 1602. in quarto. wherein I find some of the following Vegetable and Animal Productions were made use of in times of Famine, which may be not only curious to consider, but useful in the direction of others in the like necessities, should it please God to inflict the like Calamity. There are likewise other Instances of extraordinary feeding taken from other Books, as Voyages, Sieges, &c. Petronius de victu Romanorum, Mundy, Muffet, &c. Roots, not mention'd already, affording Sustenance, are Carrots, Parsneps, Parsly, Navews, Skirrets, Radishes, Onions, Turneps, Scorzonera, Sassafie or Tragopogon, Peony, Gladiolus, Papyrus, Fennel, Daucus, Asphodil, Liquorice, Bur-roots, White-thistle-roots, Alisanders, Satyrium, Trast, Arachidna, & Bambu.
​Though Stalks and Leaves afford no great Nourishment, yet they have sometimes kept many from starving, they are either such as are tender or succulent of themselves, or made so by earthing. They are Cichory, Selery, Endive, Sorrel, Coleworts, Mallows, of much use in the Kitchin of old, Bugloss, Lettuce, Blite, Cumfry, Spinage, Leaves of Apples, Pears, Beech, Artichokes common and prickly, Mushrooms, Purslain, on which some people have lived in desert Places, Sium, Primrose, Cefaglione or the head of the Dwarf Palm, the head of the Palm called Cabbage-tree, Asparagus-like, young shoots of Briony, black and white, Hops, Ruscus, Equisetum, which is reckon'd unwholesome, and Ferula, Sea-weeds, tender Leaves and Sarments of Vines, White thorn, and Tamarind tree leaves. I find also in want, that People have thought of young Oak-Apple, and Pear-tree-bark, as well as Fir-tree-Cones.
Many feed on Pulse, as Pease of the Garden, and wild Beans, Vetches, Orobi, Lupins, Kidney-beans, Lentils, Lotus Ægyptiaca. Many of the Seeds of Lolium or Cockle, which is plentiful when Corn is scarce, and prepar'd by being well water'd, boil'd, dry'd, and made into Flour for Bread, which has been used in scarcity of Food. Sometimes this Bread has been taken out of the Oven, soak'd in Water, and bak'd again to free it of it's bad qualities.
Poppy seeds were likewise in use of old, and Flax-seed, though thought unwholesome, also Fenugrec seeds, and Hemp-seeds, on which I have known a Woman in England feed many Months.
Not to speak of Acorns and Beech-mast, the Food of our Fore-Fathers, Dates, the Food of many people in Barbary and Arabia, Figs, Pistachias, the Sevennois in France feed on Chesnuts, the Broth or Soupe of which I have heard is very nourishing. Joachimus Struppius, in his Book abovementioned, tells us that Bread may be made of Apples, Citrons, Oranges, Pears, Sloes, Cherries, Sorvices, Almonds, Hazelnuts, Heps, Plums, Grapes, Pine-kernels, Bill-berries, Rasberries, Strawberries, Mulberries, Peaches, Cucumbers, Melons and Pompions. The Pulp of the Pods of the Carob, or Siliqua-tree, in which the Seeds lies, is also eaten in Italy, and the Bichy or Buzzee-tree in Guinea. The fruits of Arbutus, mala insana, tribulus terrestris, and Coco, are likewise fed on in the places where they grow, and the later transported for provision to other places.
All sorts of Skins of Beasts, or Leather, or Things made of them, Girdles, Shoes, Belts, Shields, &c. are soak'd, and eaten, in want of better Food: Mules Flesh, and Buffalos Flesh dry'd and powder'd, Panthers, Bears, Lions, Foxes, Rhinocerots, Bats, large Toads in New England, Wolves, Cats, Otters, Badgers and Beavers, Mice, Tatou and Opossum; Birds of Prey when young, Oxygala, sowr Milk, ​or Bonyclabber, Fish bones, Tortoise-Eggs, Crocodiles, Blood of most Animals Periwinckles and Frogs, are eaten in scarcity of other Food.
The Natural Irish, in scarcity of Grain, live on the Leaves of Water Cresses, Chambrock or trifolium pratense purpureum, Dils, Sea Snails, Patellæ, and small Fish the Sea-shores afford on the Ebb. The like do the Scots in the Western Islands, where they feed on the Lactuca Marina, as in the West of England, where 'tis called Leaver. The Scots also feed on the first Leaves of Atriplex Sylvestris folio sinuato angusto candicante, called by them Milds. When I was in the South of France, I was inform'd that the Spanish Troops in their Neighbourhood in Catalonia, in scarcity eat Tallow Candles. At the Siege of London-Derry, the Inhabitants were supported with Tallow. The English Sea Pease have sustained many People in cases of Famine, and the Roots of Astragalus Sylvaticus have serv'd for the same purpose. In a Famine that spread over Germany in 1572. in Suevia and Silesia, Bread was made of Reed-Roots, of those of Rapunculus, iris, &, acorus nostras; at the same time tender Oak Leaves were boil'd in Hassia, and Children were fed with Grass and boil'd Hay. I was told by my good Friend Mr. Cuningham, that in Cochinchina is a small Bird, which makes its Nest of a sort of round-leav'd short Sea-Plant or Fucus, which it dissolves by keeping it in its Crop, and afterwards makes use of in the building its Nest against the Rocks. These Nests are eaten in the East-Indies, where they are in great esteem as well as in Europe. The Crops of wild Pigeons in the beginning of the Spring, contain the young Buds of Trees and Plants, which after Maceration there, is reckoned one of the most delicate Sallets or Sauces, and so are the Insects contained in the Stomachs and Guts of Woodcocks. The Hottentots eat the small Guts of Cattle and Sheep, with their Contents, after being worn as Bracelets about their Necks, and there in part dried. Mæcenas was not the only person lov'd Asses Flesh, for in the late War some of the Vaudois that made a Descent into Dauphine, esteem'd Asses Foals the best Dish they could get. I once knew one cast away on a Desert Island, who liv'd sometime only on Oisters. Snails of several kinds are eaten with much satisfaction in Italy and France, for which reason the Lord Arundel, lest his native Country should want them, brought from Bourdeaux, to Ashted near Epson in Surry, some live ones to breed, whose Posterity remains there in great plenty. In Silesia, Dr. Krieg has inform'd me, they make places for the breeding of Snails at this day, where they are fed with Turnep Tops, &c. and carefully prepar'd for the Market. The Romans took care of them formerly after the same manner, as may be seen by the following passage.
​Varro de re Rustica, lib. 3. cap. 14. gives us an account of the ways of making their Coclearia, in the following words. Nam & idoneus sub dio sumendus locus cocleariis, quem totum circum aqua claudas, ne quas ibi posueris ad partum, non liberos earum, sed ipsas quæras. Aqua, inquam, siniendæ, ne fugitivarius sit parandus. Locus is melior, quem & non coquit sol, & tangit ros. Qui si naturalis non est (ut ferè non sunt in aprico loco) neque habeas in opaco, ut facias, ut sunt sub rupibus ac montibus, quorum alluant radices lacus ac fluvii, manu facere oportet roscidum: qui fit, si eduxeris fistulam, & in eam mamillas imposueris tenues, quæ eructent aquam, ita ut in aliquem lapidem incidat, ac late dissipetur. Parvus iis cibus opus est, & is sine ministratore, Et hunc, dum serpit, non solùm in area reperit, sed etiam si rivus non prohibet, in parietes stantes invenit. Denique ipsæ exgruminantes ad propalam vitam diu producunt, cum ad eam rem panca laurea folia interjiciant, & aspergant furfures non multos. Itaque coquus has vivas an mortuas coquat, plerumque nescit. Genera coclearum sunt plura, ut minutæ albulæ, quæ afferuntur è Reatino, & maxime quæ de Illyrico apportantur, & mediocres, quæ ex Africa afferuntur. Non quo non in his regionibus quibusdam locis, eæ magnitudinibus non sint dispariles, nam ut valde amplæ sunt. Quanquam ex Africa quæ vocantur solitannæ, ita ut in eas 80 quadrantes conjici possunt, & sic in aliis regionibus eædem inter se collatæ & minores sunt ac majores. Hæ in fœtura pariunt innumerabilia. Earum semen minutum ac testa molli, diuturnitate obdurescit, magnis insulis in areis factis, magnum bolum deferunt æris. Has quoque saginare solent ita, ut ollam cum foraminibus incrustent sapa & farre, ubi pascantur, quæ foramina habeat, ut intrare aer possit. Vivax enim hæc Natura.
Not only places were made for Snails by the Romans, as Parks for Deer with us, but also conveniences were made for Rats to feed, and be bred for the Table, as appears by what the same Author tells us in the next Chapter.
Glirarium autem dissimili ratione habetur, quòd non aqua, sed maceria locus sepitur, Tota lævi lapide, aut tectorio intrinsecus incrustatur, ne ex ea erepere possit. In eo arbusculas esse oportet, quæ ferunt glandem: quæ, cum fructum non ferunt, intra maceriam jacere oportet glandem & castaneam unde saturi fiant. Facere his cavos oportet laxiores, ubi pullos parere possint. Aquam esse tenuem, quòd ea non utuntur multum, & aridum locum quærunt. Hi saginantur in doliis, quæ etiam in villis habent multi, quæ figuli faciunt, multo aliter atque alia, quòd in lateribus eorum semitas faciunt, & cavum, ubi cibum constituant. In hoc dolium addunt glandem, aut nuces juglandes, aut castaneam. Quibus in tenebris, cum cumulatim positum est in doliis, fiunt pingues.
All these several and vastly differing Bodies; which, when no other are at hand, must be the Food of Mankind in the places where they are produced, are not only digested by the Artifice of ​Nature into good Sustenance to repair its Losses, and propagate its Kind, but likewise, however strange to us, are very greedily sought after by those us'd to them. Thus Persons not us'd to eat Whales, Squirrils, or Elephants, would think them a strange Dish; yet those us'd to them, prefer them to other Victuals.
Men and Women, who have not so nice a Smell as some Beasts, nor Faculties to distinguish by their Senses what is wholesome Food so well as they, were infinitely short of them in this particular, were it not for Providence, and the due use of their Reason. It was some Matter of wonder to me, to think how so many People, perhaps one fourth Part of the Inhabitants of the whole Earth, should come to venture to eat Bread, made only by baking the Root of Cassada, which is one of the rankest Poisons in the World, both to Man and Beast, when Raw. Though, I must confess, there is an instance in several Ranunculi, common in our Meadows, which when green, Blisters and Ulcerates the Flesh, and are us'd for that purpose by sturdy Beggars, to excite Compassion; these are not touch'd by Cattel, but left standing in the Fields; and yet, (as I am told) fed on greedily by all sorts of Cattel, when only dry'd into Hay. There is an Instance also of this in the Roots or Leaves of Arum, of which many kinds, uncommon to Europe, are eaten, when dry'd and prepar'd, as Colocasia, &c. and even the Roots of the common ones are eaten in Italy, when dry'd into a Flower, and made into Bread, though every body knows the great Acrimony they have when Raw. I was somewhat likewise surpriz'd to see Serpents, Rats and Lizards, sold for Food, and that to understanding People, and of a very good and nice Palate. But what of all these things was most unusual, and to my great Admiration, was the great Esteem was set on a sort of Cossi, or Timber-Worms, call'd Cotton-Tree-Worms, by the Negros and Indians; the one the Original Inhabitants of Africa, the others of America.
The Negros and Indians are not the only Admirers of these Vermine, for I find the most polite People in the World, the Romans living in a Neighbouring Country, accounted them so great a Dainty, as to feed them with Meal, and endeavour breeding them up. That they were commonly known and used, is likely from the word Cossus, Festus tell us, used to signifie, one lazy or slow, like Worms: and a considerable Family at Rome, from the Wrinkles and Furrows in their Face was call'd Cossutia.
Pliny, where he speaks of the Diseases of Trees, lib. 17. cap. 24. says thus, Vermiculantur magis minusve quædam, omnes tamen ferè: idque aves cavi corticis sono experiuntur. Jam quidem & in hoc luxuria esse cœpit: prægrandesque roborum delicatiores sunt in cibo: cossos vocant, atque etiam farina faginati hi quoque altiles fiunt. I cannot find any mention ​made of them in Apicius de re culinaria: but Ludovicus Cælius Rhodiginus, in his Antiq. Lectiones, tells us, that Phryges ac Pontici, vermes albidos, obesosque, capite nigricante, qui è cariosis premuntur materiis, inter delicias habent, ac xylophagia comedisse luxuria est. And Ælian de Animalibus, in the 14. Book, Chap. 13. p. 817. has to this purpose this passage. Inter cætera animalium naturæ propria hoc quogue non omiserim. Indorum rex secundis mensis & bellariis non iisdem delectatur quibus Græci, qui palmarum pumilarson fructus expetunt. At ille vermem quendam in planta quadam nascentem secundis mensis igne tostum adhibet, (and so the Indians and Negros in Jamaica eat them at this Day) suavissimum quidem illum in Indi aiunt, & eorum qui gustaverunt nonnulli asserunt, quibus ego fidem habuerim.
Also, John de Mandeville tells us, that in a certain island call'd Talache, were, vermes similes iis, qui in lignis putridis existunt, hosque principibus in mensis apponi.
Likewise St. Hierom in his second Book against Jovian in the second Tome of his Works, Francfort Edit. p. 53. has this Passage to this purpose; namely, In Ponto & Phrygia vermes albos & obesos, qui nigello capite sunt, & nascuntur in lignorum carie, pro magnis reditibus paterfamilias exigit. Et quomodo apud nos Attagen & ficedula, mullus & scarus in deliciis computantur, ita apud illos ξυλόφαγον comedisse luxuria est.
Aristotle does extremely extol young soft Cicadæ, and has been at the Pains in his History of Animals, to tell us, that the time to kill them to the best Advantage, is the Males ante coitum, and the Females after, when they are most savoury.
Athenæus speaks of a Marriage Dinner, where one of the greatest Dishes were Cicadæ salted and dried.
As for Locusts or Grashoppers, 'tis most certain, that as they are a Curse to some Places, by devouring the Fruits of the Earth, so they are a great Blessing to others, where the Inhabitants feed on them, and are destitute of other Provisions. They are only dry'd in an Oven, and so kept, or powder'd and mixt with Milk, and, as I have been told, by those us'd to them, they eat like Shrimps.
Lopez de Gomara tells us (Hist. general de las Indias, cap. 69.) that after the West-Indians (in the Continent about Santa Martha) had been overcome by the Spaniards, they found many Baskets of Provisions the Indians had gathered to Traffick with the People further within Land: the Provisions were these Cangrejos, Land-Crabs, which burrough in the Ground like Rabbets, feed on Vegetables, and far exceed ours in taste, Caracoles sin cascara, or naked Snails. Cicadæ, of which before, grillos Crickets, & langostas de las que destruyen los panes secas y Salados, Locusts or Grashoppers.
​After what has been said, it will seem very strange that the same Author, who has given one of the best Accounts of the Indies, in the same Book, Chap. 219. says, that the Indians of America were made and declared Slaves to the Spaniards, for these Reasons that they eat Piojos, and Gusanos (our very Cossi before mentioned from the corrupted word Cusi) Crudos, that they intoxicated themselves with their kinds of Wines, that is of Maiz, &c. and smoak of Tobacco, and that they were without Beards, and if they had any grew, they pluck'd them out. These Reasons, though appearing small, yet were the only Pretences, according to their own Historians, of driving them to Slavery in Mines, where the greatest part of them perished. And if any compassionate Person oppos'd these inhuman Proceedings, such was the Power of Interest, as to bring him speedily to the like end, as appears by the sad Story of Bartholomeo de las Casas.
The most common Drink here is Water. 'Tis reckoned the most wholesome Drink by many, amongst whom I am one. 'Tis a common Custom to drink a large Draught of Water in the Morning here, which is thought to prevent the Belly-ach; it may very well be, in that not only it may cool the inflam'd Blood, creating a Rhumatism, (very often taken for, and almost always join'd with the true Belly-ach,) but that also it may clear the Guts of some sower, or sharp parts that may lie in them, the Relicks of Lime-juice, or other Heterogeneous or Morbifick Matter lodg'd in any of their Cells, and 'tis the more proper for this, in that 'tis a Menstruum very fit to dissolve, as well as dilute all saline and acid Substances, and that it may by its fluidity run into every corner of these Passages through which it must go. And therefore in large quantities drank, it may be affirm'd to be the best Counter Poison.
The Spittle, and Excretions of the Glandulæ of the Ventricle and Guts, are known to be the chief dissolvents of our Victuals, to which Water, by its Analysis, seems to be next a kin. It dissolves all sorts of Food, making them soft, and into a Gelly (which parts Nature seems to want) whereas Wine is for those Gelatinas a very improper, if not impossible Menstruum. 'Tis every where ready at hand to all Mankind, and all Sanguineous Animals coming near the Structure of Mankind, make use of no other with their good wills. Water when put into the Stomach, dissolves what ever is nourishable in our Victuals, carries it through the Venæ Lactæ into the Blood, increases the Lympha, to dilute the Chyle, and then goes off without leaving any Heterogeneous parts in the Blood or Stomach, whereas Wine or vinous Liquors do not that. Negros, Indians, Mahumetans, and a great part of Mankind know not the use of this Wine or vinous Liquors, and yet look fresher, and are much healthier than we. The ​Northern Nations, Goths, and Vandals, who by their Numbers and Strength overcame most Parts of the World, ended not their Victories 'till by coming over the Alps they tasted and drank the Wines, whence they stop'd their Conquests, became Effeminate, and not fruitful.
Madera Wine is the next most general Drink mixt with Water; 'tis very strong, and a sort of Xeres or Sherry; 'tis of two sorts, the White usually the strongest, tho' thought not to keep so long, and therefore not us'd so much, or the Red Wine made of the White, with some tinto or deep Red Wine put into it, which may preserve it. The Wines from the Westward Isles are thought unwholesome, both because of the Grapes and mixture of Lime, Jesso, or Plaister, in making. The longer or shorter time that Wine made of Red Grapes stays fermenting with the Husk, the more or less it is ting'd, and the longer or shorter time it will keep, and the more or less it is Austere or Stiptick. The Virgine Wine, which has but a very small time stood on the Husks, soon is ready for drinking and fine, and soon spoils; that which has a greater Tincture keeps longer, as being impregnated with some parts of the Husk, as hop'd Beer keeps longer than Ale; and that sort of Oil which has stood longer with the Rind and Stone of the Olives, keeps much longer than that call'd Virgin Oil which has not been salted. Madera Wines have this particular to them, different from French Wines, and all others coming hither, that it keeps better in a hot Place, and expos'd to the Sun, than in a cool Cellar; whereas the other Wines brought hither must be kept cool, and will for all that remain but a small time without being prickt and turning sower.
Syder, Beer and Ale, do not keep well here, they huff, and fly in this strange Climate, and few Casks are opened with any of these Liquors bottled, where they are not broken at least one third of them; but Mum keeps very well.
The small Beer coming hither is usually said to be brew'd with Barbados Aloes instead of Hops, the one being cheaper than the other.
The common Drink of London, that is Beer and Ale, alone or mixt, is very much coveted here, the Beer is often sowerish, and the Ale is generally too sweat and heavy, the one too old, and the other not well wrought (hence, as I have heard, few belonging to a Brewhouse will taste any Ale) whence it should seem to drink these Liquors should be very unhealthy. And yet more to drink small Beer, which is the second or third running off of the Malt, whence it must come that a great many Feculencies remain in the Blood. Notwithstanding all this, 'tis certain our Fore-fathers, who drunk these Liquors for common drink, lived to as great an Age with as much Health as we.
​There seems to be two great evils following the excessive use of vinous Liquors; one of the Diseases they cause in the Head; the other their inflaming of the Blood; besides the Nausea the Phlegmatick parts occasion in the Stomach, or the Hiccough there caus'd by their sharpness, always following those who have drunk much. Some of these evils are the effects of the spirituous parts of vinous Liquors, and the other the effects of the Caput Mortuum, which remains after distillation of vinous Liquors in the bottom of the Still without rising, and it is a very nauseous substance.
Cool Drink made of Molossus and Water, Perino, Corn Drink, Cane Drink, that made of Sorrel or Pines, are all accounted unwholesom, they turning sower in twelve or twenty four hours, and owing their strength to Sugar, and fermentation they are put in to. Although I have known some people drink nothing else, and yet have their Health very well.
Acajou Wine, made of the Fruit so called, is very strong, keeps not long, and causes vomiting; 'tis reckoned a good remedy in the Dropsie.
Plantain Drink is stronger than any of the others, except Acajou Wine, though subject to grow sower in a short time.
For the better understanding what these Drinks are, it will not be amiss to set down the way of making some of them here, reserving the way of preparing others to their proper places.
To make cool Drink, Take three Gallons of fair water, more than a Pint of Molossus, mix them together in a Jar; it works in twelve hours, time sufficiently, put to it a little more Molossus, and immediately Bottle it, in six hours time 'tis ready to drink, and in a day it is turn'd sowr.
To make Perino, a Drink much used here, and in Gujana, or Surinam, and many other places. Take a Cake of bad Cassada Bread, about a Foot over, and half an Inch thick, burnt black on one side, break it to pieces, and put it to steep in two Gallons of water, let it stand open in a Tub twelve hours, then add to it the froth of an Egg, and three Gallons more water, and one pound of Sugar, let it work twelve hours, and Bottle it; it will keep good for a week.
The common fuddling Liquor of the more ordinary sort is Rum-Punch, to the composition of which goes Rum, Water, Lime-juice, Sugar, and a little Nutmeg scrap'd on the top of it. This as 'tis very strong, so 'tis sower, and being made usually of the Sugar-Pot bottoms, is very unhealthy, and because 'tis cheap, Servants, and other of the poorer sort are very easily fuddled with it, when they come from their Masters Plantations: this, as all other vinous Spirits, puts them into a fast Sleep, whereby they fall off their Horses in going home, and lie sometimes whole nights expos'd to the injuries of ​the Air, whereby they fall in time into Consumptions, Dropsies, &c. if they miss Apoplectic Fits.
Rum is made of Cane-juice not fit to make Sugar, being eaten with Worms in a bad Soil, or through any other fault; or of the Skummings of the Coppers in Crop time, or of Molossus and water fermented about fourteen days in Cisterns, and then distill'd off, of which an account will be given hereafter. It seems to be much the same with Rack, or Arac (made in the East-Indies of Rice) and other vinous Spirits, the Creatures of Fermentation, and has an unsavoury Empyreumatical scent, which is endeavour'd to be taken off by Rectification, mixing Rosemary with it, or after double Distilling letting it stand under Ground in Jars.
They talk of a common Experiment here, that any Animals Liver put into Rum grows soft, and not so in Brandy, whence they argue this last less wholesome than that, but their Experiment, if true, proves no such thing. I think it may be said to have all good and bad qualities of Brandy, or any fermented or vinous Spirit.
It is, and may be us'd outwardly, instead of Hungary-water, in Aches, Pains, &c. especially that which is double distill'd.
The better sort of People lie as in England, though more on Quilts, and with few, if any Coverings; they hold here that lying expos'd to the Land Breezes, is very unhealthy, which I do not believe to come so much from the qualities of the Air, either manifest or more obscure, as from this, that the Air is, when one goes to sleep here, very hot, the Sun beams having heated it so long, it retains this heat for some considerable time in the night, which afterwards wearing away, it grows towards morning very cold, and affects one so much as by the coldness sometimes to awake one if sleeping. This must of necessity check insensible transpiration, and so may be the cause of many Diseases. To avoid this, Negros and Indians sleep not without a Fire near them.
Hamacas are the common Beds of ordinary white People, they were in use amongst the Indians, and are much cooler than Beds, so cool as not to be lain in without Clothes, especially if swung, as is usually the custom here. This sort of Bed is very proper for People troubled with Rhumatisms, or inflam'd Blood, as also those who have any great defluxion on any part of their Legs or Thighs; also for Women with Child in danger of Miscarriage, the high lying or position of the parts, the Heels being up as high as the Head, favouring this. 'Tis a very good way, and easie for a sick Person to be carried in one of these from place to place by four Men, as is the Custom of the better sort of people in Guinea.
​Indians and Negroes lie on the Floors, most generally on Mats made of Bull-rushes, ordinary Rushes, Ribs of Plantain Leaves, or the Spathæ, or Vaginæ of Cabbage-tree-Flowers, with very little or no coverings, and a small Fire near them in their Cottages. Hence they and ordinary white Servants, who lie not in Beds, are not said to go to Bed, but to go and Sleep: and this Phrase has generally obtain'd all over the Plantations.
Beds are sometimes covered all over with Gauze to hinder the Mosquitos or Gnats from buzzing about, biting or awaking those lying in them. This is chiefly after Rain.
It is esteem'd here the wholesomest way to go to Bed early, and rise early.
The heat of the Air exhausting the Spirits, no wonder if some of the edge of Mankind to Venery be taken off; it is thought by some Men, that they are bewitch'd or charm'd by the Air; by others that that desire in Women by this heat is Augmented, but I believe neither; for what I could find by several People this Appetite is the same as in other places, neither are men more bewitch'd or charm'd here than in Europe; but I believe People being here more debauch'd than in England, the Consequences may be more taken notice of; and I am apt to think that a great many Dropsies may come from this, nothing depauperating the Blood like excessive Venery. I once saw a very great Dropsie fall on a strong young man, occasioned by one nights very excessive debauchery.
Exercises here are not many, because of the heat of the Air; riding in the mornings is the most ordinary, which by its easie moving the Abdomen, and so consequently its Contents, and by that means forwarding the depuration of the Blood in the several Emunctories there plac'd, has a very great power in keeping a Man in sound Health, as well as recovering a Man when sickly and ill.
The Passions of the Mind have a very great power on Mankind here, especially Hysterical Women, and Hypochondriacal Men. These cannot but have a great share in the cause of several Diseases, some of the People living here being in such Circumstances, as not to be able, to live easily elsewhere: add to this, that there are not wanting some, as every where else, who have been of bad Lives, whereby their minds are disturb'd, and their Diseases, if not render'd Mortal, yet much worse to cure than those who have sedate Minds and clear Consciences. On the same account it is that those who have not their Wills, Minds, and Affairs settled, in Distempers are much worse to be cur'd than other Men. On all which respects the ​Indians, who are not covetous, nor trouble themselves about many things we do, have much advantage of us.
Frost and Snow are never seen in this hot Climate, but sometimes Hail, and that very large, of which during my being here I saw one instance, it comes with very great Norths, which reach with great violence to the South-side, and throw down everything before them.
The Dews here are so great, as in the morning to drop down from the Leaves of the Trees, as if it had rain'd; they fall most in the morning when coolest. One riding in the night perceives the greatness of the Dews, for he will find his Cloths, Hair, &c. very wet in a small time.
There are few, if any Fogs, in the Plains or sandy places near the Sea, only in mornings over moist places, as Rivers, Ponds, &c. there rises a great Fog; but in the Inland parts, as Sixteen-Miles-Walk, Magotty Savanna, &c. are great Fogs every morning most part of the year, which are clear'd up as the Sun rises, or Sea-Breeze begins to blow. Although these Fogs are as above, yet the People living there are esteemed healthy.
Rains are here very violent and lasting when they come, the drops are very large probably from the Clouds breaking; it being observable, that if one pour water out of any Vessel, the higher 'tis from the Ground the smaller will the Drops be. The Rainbow here is as frequent as any where in times of Rain.
According to the different Positions of the places, so the Rains are more or less violent, and come at different times; but generally Speaking, the two great rainy Seasons are in May and October, in which Months, at new or full Moon, they begin, and continue day and night for a whole fortnight with great violence; so that the Earth in all level places is laid under water for some Inches, and it becomes loose for a great many Inches deep, and so consequently the Roads are almost unpassable. In the Town of St. Jago de la Vega, in those rainy Seasons, I was forc'd to ride on Horseback, although but from door to door, to visit the Sick. And these Seasons, as they are call'd, from their being fit to Plant in, are generally so over the whole Island, though they are much alter'd in their time and violence of late years, which arises from the clearing much of the Country of Wood.
In the month of January is likewise expected a Season or Rain, but this is not so constant nor violent as are the other two, and probably may come from the violent Norths, at that time passing over the Mountains, with part of their Rains with them, for
​In the North-side of this Island Rains in that Month are generally very frequent and violent, coming along with great Winds, which nevertheless seldom pass the Hills, or ridge of Mountains running through the middle of the Island, so that very often the Seasons of the one are different from those of the other.
For all the Summer-months, or when the Sun is near, or over their Heads, or indeed almost the whole year round, towards Noon, it rains on some part of the Ridge of Mountains running through the Island, with Thunder and Lightning. These Rains seldom reach two or three Miles into the Plains; wherefore on the account of these Rains, the Valleys lying very near, or amongst the Mountains, have more Seasons, and are more fertile than the Plains farther off, which, if they have any Rain, it is but the Outskirts of that in the Mountains, and therefore inconsiderable.
At other times of the year, sometimes for three or four days together there may be a Shower about Twelve, or four a Clock in the Afternoon, which only serves to moisten the surface of the Ground without any profit.
It will be necessary for the better understanding of these Things, to give a Journal of the Weather, observed by me at St. Jago de la Vega in Jamaica.
May 1688.
June 1688.
July 1688.
August 1688.
September 1688.
October 1688.
November 1688.
December 1688.
January 1688.
February 1688.
March 1688.
This Island being several Degrees within the Tropic, has the Trade Wind continually there, which is on the South side of the Island call'd the Sea Breeze. It comes about eight a Clock in the morning, and increases or freshens till twelve in the day, and then as the Sun grows lower, so it decreases till there is none about four at night. About eight at night begins the Land Breeze, blowing four Leagues into the Sea both in Jamaica and the Continent, and continues increasing till twelve at night, and decreases again to four, when there is no more of it. This course generally holds true. The Sea Breeze now and then is more violent than at other times, as at new or full Moon, and incroaches very much on the Land-wind, and the Norths when they reign, viz. in the months of December, January, or February, blow over the ridge of Mountains with violence, and hinder the Sea Breeze. Sometimes the Sea Breeze will blow all night, but ​this is to be taken notice of, that the Sea-Breeze blows stronger or longer near the Sea, as at Port-Royal, or Passage-Fort, than it does within Land, as at St. Jago de la Vega, or Spanish Town. As contrariwise the Land-wind blows harder at the Town than at Passage-Fort, or Port-Royal. These things are evident to any who peruses the preceding Journal, where when the Breeze is mentioned, 'tis to be understood the Sea-Breeze in the day, or if in the night, the Land-Breeze; those Breezes ordinarily succeeding each the other.
As the Trade-Wind, between the Tropics, comes not directly from the East, but varies from North-East to South-East, according to the place and position of the Sun, so the Sea-Breeze here has the like Variation, not coming always from the same Point; on the contrary, the Land-Winds or Breezes, come always from the Ridge of Hills, and from the same point of them, and this holds both on the North and South sides of this Island. In Valleys amongst the Mountains, the Sea-Breeze, or Land one, has seldom any great influence, but the North-Winds very much, prostrating very great Trees, &c.
The Land-wind blowing at night, and Sea-Breeze in the daytime, is the Reason why no Shipping can come into Port, except in the day, nor go out but soon after break of day.
The Norths come in when the Sun is near the Tropic of Capricorn, and so farthest off Southerly. Mariners going from England meet the Trade Wind in such or such Latitudes, later if the Sun is farther off, or sooner if nearer to them. This North is a very cold and unhealthy Wind, it is more violent in the night, because it then has the additional force of the Land-Wind with it, and comes through the Gulf of Florida, and a great deal farther off, which is evident from no Ships being able to go that way in the Norths Season. This Wind is more violent in the North-side of the Island than South, wherefore it checks the growth of Canes, and all Vegetables, and is hinder'd by the ridge of Mountains from shewing as much of its fury in the South, where it seldom Rains with this Wind.
The South-Winds in the South-side are usually rainy, and the lasting Seasons come in with the Sea-Breeze, it being certain in the South-side that no Rains from the Land are lasting.
As at Sea in the Trade-winds one meets with Tornados, so at Land sometimes will be a violent West, directly contrary to the Trade-Wind, for a few hours, with generally violent Rains, but this happens seldom, and is soon over.
The Sea Breeze, when it blows hard, is thought to hinder the Rain from coming to the Plains; it for the most part then raining in the Hills. On this account 'tis that there are in the Mountains many Springs and Rivers, and few or none in the Plains, and this is likewise the cause why there is never want of water in the Rivers coming from ​them through the Plains, and likewise that sometimes Rivers suffer very great increase and inundations in the Plains, whereas no Rain fell in the places where such inundations appear.
Earthquakes as they are too frequent in Hispaniola, where they have formerly thrown down the Town of Santo Domingo, so they are too common here also; The Inhabitants expect one every year, and some of them think they follow their great Rains. One happen'd on Sunday the 19. of February, 1688, about eight in the morning. I found in a Chamber one Story high the Cabinets, and several other Moveables on the Floor to reel, as if People had rased the Foundations of the House. I look'd out at a Window to see what was the matter, and found that the Pigeons and other Birds in an Aviary hard by were on the Wing in as great Astonishment, keeping themselves in that Posture, not knowing where to alight. Wherefore concluding what it was, and the Danger in being in an high Brick-House, I made what hast I could to get out; but before I had passed through two Rooms, and got to the Stair-case, it was over. It came by Shocks; there were three of them, with a little Pause between. It lasted about a Minute of Time in all; and there was a small Noise accompanied it. A pair of Stairs higher it threw down most Things off the Shelves, and had much more visible Effects than below. This was generally felt all over the Island at the same time, or near it; some Houses therein being crack'd and very near ruin'd, others being uncovered of their Tiles, very few escaped some Injury, and the People in them were generally in a great Consternation, seeing them dance. The Ships in the Harbour at Port-Royal felt it; and one who was Eastward of the Island coming thither from Europe, met with, as he said, at the same time, an Hurricane. One riding on Horseback was not sensible of it. A Gentleman being at that time abroad in his Plantation, told me, he saw the Ground rise like the Sea in a Wave, as the Earthquake passed along, and that it went Northward; for that some small time after he had felt it he saw by the Motion of the Tops of the Trees on Hills some Miles distant, that it had then reach'd no farther than that place. The Spaniards who inhabited this Island, and those neighbouring, built their Houses very low; and they consisted only of Ground-Rooms, their Walls being made of Posts, which were as much buried under-ground as they stood above, on purpose to avoid the Danger which attended other manner of Building from Earthquakes. And I have seen in the Mountains afar off bare Spots, which the Inhabitants told me, were the Effects of Earthquakes throwing down part of the Hills, which continued bare and steep. But I will not here enlarge on this, there being several Accounts at large published ​by me of another dreadful Earthquake which happened afterwards in this Island in the Philosophical Transactions, Numb. 209. p.77.
Thunder is here almost every day in the Mountains, with the Rains there, so that any person in the Plains may hear it, as well as see the Rain. It does not so ordinarily accompany those Rains that come from the Sea, although when it does 'tis very violent, and has, on the several substances it meets with, either animate or inanimate, the same effects as follow Thunder in Europe.
Lightning for the most part precedes Thunder in this Island, as elsewhere: and if it be fair Weather, especially in the hottest Seasons, it lightens almost all the night over, first in one part of the Sky or Horizon, out of some Clouds, and then out of others opposite to them, as it were answering one another, as it happens often in the Summer in England, &c. and gives occasion to people of fancy to foretel strange Wars, &c. when they please, making these Apparitions in the Air, Soldiers in Battalia, &c.
Falling Stars are here as common as elsewhere.
If the Seasons of the year be to be counted from the Spring of Vegetables, the Spring will be after every Season or great Rain, every thing then springing up after much Rain, so that during the time of such Rains is reckoned the Winter time. But they ought rather to follow the nearness or distance of the Sun, and so they will have the same time for the Seasons as in Europe; and indeed although the visible effects are not so plain, having the Sun when most distant so near them; yet that those times are more to be counted so than any others, is plain from this, that in the months of November, December and January, the time of the Suns greatest Southern distance from them, a great many Trees shed their Leaves, although they are destitute of them, neither all at a time, nor for many weeks, the warm Sun, even then, when farthest off, cloathing them speedily with new Garments. In the months of February, March or April, is the best time for planting Yams or Perennial Beans, they then, viz. in the Spring, taking better Root, and thriving more than at other times. Besides the Dog-days, or the time near them, are, as other where, very infamous for their sultry heat.
Their Agriculture is but very small, their Soil being as yet so fruitful as not to need manuring or dunging their Land, although they begin to lay by their Dung for future use, they seeing by the example of their Neighbours in Barbados, that they may need it. And even they themselves here have in some places fail'd of Sugar-works, as near the Angels, where the ground had been cultivated or manur'd before their coming to the Island. It was, and is among several, the custom to burn their Trash, which is the Marc or re​mainder of the Sugar-Canes after the juice is squeezed out for the making of Sugar, but now of late 'tis kept in heaps, that so after their new clear'd Land has by Tilling been worn out, they may Dung it with this.
They clear ground, likely to be useful, by felling the Trees as near the Root as they can, the Timber if near their Work, they cut into smaller pieces, split it, and use it in the Stokeholes as Fire-wood to boil up the Sugars, if not they gather the Branches, put them in heaps, and fire them here and there in the Field, wherby the Field is not only clear'd, but made rich with the Ashes. The most part of Fields are not stub'd up, but the Roots of the Trees, with about three, four, or five Foot of the Truncs stand in the Field, and sometimes the fallen Body of the Tree lies along till it decays and rots. A Field being so clear'd, Negros with Hoes, make smaller or deeper holes, at nearer or farther distances according to the thing to be planted, and another coming after throws in the Seed, or plants the Root, and covers it with Earth, and so if a good Season has preceded it seldom misses to thrive, and is kept clear of Weeds till it be able of its self to choak them.
Fields which have before been planted several times are before Rain is expected clear'd of the Stalks and Roots of any Plants may have grown there, and they being gather'd in heaps, are burnt; and so the Fields are planted after a Season, or let grow in Grass for Pasture, as occasion requires.
There is no places after Rain more fruitful than the Savannas.
Where the Roots of Trees do not hinder, trial has been made of the Plow, and it has done well for Sugar-Canes, &c. to be planted in.
The Inhabitants of Jamaica are for the most part Europeans, some Creolians, born and bred in the Island Barbados, the Windward Islands, or Surinam, who are the Masters, and Indians, Negros, Mulatos, Alcatrazes, Mestises, Quarterons, &c. who are the Slaves.
The Indians are not the Natives of the Island, they being all destroy'd by the Spaniards, of which I have said something before, but are usually brought by surprize from the Musquitos or Florida, or such as were Slaves to the Spaniards, and taken from them by the English. They are very often very much checquered in their Skin, by Cupping with Calabashes, are of an Olive colour, have long black lank Hair, and are very good Hunters, Fishers, or Fowlers, but are nought at working in the Fields or slavish Work, and if checkt or drub'd are good for nothing, therefore are very gently treated, and well fed.
​The Negros are of several sorts, from the several places of Guinea, which are reckoned the best Slaves, those from the East-Indies or Madagascins, are reckoned good enough, but too choice in their Diet, being accustomed in their own Countries to Flesh Meat, &c. and do not well here, but very often die. Those who are Creolians, born in the Island, or taken from the Spaniards, are reckoned more worth than others in that they are season'd to the Island.
Clothing of the Island is much as in England, especially of the better sort, that of the Indians and Negros is a little Canvass Jacket and Breeches, given them at Christmas. It seems to me the Europeans do not well, who coming from a cold Country, continue here to Cloth themselves after the same manner as in England, whereas all Inhabitants between the Tropics go even almost naked, and Negros and Indians live almost so here, their Cloths serving them but a very small part of the year.
When they sleep they unty their Breeches, and loosen thir Girdles, finding by experience this Custom healthy, and there is good reason for it, for by that means the Circulation of the blood is not interrupted, and so consequently humours are not deposited in the several parts of the Body, which ever follows such interruption.
The Buildings of the Spaniards on this Island were usually one Story high, having a Porch, Parlour, and at each end a Room, with small ones behind for Closets, &c. They built with Posts put deep in the ground, on the sides their Houses were plaistered up with Clay on Reeds, or made of the split Truncs of Cabbage-Trees nail'd close to one another, and covered with Tiles, or Palmetto Thatch. The Lowness, as well as fixing the Posts deep in the Earth, was for fear their Houses should be ruin'd by Earthquakes, as well as for Coolness.
The Houses built by the English, are for the most part Brick, and after the English manner, which are neither cool, nor able to endure the shocks of Earthquakes. The Kitchens, or Cook-Rooms here, are always at a small distance from their Houses, because of the heat and smell, which are both noisom and troublesome.
There are no Chimneys or Fire-places in their Houses, but in the Cook-Room, this word is used to signifie their Kitchen, and is a Sea word, as many others of that Country.
The Houses of considerable Planters are usually removed from their Sugar, or other Works, that they may be free from the noise and smells of them, which are very offensive.
The Negroes Houses are likewise at a distance from their Masters, and are small, oblong, thatch'd Huts, in which they have all their Moveables or Goods, which are generally a Mat to lie on, a Pot of Earth to boil their Victuals in, either Yams, Plantains, or Po​tatoes, with a little salt Mackarel, and a Calabash or two for Cups and Spoons.
There are very good Bricks and Pots made here of the Clay of the Country, to the easie making of which the few Rains, as well as plenty of Fire-wood conduces much.
The Air here being so hot and brisk as to corrupt and spoil Meat in four hours after 'tis kill'd, no wonder if a diseased Body must be soon buried. They usually bury twelve hours after death at all times of the day and night.
The burial place at Port Royal is a little way out of Town, in a sandy Soil, because in the Town or Church it is thought unhealthy for the living. Planters are very often buried in their Gardens, and have a small Monument erected over them, and yet I never heard of any of them who walk'd after their deaths for being buried out of Consecrated ground.
An ampurated Member buried there, and dug up some days after, was found eaten by the Ants all but the Bones. In the Caves where the Indians used to bury, the Ants would eat the whole Flesh off of the Bodies, and would perforate the Bones, and eat up the Marrow, of which I have a proof, having brought with me from thence the Bone of the Arm of an Indian so perforated, and its Marrow eaten by them.
The Negroes from some Countries think they return to their own Country when they die in Jamaica, and therefore regard death but little, imagining they shall change their condition, by that means from servile to free, and so for this reason often cut their own Throats. Whether they die thus, or naturally, their Country people make great lamentations, mournings, and howlings about them expiring, and at their Funeral throw in Rum and Victuals into their Graves, to serve them in the other world. Sometimes they bury it in gourds, at other times spill it on the Graves.
They have every one his Wife, and are very much concern'd if they prove adulterous, but in some measure satisfied if their Masters punish the Man who does them the supposed injury, in any of his Hogs, or other small Wealth. The care of the Masters and Overseers about their Wives, is what keeps their Plantations chiefly in good order, whence they ever buy Wives in proportion to their Men, lest the Men should wander to neighbouring Plantations, and neglect to serve them. The Negros are much given to Venery, and although hard wrought, will at nights, or on Feast days Dance and Sing; their Songs are all bawdy, and leading that way. They have several sorts of Instruments in imitation of Lutes, made of small Gourds fitted with Necks, strung with Horse hairs, or the peeled stalks of climbing Plants or Withs. These Instruments are some​times made of hollow'd Timber covered with Parchment or other Skin wetted, having a Bow for its Neck, the Strings ty'd longer or shorter, as they would alter their sounds. The Figures of some of these instruments are hereafter graved. They have likewise in their Dances Rattles ty'd to their Legs and Wrists, and in their Hands, with which they make a noise, keeping time with one who makes a sound answering it on the mouth of an empty Gourd or Jar with his Hand. Their Dances consist in great activity and strength of Body, and keeping time, if it can be. They very often tie Cows Tails to their Rumps, and add such other odd things to their Bodies in several places, as gives them a very extraordinary appearance.
You must clap Hands when the Base is plaid, and cry, Alla, Alla.
Angola.
​Koromanti.
​They are fruitful, and go after the birth of their Children to work in the Field, with their little ones ty'd to their Backs, in a Cloth on purpose, one Leg on one side, and the other on the other of their Mother, whence their Noses are a little flatted against the Mothers Back, which amongst them is a Beauty. The same is the reason of the broadness of their and Indians Faces. The Mother when she suckles her young, having no Cloths to keep her Breasts from falling down, they hang very lank ever after, like those of Goats.
Their unskilful cutting the Navel-String, does occasion that swelling which usually appears in their Navels, and makes their Bellies prominent. Their Children call'd Piganinnies or rather Pequenos Ninnos, go naked till they are fit to be put to clean the Paths, bring Fire-wood to the Kitchen, &c. when a Boy Overseer, with his Wand or white Rod, is set over them as their Tasks-Master.
They are rais'd to work so soon as the day is light, or someties two hours before by the sound of a Conche-Shell, and their Overseers noise, or in better Plantations by a Bell. They are suffered to go to Dinner at Twelve when they bring Wood, &c. one burden lest they should come idle out of the Field home, return to the Field at One, and come home at night.
When a Plantation has many Men or Women, 'tis said to be well handed, or in case of few, it is said to be bad handed, or to want Hands. This expression comes, as some others, from the Planters of Jamaica, coming along Voyage at Sea, whereby they get some of the Sea Phrases. At Sea a Man is call'd a Hand, because his Hands are chiefly useful there. Whence all Hands up to Prayers, is as much as to say, let all Men come and Pray, or send a Hand to do this or that, is as much as let a Man do this or the other thing.
They have Saturdays in the Afternoon, and Sundays, with Christmas Holidays, Easter call'd little or Pigganinny, Christmas, and some other great Feasts allow'd them for the Culture of their own Plantations to feed themselves from Potatos, Yams, and Plantanes, &c. which they Plant in Ground allow'd them by their Masters, besides a small Plantain-Walk they have by themselves.
They formerly on their Festivals were allowed the use of Trumpets after their Fashion, and Drums made of a piece of a hollow Tree, covered on one end with any green Skin, and stretched with Thouls or Pins. But making use of these in their Wars at home in Africa, it was thought too much inciting them to Rebellion, and so they were prohibited by the Customs of the Island.
​Their little ones are not black, but reddish brown when first born. From several Countries they are of a deeper or paler colour, when the same persons are paler than ordinary 'tis a sign of sickness. Their colour is heightened by anointing with Palm, or any other Oil. When a Guinea Ship comes near Jamaica with Blacks to sell, there is great care taken that the Negros should be shav'd, trim'd, and their Bodies and Hair anointed all over with Palm-Oil, which adds a great beauty to them. The Planters choose their Negros by the Country from whence they come, and their look. The Blacks from the East-Indies are fed on Flesh and Fish at Home, and therefore are not coveted, because troublesome to nourish, and those from Angola run away from their Masters, and fancy on their deaths they are going Home again, which is no lucriferous Experiment, for on hard usage they kill themselves.
When I was at Liguanee I was told that at the Plantation of Captain Hudson there was a young Woman white all over, born of a black Mother. I had the Curiosity to go and see her, and Mrs. Hudson did me the favour to send for her. She was twelve years old, and perfectly white all over, middle siz'd, broad fac'd, flat nos'd, ill favour'd, and countenanc'd like a Black. Her Hair was fair and white, but not lank like ours, or half lank, half woolly like those of Mulattos, but short, woolly, and curled like those of the Blacks in Guinea. Her Mother had been bought by Captain Hudson, on her landing in Jamaica, about eleven weeks before her delivery of this Daughter. Her Mother was perfectly black, and related that once before in Guinea, her own Country, she had been brought to Bed of a white Boy, by a black Father. 'Tis very likely the Mother might have been sold on this occasion, for as Juan dos Santos tells us that these white Children, born of black Parents, are worshipped in those parts of Ethiopia he lived in, as the Off-spring of the Gods, so in others, if my memory does not fail me, they are put to death for being reputed the Children of the Devil. I was told that in Nieves two such were born, and saw my self in England a Black, a Servant of Mr. Birds, which was mottel'd or spotted with white spots in several parts of his Body and Penis. The Skins of such are whiter than ours, and their Hair is also whiter. This is common to almost all Creatures, that the colour of the Hair is black or white as the Skin is on which it grows.
Their Physick consists for the most part in Cupping with Calabashes on the pain'd place. They first apply the Calabash with some Chips or Combustible matter burning in it, when that is pull'd off they cut the place with Scarifications, and then apply the Cupping-​glasses or Calabashes again. Their Lancet is a sharp Knife, with which they cut through the Flesh held between their Fingers.
This, instead of relieving, sometimes seems rather to add more pain to the place, by making a Flux of Blood that way. There are few Negros on whom one may not see a great many Cicatrices of Scars, the remains of these Scarrifications, for Diseases or Ornament, on all their Faces and Bodies, and these Scarifications are common to them in their own Countries, and the Cicatrices thought to add beauty to them. ** John Lok. ap. Hakl. pag. 33. The Negros called Papas have most of these Scarifications. Other Negros take great pleasure in having their woolly curled Hair, cut into Lanes or Walks as the Parterre of a Garden, and this I have seen them do, for want of a better Instrument, with a broken piece of a Glass Bottle.
Another very general Remedy in almost every Disease, is mixing Clay and Water, and plaistering over either some part, or all the Body in the warm Sun; but as this must of necessity stop the insensible transpiration, so it rarely misses to add a Cough to the Patients Malady, and always, by what I saw, fails of the Cure of the Distemper. Although I will not say but that in some Diseases it may avail.
They use very few Decoctions of Herbs, no Distillations, nor Infusions, but usually take the Herbs in substance. For instance, in a Clap, they grind the Roots of Fingrigo and Lime-Tree, between two Stones, and stir them into Lime-Juice till it be pretty thick, and so make the Patient take it evening and morning for some time. This is the same method of preparing Medicines, with what in the East-Indies is practised, for I have seen many Simples from thence, and all, or most, are to be ground on a Stone with some simple Liquor, and so given the Patient.
Besides Simples, the Negros use very much bleeding in the Nose with a Lancet for the Head-ach. They thrust up the Lancet into the tip of the nose, after tying a Ligature about the Neck, and some drops of Blood follow, whence they think themselves relieved in Colds, with Hoarseness and stuffed Noses.
Bathing is very much used by them. They boil Bay-Leaves, Wild-Sage, &c. in water, in one of their Pots, when boil'd they tye a Fasciculus of these Plants up together, and by putting that into the Decoction sprinkle their Bodies all over with it as fast as they can, they being naked.
The Negros and Indians use to Bath themselves in fair water every day, as often as conveniently they can.
I have heard a great deal of their great Feats in curing several Diseases, but could never find them any way reasonable, nor succesful in any, and that little they know of Simples here, seems to ​come from the Indians, they being us'd for the same Diseases in Mexico and Brazile, as Piso, Marcgrave, Hernandez, Ximenes, and others relate.
One of the greatest remedies of the Planters living here to prevent Diseases, or the ill effect of what they call ill Fumes or Vapours, is an infusion of the Seeds of that kind of Aristolochia called Contra Yerva. The Seeds steep'd in Wine afford a clammy, yellow substance which sticks close to them, and their infusion in Wine is used in a morning in sickly times, to prevent Infection. The Seeds infused in Spirit of Wine, and distill'd, afford a Spirit very good to promote Sweating in Colds and Fevers. This Plant is used for much the same purposes, both in the Continent of America and the East-Indies. Dr. Smallwood an English Physician, who liv'd in Guatemala, (having been taken Prisoner by the Spaniards) told me that the Spaniards made great use of this Herb in all poisonous and Malignant Diseases. The Indians about Guiana had first discovered its Vertue to the Spaniards, for the Doctor being pursued by them and wounded by one of their poison'd Arrows, to find out his Cure, they took one of their Indian Prisoners, and tying him to a Post threatned to wound him with one of their own venemous Arrows, if immediately he did not declare their Cure for that Disease, upon which the Indian immediately chaw'd some of this Contra Yerva, and put it into the wound, and it healed. The Inhabitants here use also with great success, Vomits of the infusion of Crocus Metallorum in Wine, in Fevers and other Diseases.
The Trade of Jamaica is either with Europe or America. That of Europe consists in bringing thither Flower, Bisket, Beef, Pork, all manner of Clothing for Masters and Servants, as Osnabrigs, blew Cloth, Liquors of all sorts, &c. Madera Wine is also imported in great quantities from the Island of that name, by Vessels sent from England on purpose, on all which the Merchant is supposed to Gain generally 50 per cent. Profit. The Goods sent back again, or Exported from the Island, are Sugars, most part Muscavados, Indico, Cotton-wool, Ginger, Piemento All-Spice or Jamaica-Pepper, Fustick-wood, Prince-wood, Lignum Vitæ, Arnotto, Log-wood, and the several Commodities they have from the Spaniards of the West-Indies, (with whom they have a private Trade,) as Sarsaparilla, Cacao-Nuts, Cochineel, &c. on which they get considerable Profit. There is about 20 per cent. in Exchange between Spanish Money and Gold in Jamaica, and English Money paid in England.
​Their Trade among the Spaniards privately in America manag'd chiefly by Sloops, is with all those things mention'd to come from Europe, especially Clothing, as Serges, &c. on which they have either in Truck or Money 55. per cent. Gain, one moiety whereof goes to the Masters and Owners of the Sloops, the other to the Merchant Adventurer. There are also many Negros sold this way to the Spaniards, who are either brought lately from Guinea, or bad Servants, or Mutinous in Plantations. They are sold to very good profit; but if they have many Cicatrices, or Scars on them, the marks of their severe Corrections, they are not very saleable.
The Commodities the English have in return, besides money, most usually are Cacao, Sarsaparilla, Pearls, Emeralds, Cochineel, Hides, &c.
The Trade of Jamaica with the Dutch at Corasol is chiefly for Provisions which are wanted very much on that Island. The Island of Corasol is very small, and very little Provision grows on it. The chief advantage the Dutch have of it, is, that 'tis a place whereto Goods are brought to Trade with the Spaniards privately on the Continent of America, for which purpose 'tis very advantageously seated.
The Turtlers who furnish the Island with Turtle, may be reckoned among the trading Sloops.
There is likewise a Trade with this Island from New-England, and New York. It consists usually in an exchange of Rum, Molossus, Sugar, and Money, for Horses, Beef, Pork, Flower or Rusk, 'tis manag'd by Brigantines, or small Craft, who now and then touch at the Bahama Islands, and kill Seals, or Whales for the Train-Oil, or Sperma Ceti.
When the Trade of the Assiento for furnishing the Spanish West-Indies with Negros was in this Island, it was not only very beneficial to the African Company and their Factors, but to the Governours of this Island, as well as the Captains of the Frigats who convey'd them to Porto Belo, and on their delivery there had immediately paid them the Money agreed on by the Head.
The Religion of those of the Island, either Europeans, or descended from them Creolians, is as in England, and the same proportion of Dissenters are there as in England.
The Indians and Negroes have no manner of Religion by what I could observe of them. 'Tis true they have several Ceremonies, as Dances, Playing, &c. but these for the most part are so far from being Acts of Adoration of a God, that they are for the most part mixt with a great deal of Bawdry and Lewdness.
The Negros are usually thought to be haters of their own Children, and therefore 'tis believ'd that they sell and dispose of them to Strangers for Money, but this is not true, for the Negros of Guinea ​being divided into several Captainships, as well as the Indians of America, have Wars, and besides those slain in Battles many Prisoners are taken, who are sold for Slaves, and brought hither. But the Parents here, altho their Children are Slaves for ever, yet have so great a love for them, that no Master dare sell or give away one of their little ones, unless they care not whether their Parents hang themselves or no.
Many of the Negros, being Slaves, and their Posterity after them in Guinea, they are more easily treated by the English here, than by their own Country-People, wherefore they would not often willingly change Masters.
The Punishments for Crimes of Slaves, are usually for Rebellions burning them, by nailing them down on the ground with crooked Sticks on every Limb, and then applying the Fire by degrees from the Feet and Hands, burning them gradually up to the Head, whereby their pains are extravagant. For Crimes of a lesser nature Gelding, or chopping off half of the Foot with an Ax. These Punishments are suffered by them with great Constancy.
For running away they put Iron Rings of great weight on their Ankles, or Pottocks about their Necks, which are Iron Rings with two long Necks rivetted to them, or a Spur in the Mouth.
For Negligence, they are usually whipt by the Overseers with Lance-wood Switches, till they be bloody, and several of the Switches broken, being first tied up by their Hands in the Mill-Houses. Beating with Manati Straps is thought too cruel, and therefore prohibited by the Customs of the Country. The Cicatrices are visible on their Skins for ever after; and a Slave, the more he have of those, is the less valu'd.
After they are whip'd till they are Raw, some put on their Skins Pepper and Salt to make them smart; at other times their Masters will drop melted Wax on their Skins, and use several very exquisite Torments. These Punishments are sometimes merited by the Blacks, who are a very perverse Generation of People, and though they appear harsh, yet are scarce equal to some of their Crimes, and inferior to what Punishments other European Nations inflict on their Slaves in the East-Indies, as may be seen by Moquet, and other Travellers.
The Horses here are very fine, small, and for the most part well turn'd and swift, though very weak; they are of the Spanish breed, but very much degenerated, the English taking no care of them, but letting them breed in the Savannas, in the mean while destroying their best and strongest Horses in their Mills for grinding their Canes. They are very smooth Skin'd, and by that easily di​stinguish'd from New England, or other Horses, which have rough Coats or Skins. A great many are wild in the Woods, who are taken with Cords, and tam'd by Horse-Catchers.
At the time of the first taking of the Island by the English, there was great plenty of wild Cattle in all the Savannas, and they were caught the most part by cutting the great Tendons of their Legs behind, whereby they were disabled to run, and were for the most part destroyed by the Soldiers who had little else to feed on. This way of taking wild Black Cattle by hunting, cutting their Tendons or Lancing, is what is used by the Spaniards in their Islands and Continent, and by the Privateers or Bucaniers; but in Jamaica there remain very few wild Cattle to be taken, and those are in the North side of the Island, in the less frequented parts. The manner by which the Spaniards and English kill'd these Cattle, besides the wild Dogs who used of themselves to hunt and kill them, was with a Lance or Halberd, on the end of which was an Iron sharpned, and made in the shape of a Crescent or Half moon. These wild Cattle are said much to exceed the others in taste.
When I was in Jamaica, the Town of Port Royal was situated on a sandy Point; at the farther end whereof, towards Liguanee runs a narrow Neck of sandy ground about three Miles long. This Town had a very good and secure Harbour, defended from all Winds by the Land, and by a Reef running out a great way beyond the Cayos. In this Harbour there was so deep water, that the greatest Ship might lie with her side to the Keys. The Town or Point with violent Sea-Breezes, had suffered some small Inundations of the Sea, and some small diminution; but by hindering People from taking Stones from the Reefs, and barricadoing the Town against it, no such thing had happened lately. The Town or Point was fortified very well with a Fort, and several Batteries both to the Sea and Land; and on the sandy Neck were likewise planted prickly Pears to hinder the march of any Enemy that way. The Winds have sometimes by making several Currents in the Water, forc'd the Sand into some parts of the Channel where Ships used to come in, wherefore 'tis now become straiter, and some Ships have been put on ground. The Town consisted of about Fifteen hundred Houses, which at first were of Wood, but lately were of Brick for the most part. It was built here for a Conveniency for Seamen and Soldiers on the English Fleets being in this Harbour, when they took the Island, and afterwards it came by degrees to what it lately was. It was in its Infancy design'd to have been removed to the Salt Pans, which is just opposite to it on the firm Land of the Island, that so there might be a readier Communication at any time between ​this Town and the Island, but I know not what hindered its being put in Execution. The greatest want in this Town is fresh water, their Wells affording only brackish, therefore 'tis the business of several Men to send great Canoes in the morning with the Sea Breeze to the River, and to bring thence many Casks of water to the Town with the Land Breeze at night.
This Point, which was called Point-Cagway, where Port Royal stood, was never built upon by the Spaniards while they remained Possessors of the Island, for two Reasons, as I was informed. The first was the frequency of Earthquakes, which, when considerable, would certainly overturn it. This was found true in a few years after I came from thence, for it was all destroyed by the Earthquake which happened in the year 1692. whereof there is a large account Communicated by me in the Philosophical Trensactions, Number 209. p. 77. For the whole Neck of Land being sandy (excepting the Fort, which was built on a Rock and stood) on which the Town was built, and the Sand kept up by Palisadoes and Wharfs, under which was deep water, when the Sand tumbled upon the shaking of the Earth, into the Sea, it covered the Anchors of Ships riding by the Wharfs, and the Foundations yielding, the greatest part of the Town fell, great numbers of people were lost, and a good part of the Neck of Land where the Town stood was three Fathoms covered with water. The second cause of the aversion of the Spaniards to this place, was its being liable to be wash'd off by the violent Sea-Breezes or Souths. Upon the great Earthquake many are removed and settled in Liguanee at Kingston, and since a great Fire which happened there lately, more are removed to the same place, so that very few remain at present at Port Royal.
It will not be amiss to give here a small description of some places and things, such as I took in Journies when in the Island.
Passage-Fort is made up of some few Houses, Store-houses, and others; it is the place from whence is ship'd the Sugars, and other Commodities of the Island from Sixteen-Miles-Walk, and other Plantations. It was a small Fortification in the time of the Spaniards, whence its name, and I suppose was a defence to St. Jago de la Vega, which was the chief Town possessed by that Nation.
Old Harbour is a place on the Sea side, about six Miles from St. Jago de la Vega, consisting of some Houses, and Store-houses. In the time the Spaniards possessed this Island, they loaded their Galeons here. These large Vessels rode at Anchor under a Cayo or Rock. Pigeon Island, a small Island, lies off of this Harbour. ​It belonged to Major Ballard, who told me that formerly there used to resort great numbers of Pigeons and breed there; but the Inhabitants going thither and loading Boats with their young, they were disturbed, and left the place. In the Plains or Savannas, about Old Harbour, grows that fine Flower which I found in St. Christophers, and is hereafter described, and called commonly in Jamaica White Lillies.
Near Old Harbour is a place called the Canoes, which is the chief place for Fishing hereabout.
A little Westward of Old Harbour are Woods, and some few Hills, beyond which is a large Savanna or Plain, call'd Palmetto Savanna, from the great number of Palm-Trees growing in it. From Palmetto Savanna I went into the Seven Plantations, where at going into the place I fonnd a very bad smell and Air, which is occasion'd, as I was told, by the River call'd the Dry River. This River had at bottom great numbers of large round Stones, and was dry when I saw it, as it is often, but it is full of running water at some Seasons, and it then brings along with it Fishes of several sorts. When the River does not run these Fishes are left in holes in its bottom, where they are either taken by the Inhabitants, eat up by the Herns, or other Fowl feeding on them, or dye and corrupt the Water and Air. I was sensible of this corrupted Air when I was here. This dry River is swallowed up into the Earth, and rises again in some parts of it. It comes down from the Mountains when it Rains violently on them, so suddenly and impetuously, that I was told it had drowned a Boy, and six Horses he was watering, though no signs of its swelling appeared beforehand at the place where the accident happen'd. This place is cooler than the Town of St. Jago de la Vega, and Sir Francis Watson, who lived here, used to be more troubled with the Asthma then when in Town. For this purpose he had made a Chimney in one of the Rooms of his House, which was the only one I ever saw in this island, except in Kitchens.
Sir Francis Watson had made here a Refining-house for Sugars, which serv'd most part of the Island with fine Sugar, and that candied, little Refin'd being Exported. They dissolve the Moscovado or course Sugar in water, which they call melting, then they mix a strong Lixivium of quick Lime with it, and clarifie this mixture in a Furnace with Whites of Eggs over a Fire, then they strain it through a Blanket plac'd in a Basket over a Cistern, whence it is carried into Brass Coolers, and then is put into Pots. The Surface of it is evened and leveled with a Trouel in these Pots, and then 'tis cover'd with moist Clay, by which in seven Weeks, 'tis purg'd, knock'd out, and put into a Stove to be per​fectly cured. The Clay used for Sugar is ordinary pale Clay expos'd to the Air, then mixt with Water to the consistence of a Syrup, afterwards it is strained through a Colender, and powred on the Pots where it stands till it sinks the Sugar in them pretty low, sometimes half in half. No quick Lime is used in double Refined Sugar the second time. The Molossus dropt from once Refined Sugar is called Bastard, it is boil'd up again, and clay'd to make it white. Four Gallons of Molossus yield three of Rum, but in England four, because of the Fermentation, which in Jamaica being brisker from the heat of the Air, evaporates more of the Spirits. Three Loaves of once refined Sugar, make two of double refined. The small quantity that is sent into England is beaten to pieces in a wooden Trough. Claying Sugar, as they report here, was first found out in Brazil, a Hen having her Feet dirty, going over a Pot of Sugar by accident, it was found under her tread to be whiter than elsewhere. A Refining-House is worth six thousand Pounds, of which there are but two in the whole Island, one at the Angels and this here. The Stoves are belt arched. Pots for refining Sugar are made at Liguanee, though more brittle and dearer than when brought from England, but they are made here to supply the present need of the Planters; the Clay of which they are made, is dug up near the place.
I have seen Sugar made at several Plantations; they make it by bruising the Canes between Iron Rollers, in a Mill drawn by Oxen, the Figure whereof is to be seen in Piso, and several Authors. The juice is conveyed into the Boiling house, where in a Cistern is mixt about two handfuls of Lime, with One hundred and fifty Gallons of juice, and then both are let into six Coppers one after another, where it is boiled and scumm'd. The Scum is conveyed to the Still-house, only that of the fifth Copper is put into a Jar, that it may be again boiled, in the first Copper, because it is purer than the rest, and so will yield Sugar. In the sixth, with a little Oil or Grease, to lay its huffing and boiling over, it is boil'd up to Sugar, and so cool'd in Troughs, and carried into Pots, where, by a stick run through it, a hole is made, whereby the Molossus is drained from it, and leaves the Sugar white. This Molossus mix'd with Water, as well as scum or juice from bad Canes, is carried into the Distilling-house; where, after Fermentation, when it begins to subside, they in the night time distil it till thrown into the Fire it burns not: this in the day time is Re-distilled, and from Low-Wines is call'd high Wines or Rum.
Every several Soil requires a several Temper, as a Lye of Ashes with Lime or Lime-water, &c. which is mixt in the fourth Copper. For this reason the Overseer always gives notice to the Sugar-​boilers when he begins a new piece of Ground, that they may be ready to remedy any inconvenience from the variety of Soils.
One Acre of Canes yields sometimes four thousand of Sugar, commonly two thousand.
Sugar-Canes grow well within a Foot of water, and near the Sea they are large, though sometimes brackish.
Good Sugar is known by those used to making it, by its smell before it is made.
I have seen some try to boil Cane-juice to Sugar in an ordinary Skillet, with and without Temper, but both, especially the first, was naught, being black and glewy, the reason given me was the slowness of the fire. The Sugar-boilers always observing to make a very violent fire under their Coppers.
Hogs Grease, or any Oil is put a drop, or the bigness of a Pea, into the Tach, sixth, or last Copper, to lay the boiling over of it, and for no other end: it is immediately quiet upon its being dropt in.
Mountains, and Hill-Canes make bad Sugar, being black: they burn the Coppers, there not being moisture enough, therefore 'tis the best way to mix Mountain and Valley Canes; one bunch of the first, to two of the last, which makes good Sugar, or the Planters mix water with the Cane-juice to hinder the Coppers from being burnt, or the Sugar made black. Likewise too much moisture makes ill Sugar, for 'tis observ'd that after Rains the Sugar is brown, because the water makes it be the longer on the Fire before the superfluous moisture is boil'd off.
Out of Sugars are made great quantities of cool Drinks by Fermentation, for I was informed that Rap, is what in Nieves they call cool Drink, viz. Molossus and Water, and that Sugar Drink is made with Sugar-Canes bruised in a Mortar, or Hand-Mill, and then boil'd with water, and wrought in a Cask: it is clear like water. Locust-Ale is Cane-Juice clarified, mix'd with Rum. Molossus Drink is called Cawcaw. Upon drinking the Molossus Drink of Penils, or very bad Sugar, the Belly ach came to Barbados. Perino, before described is the wholesomest of all cool Drinks.
Out of the French Sorrel, in this and other places, which came from Surinam, is made a fine cooling Conserve and Syrup. This Sorrel is described hereafter.
Formerly this place of the Island was famous, in the time the Spaniards possessed it, for Tobacco. They now Plant some of it with their Indico, but they think their best Seed is lost or degenerated, being it is not so good as formerly. What they Plant here is that sort with long Leaves, and is only cultivated for the use of the Island, and not for Exportation. They take off the tops and side ​Buds of each Plant, that the Leaves may be the better, they gather the Leaves when they are at their full growth, and in vigour, and dry them by hanging them up in the shade. The best Tobacco made by the Spaniards in their Plantations is pick'd Leaf by Leaf, with great care that none faulty may be found amongst it. That from the Nuevo Reyno de Granada (corruptly called Verinas, or Tabac de Verine) is reckon'd the best.
Tobacco is likewise planted in other places of the Island, and is of several sorts, from several Seeds: that with the broad Leaves is call'd Bulls Face. There are two sorts from Oronoque, and two Spanish kinds. It is sown in Beds; when the Leaves are about two Inches long, the Plants are drawn, and planted at four Foot distance one way, and three and an half another, then they are kept clean, and when grown about a Foot high, and going to shoot out their Stalks or Tops, the top of the Stalk or Bud is snipt off. That day seven night the Buds rising ex alis foliorum on the sides, are snipt off likewise, and seven days thence the other Under-buds. It stands some time longer, and then the Stalks and Leaves are cut off, hang'd up in a Shed, and if wet weather come, a Fire is made in it to hinder the Corruption of the Tobacco. Some time after the Leaves are stript off and preserv'd in great heaps from the injuries of the Air till 'tis made fit for the Market. It has been made here worth twelve Pence a Pound in England.
The Head of the River Mino is far up from this place, and there is a Lake where I have been told are to be seen great heaps of Snakes roll'd together, who leap into the Water. Abundance of Fish comes from thence. There were a great variety of Water-Melons here in the Spaniards time. The Cows eat them, and dunging, their Seeds, (at this Dry River, where they came to water,) there grew, and were preservd, till perfect neglect lost all their sorts.
Very good Fullers Earth was taken out of a Stratum of the Earth, in sinking a Well here. I did not observe any difference in the Layers of Earth taken out of this Well, from those in England, neither could I find any Shells or Petrefactions amongst the Stones, Clay, Sand, &c. brought up. But I was inform'd, upon enquiry, by Colonel Nedham, an Eye-Witness, that in Barbados at Sir John Colleton's Plantation they dug for a Well, and at forty seven Foot had water, but in dry weather it went away: they dug to fifty, and had water a second time, which dryed away again; after a third digging they came to some Shells, and then into a River, and taking up water they brought up Fish with it. After this their water never decay'd; tho' there wer etwelve Men perpetually draw​ing it, six at a time for Cattle, &c. it was in the Cliffs of Barbados.
It is pretty strange that sometimes at great depths in the Bowels of the Earth, these Substances that have belong'd to real Shell-Fish should be found. They are common in most Counties of England. Mr. Middleton brought some of them dug up in Barbados. I have by me many Astroites, (a sort of Coral,) taken up in the in-land parts of England, in as great plenty near the Surface of the Earth, as I have seen them in the neighbouring Sea to Jamaica, their Native place. At Richmond in Surrey they find in digging the Clay-Pits for making Tiles, many back-Bones of Sharks, and Shells; and I have in my possession several of the ordinary real Nautili that are now only brought to us from the East-Indies, that have been dug up there.
At Sixteen-Mile-Walk, or St. Thomas in the Vale; the Fog, which is every morning, except in rainy Seasons, lasts till about eight or nine, and then is dispell'd by the Sun. This Fog is not counted unwholesome. The Road thither is by the Water-side, or along the Banks of the Rio Cobre, where there is a Stone under which one passes, as under an Arch. There is a Hill, or rather a Rock, on the left side going up, which is at least two hundred yards perpendicular heighth having Bushes here and there on it, down which a wild Boar being hunted precipitated himself, and was at the bottom reduced to Mash. The River is sometimes filled with great Stones, which come rowling down from the neighbouring Hills, and sometimes with Timber rotten and faln into it. The Wood here is Tall, and the Woodbines on them very long. The Rain at Sixteen-Mile-Walk is so furious as sometimes to wash out of the ground the Roots of all the Plants set in it.
I was here told by Eye-Witnesses, that one Dr. Foster, at Sixteen-Mile-Walk, had tam'd a great Snake or Serpent, and kept it about him within his Shire; it would wind it self fast about his Arm, and drink out of his Mouth, and leap at a Call on the Table, to eat Crums of Cassada Bread. It was killed by one Coffin, after sixteen months being tame: it was about the bigness of ones Wrist.
When the Potatos here, and at other Plantations in this Island are full grown, they hough up the Roots, cleanse them of their Fibres, keep them for use, and give the Stalks and Leaves to their Hogs for Food.
The next Town, in bigness to Port-Royal, on the Island, is St. Jago de la Vega, or St. James of the Plain, a Town improving ​every day, 'tis the place where the Governour usually resides, and where the Courts of Justice and Records of the Island are kept. It was very great in the Spaniards time, and then consisted of Two thousand Houses built all in good order, every Street running parallel to or else piercing the others at right Angles, being broad and very long. It had four Churches and a Monastery. 'Tis situated on the Banks of the Rio Cobre, and has Plains on each side of it for several Miles. Here the Assembly and Supream Courts reside, which must make this place in some time very considerable. There were here some few Palisadoed Houses defended with Guns, but now they are ruin'd. When the Island was taken, the Soldiers burnt many of the Houses, neglected the rest, and made it so much below what it was formerly, that now they reckon its straggling Houses to be reduced to three hundred. Either this Place or Old Harbour, were called formerly Oristan. Here lived formerly the Spanish Governor, who had about One thousand, or Two thousand Pieces of Eight Income, more or less, according to his Profits by Trade. The Duke of Veraguas, who was descended from Columbus, and whose Ancestors had been Proprietors of the Island from the time of Fernand and Isabella, had for Anchorage, and other dues, about three or four thousand Pieces of Eight yearly Revenue from this Governor and Island, as the Spaniards inform'd Sir Thomas Lynch.
Besides these places, there are several other, as Morant, Withy-Wood, &c. but neither are they strong, nor very considerable.
I was resolved to go to the North-side of the Island, and visit the Mountains between it and the South side, to see what they brought forth. Wherefore I got some Gentlemen of the Country, one who drew in Crayons, a very good Guide, and a sure-footed Horse, and set out. Having passed Sixteen Miles Walk before-mentioned, where are some of the best and securest Plantations of the Island, I came to the Magotty, a large Savanna or Plain. I met here, growing in great plenty, a sort of small and low sensible Plant, not described by any person. If any one mov'd a Switch or Whip over it, as a Pen on Paper, the forms of the Letters remain'd legible for some time after: this is describ'd hereafter. I went on towards Mount Diablo, at the bottom of which, being benighted, I lay. The Horses of our Company were tied with Withs, and fed upon such Grass as they could reach. My Company and I went into a Hunters Hut, and lay on Plantain and Palm-Leaves all night. Our Sleep was very much interrupted by the Croaking of a sort of Tree-Frogs, described hereafter, the singing of Grashoppers, and noise of night Animals. We got up early in ​the morning, cross'd the Mountain, on which I saw those wonderful Ferns described hereafter, and observ'd the Trees cover'd with the Phaseoli, called Cocoons, of which Snuff-Boxes are made. Going over the Moneque Savanna I gather'd the sensible Plant, and came to St. Anns.
I observed the Ruins of the Town called Sevilla, among which a Church built by Peter Martyr of Angleria, of a sort of Freestone (to be had near this City) and Bricks. A Pavement was found two Miles from this Church, the City was so large, it had a fortified Castle, the Walls of Pebbles and Brick, four Foot thick; it was and is a good Port. There was formerly here one great Sugarwork at a pretty distance, the Mill whereof went by Water, which was brought some Miles thither. The Axletree of this is to be seen intire at this day. This Town is now Captain Hemmings's Plantation. The Church was not finished, it was twenty Paces broad, and thirty Paces long: there were two rows of Pillars within, over the place where the Altar was to be, were some Carvings under the ends of the Arches. It was built of a sort of Stone, between Freestone and Marble taken out of a Quarry about a Mile up in the Hills; the Houses and Foundations stand for several Miles along and the ground towards the Country is rising. Captain Hemmings told me, he sometimes found Pavements under his Canes, three Foot covered with Earth, and several times Wells, and sometimes Burial-Stones finely Cut. There are the beginnings of a great House call'd a Monastery, but I suppose the House was design'd for the Governour. There were two Coats of Arms lay by, not set up; a Ducal one, and that of a Count, I suppose belonging to Columbus his Family, the Proprietors of the Island. There had been raised a Tower, part Brick, and part Hewn Stone, as also several Battlements on it, and other lower Buildings not finished. At the Church lie several arched Stones to compleat it, which had never been put up, but lay among the Canes. The rows of Pillars within were for the most part plain. In the time of the Spaniards it was thought the Europeans had been cut off by the Indians, and so the Church left unfinished. When the English took the Island, the ruins of this City were so overgrown with Wood, that they were all turn'd black, nay; I saw a Mammee, or Bastard Mammee-Tree grow within the Walls of the Tower, so high as that it must have been a very large Gun could kill a Bird on the top of it, and the most part of the Timber fell'd off this place, when it was planted, was sixty Foot or more long. A great many Wells are on this ground. In the Bay, under this, is a very fine Harbour, made by a Reef run​ning out a great way, able to hold a great many ships. The West-Gate of the Church was very fine Work, and stands very entire, it was seven Foot wide, and as high before the Arch began. Over the Door in the middle was our Saviour's Head with a Crown of Thorns between two Angels, on the right side a small round figure of some Saint with a Knife struck into his Head, on the left a Virgin Mary or Madonna, her Arm tied in three places, Spanish Fashion. Over the Gate, under a Coat of Arms, this Inscription,
PETRUS. MARTIR. AB. ANGLERIA. ITALUS. CIVIS. MEDIOLANEN. PROTHON. APOS. HVIVS INSVLE. ABBAS. SENATVS. INDICI. CONSILIARIVS. LIGNEAM. PRIUS. ÆDEM. HANC. BIS. IGNE. CONSVMPTAM. LATERICIO. ET. QUADRATO. LAPIDE. PRIMVS. A. FUNDAMENTIS. EXTRUXIT.
The words are entire, except Mediolanensis, which I have supplied because this Peter Martir, a famous Man, wrote himself of Milan. He was Author of the Decads, Epistles, and some other Books, which gave him great Reputation in the World.
I went from St. Anns towards St. Georges, where I crossed the River called Rio Nuevo. I saw the old Spanish Fortifications, whither the Spaniards retreated, and kept themselves till they were carried to Cuba, where they, for the most part, settled about a place called St. Jago. Colonel Ballard, who was present at the taking of the Island, assured me that the Spaniards (who Inhabited the island to the number of Five thousand, with as many Blacks) retired to the North side, where Seven hundred fortified themselves very well, but were beat in their Forts by so many English. The Governour was an old decrepid Man, who was brought to them in an Hamaca, his Name was Don Juan Ramires de Arellano Cavallero del Habito de S. Jago. They held it out in this North-side for some time.
The same Person likewise told me that when the Spaniards were retreated into their Fortifications, at the first coming of the English hither, the Spanish Dogs went all wild, and that they were almost as big as Irish Grey-Hounds. They used to hunt of themselves the Cattle which were in the Savannas and Woods. One day Colonel Ballard assured me he saw a little reddish one, call'd a Busc, howl, and was answer'd by the others in the Woods, who came from all quarters to him, and then went orderly about to take their Supper. The Soldiers used to follow the wild Cattle on Horseback, and take them in the manner before related. The wild Dogs, who ​not only devour'd and took at Bay the Cows, but Asses, Colts, &c. did much mischief in the night. On the first Discovery of the West Indies, Dogs were very much used by the Spaniards to hunt the poor Indians, who had escap'd them over Rivers or into Woods; and their Voyages or Relations tell us there was a certain share of Booty due to the Master of the Dog, upon such Excursions, I think about half of what was given to a Man.
Ants are said to have killed the Spanish Children by eating their Eyes when they were left in their Cradles in this part of the Island: this is given as one Reason why the Spaniards left this part of the Country, where they had first settled, and built the Towns of Sevilla and Melilla. Sir Thomas Lynch, when Governour of Jamaica, sent to the old Spanish Inhabitants of it on Cuba, to know what Reason they had to leave it, and go to the South-side; the answer they made was, that they left it because their Children died there, that there were abundance of Ants, that there was no good Port, and that it was out of the Road for the Trade of Cartagena, and Santo Domingo. How troublesome Ants may be to Men and Women, much more to Children, may be seen in the Relations of Africa, particularly by Denys and Carli, who tell us that when the Ants set upon a House, the Inhabitants are forc'd to run for it. I once went to visit Mr. Rowe, a sick Person at St. Jago de la Vega in Jamaica in a morning, and found him more than ordinarily discompos'd, for that the Ants by eating in the night some of the joints of his Bedstead, his Bed of a sudden had fallen to the ground; but of this and their wonderful Actions, I shall have occasion to Discourse hereafter. In the Northern side one tried to kill them with a Train of Gun-Powder, but could not. If you thrust an Animals Thigh Bone into one of their Nests, they will be all kill'd by the Wood-Ants for love of the Bone.
Ginger is planted in this North-side of the Island in holes four Inches deep, made with Houghs in clear'd Ground, six Inches asunder one Root from another. They put into each hole a small piece of a Root, and cover it with Earth, in twelve Months it covers the Ground, so that a Hough cannot be put where the Races or Roots are not. At twelve months end, when the Stalks and Leaves are withered, 'tis Hough'd up, clear'd of its Fibrils, Stalks and Strings, by a Knife, or the Hand, then wash'd in fair water, put in a Basket about a hundred Pound at a time, and boil'd in a Kettle for a quarter of an hour, then expos'd to the Sun and dried. Though Rain comes, it hurts it not; this is the Black Ginger. Fresh Roots must be boil'd in fresh water.
​The white sort of Ginger is made by only scraping the fresh Root clean of its outward Membrane, and exposing it in the Sun till it be dry. This white Ginger is easily spoil'd by Worms. Some say that in the Windward Islands or Caribes, 'tis only dried on a sandy Bay.
There is a white sort prepar'd as the black, only it is boil'd in Lime-water, which makes it, as they say, not so wholesome. This Root is very often injured by Worms as well as China Roots, which are apt to breed a small light brown Scarabæus, like that bred in Rhubarb.
Preserv'd wet Ginger, is made by drawing up the Ginger while 'tis young, about three months old. After cleansing, 'tis soak'd in water for a day, then boil'd in fair water shifted six or seven times, it giving each water a very biting tast, then 'tis clear'd of its outward Membrane, soak'd again in fair water, and put into a Syrup made of fine Sugar. It draws the Sugar, say they, and leaves the water behind it to be thrown away, then 'tis put into fresh Syrup, and so several times, and not boil'd up till the last shifting, after which 'tis kept for use. Dry preserv'd Ginger is only this expos'd to the Suns Beams till dry.
Guinea Corn, and great Indian Corn, are ripe in three Months or a little more, from their respective plantings, Patato's in four, and Yams in twelve months.
The way to make Cane-Drink.
Take six or seven long Sugar-Canes, cut them to pieces, beat them in a Mortar, put them into a Kettle, with about three Gallons of water, boil them for a pretty while, then put as many fresh Canes, and about a Gallon of water more; Boil them again. When 'tis cool, strain your Drink, set it in a Jar, and put to it the white of an Egg beat to froth, to which some of the Liquor is added. Let it work twelve hours, then Bottle it, it looks very clear.
Bonano and Plantain Drinks are severally made by mashing of either of these ripe Fruits with water, till it comes to be pretty well mix'd with the Fruits, then they let it stand in a Trough twelve hours, and draw it off.
These Liquors are very much us'd for ordinary Drink in the remote Plantations, and North parts of this Island.
I was assured here, that in this part of the land, at a place called Wague Water, Horses still remain wild in the Hills among the Woods, and that whensoever they are taken and forc'd to stay in the Savannas, or are openly exposed to the Sun, they dye in some time.
​In the North-side of this Island, in the month of January when the Norths blow, they have great Rains, so that the Roads are scarce passable at that time.
I returned from the North-side to the South-side, by a Road on the ridge of Hills called Archers-Ridge, and by the Banks of Orange-River. Afterwards I came to Rio d' Oro, which I saw sink into the Earth, and rise up again out of it in two or three several places.
I went to Guanaboa, where are large Settlements and Plantations, and observed that tract of Ground called the Red Hills between Guanaboa and the Town. The dust of these Hills is red, apt to fly, and sticks fast to Travellers, the Soil being claiy and barren. Guanaboa, or as the Spaniards wrote it, Guainabo, is a fine Valley, very well planted, having rain almost every day.
On these Red Hills, four Miles from Town, lived Mr. Barnes a Carpenter, who used to cut and bring Wood to the Town. He told me that prickly yellow Wood which grows in great plenty here, and is describ'd hereafter, was good for nothing but to burn. He likewise assured me that the day before I was there (which was Sept. 9. 1688. when at Town I observed a North-Wind) at his Plantation here, there happened a thing extraordinary, viz. with the North came Hail and fell about his House, as big as Pullets Eggs, of various shapes, some corner'd like cut Diamonds, some shap'd like a Heart, &c. he tried to keep them in Flower, but they soon melted. This Hail beat down his high Cassada to the Roots, his other things were laid flat by it, it also beat down Orange-Trees. He carried me half a Mile up his Plantation, shew'd me the Woods wherein the Spaniards had usually planted their Cassada for the Town, after felling of the Woods. The Trees were grown, from the time the Spaniards had quitted the Island, to the time I saw them, to be at least forty or fifty Foot high, long small, and straight. They often in those Woods meet with Palisadoes, Orange-Walks, Limes, and other marks of formerly planted Ground. He once, ten years ago, in the Mountains in a natural hole in a Rock, found a Coffin partly corrupted, with a Body in it, he suppos'd it to have been some Spaniard thrown in there in hast.
Half a Mile from his Plantation, ten years ago, he found a Cave in which lay a human Body's Bones all in order, the Body having been eaten by the Ants. The Ants Nests we found there, the rest of the Cave was fill'd with Pots or Urns, wherein were Bones of Men and Children, the Pots were Oval, large, of a redish dirty colour. On the upper part of the Rim or Ledge there stood out an Ear, on which were made some Lines, the Ears were not over an Inch square, towards the top it had two parallel Lines went round, being ​grosly cut in the Edges near. The Negroes had remov'd most of these Pots to boil their Meat in. The Cave was about eight or nine Foot Diameter, roundish, and about five Foot high, it was on a sufficiently high Precipice, of nine Foot steep Ascent before one came at it. It was before opening curiously shut in on all sides with thin, flat Stones. The Ants had eat one Carcass to the Bones, and had made holes in their ends, whereat they enter'd, I suppose, to eat the Marrow.
At Guanoboa, in the time of the Spaniards, were great Chocolate or Cacao-Nut-Walks; but after that Tree was blasted, most of them were ruin'd. The Trees wild in these ruin'd Plantations, are grown in so short time monstrously, being some of them seventy Foot of good Timber. Surveyors know all the Trees by their Barks. Those that grow low and bushy in the Commons, grow high and tall in the Woods.
At Guanaboa the great Rains are in May, and continue so till October from the Sea, then their Norths come in. I saw here in the Gully, a Rock upwards of sixty Foot perpendicular heighth, being the side of a Hill, which towards the Gully was steep, it was call'd the end of the World. There is another Rock much more than twice as high, towards sixteen-Mile-Walk, in the Road from the Town near the hollow Rock.
Here, on the barren sides of small rocky Hills, I saw great variety of Gourds. They serve the Island instead of Bottles, Pails, Ladles, small-hoop'd Vessels, Coopers, Turners, and Glass-Wares. They are of several Shapes and Sizes, from small ones, of which are made Snuff-Boxes, to such as will hold four or five Gallons. All of them, except the sweet one, which is us'd for Preserves and Sweet-Meats, are purgative. The Leaves in Clysters are given in the Belly-ach. The Bottle, and other Gourds are clean'd either by lying in the Field till dry, when by cutting off the Top, the Seeds come cut, or by putting in Water, which by moistning brings the Pulp and Seeds out. If one drinks the Water that has stood in a green Gourd, 'tis very purging, but 'tis not so in one long us'd.
I saw them likewise here Preserve, or Pickle Green Indian-Bell-Pepper. Before it turns red, this Capsicum is cut and cleansed from its Seeds, then has a gentle Boil in Water, and so is put into a Pickle of Lime Juice, Sale and Water, and kept for use.
To make China-Drink. Take four or five handfuls of the Root cut in pieces, boil it in so many Gallons of Water, take it off the Fire, let it cool, and put two Pounds of clarify'd Sugar to it, let it stand, and after twelve Hours bottle it. It is of a red Colour, and a very pleasant Drink.
​In time of Sugar-making, two Quarts of clear Molosses is thought better than the Sugar.
Beyond Guanaboa in the Mountains, were several Cacao-Walks, or Plantations in the time of the Spaniards, but now they are ruined, only some few Cacao-Trees stand here and there in the Woods, as there is of Oranges, &c. the Wood about them is likewise here grown since the Spaniards left the Island, as high as any of the Island, being seventy Foot high of Timber.
I went to Liguanee, and crossed from Passage-Fort, the Arm of the Sea which comes in by Port-Royal.
The greatest part of the Shore of this Island, and particularly of this Bay, are full of a Tree call'd Mangrove, of which I shall speak hereafter. In the mean time, I think fit only to take notice that Oisters grow or stick to these Trees, not upon them like Fruit, as is vulgarly conceived, but only to so much of the Root of the Mangrove-Tree, as is under Water: the Tree-Oisters stick and fasten themselves, and afterwards several of them stick together, the lower down they are the bigger; so that at low Water the best is taken. They cause the Flux and Fevers when eat in excess, and taste somewhat like ours. When through any Accident these Oisters die, they corrupt, stink, and infect the Air and Wind, and are noisom to the places about them, on this account the Land-Winds are thought to bring Port-Royal no good Air.
Sloops may, if they know the Passage or Canal, go to Passage-Fort from Port-Royal, otherwise they cannot for the Shoals. Men of War Birds, so call'd, appear in this Bay, they fly like Kites, look black, are very large-wing'd in proportion to the Body, they fight with Sea-Gulls, (which are to be found here, and are like ours,) for their Prey.
Pelicans fish in this Bay, likewise in blowing Weather, when they cannot fish abroad, and in the calm Mornings they dive after their Prey. Spanish Mackarel are taken in this Bay in plenty. They are like ours, only made like a Boneto. I here observed a small Shoal of small Fishes to leap out of the Water, being pursued by greater Fishes.
The whole Shoals between Port-Royal and Passage-Fort are cover'd with Coral of several sorts, and Alga angustifolia Vitrariorum or Sea-Grass. There are also Star-Fishes of several sorts, large and five-pointed, as well as small, and several sorts of the Echinus Marinus. Allegators are often drawn on Shoar in the Senne-Nets by the Fisher-men, whole Nets are generally broken by them. These Allegators are so call'd from the word Alagarta, in Spanish, signifying a Lizard, of which this is an amphibious sort. When I was in Jamaica, there was one ​of these used to do abundance of mischief to the Peoples Cattle in the Neighbourhood of this Bay, having his regular courses to look for Prey. One of the Inhabitants there, as I was told, tied a long Cord to his Bedstead, and to the other end of the Cord fastened a piece of Wood and a Dog, so that the Allegator swallowing the Dog and piece of Wood, the latter came cross his Throat, as it was design'd, and after pulling the Bedstead to the Window, and awaking the Person in Bed, he was caught. Allegators love Dogs extreamly, but prey also on Cattle. This Allegator was nineteen feet long.
There are also Sharks to be found in the Sea hereabouts. A Man bathing in the Sea by Port-Royal had part of the Flesh of his Arm and Breast at one mouthful torn off by a Shark, of which he immediately died. I was told that one Rockey a Privateer used to go and fight with them in the Water, and so do some Divers, killing them with Bodkins run into their Bellies, while they turn themselves to Prey.
I saw in this Harbour and Bay a Ship come from Guinea, loaded with Blacks to sell. The Ship was very nasty with so many People on Board. I was assured that the Negroes feed on Pindals, or Indian Earth-Nuts, a sort of Pea or Bean producing its Pods under ground. Coming from Guinea hither, they are fed on these Nuts, or Indian-Corn boil'd whole twice a day, at eight a Clock, and four in the Afternoon, each having a Pint of Water allow'd him. The Negroes from Angola and Gamba, are not troubled with Worms, but those from the Gold Coast very much.
I was inform'd here that Ewes bring forth twice in fifteen months, without any regard to the time of the year; but Cows bring forth their young according to the Seasons of Europe.
I saw some Guinea-Sheep, they were brought by a Ship from that Country, being provided by the Commander to eat at Sea, but when the Ship arrived they were presented to a Planter in Liguanee. They are like Goats in every respect, having for the most part black and white short Hair, like that of a six weeks or a month old Calf. They are much less than Goats, multiply very fast, and are very sweet Meat.
At some Plantations bordering on this Bay many Whites die, as believed by the ill Air; some of them lying in bottoms, bordering on Marshes near the Sea. On the other hand, Plantations that are feared high are very healthy, and the People are not sickly. Colonel Barry's House all galleried round, was formerly, when the Spaniards possess'd the Island, the only place in Liguanee inhabited. A very rich Widow had here a Sugar-work, and abundance of Cattle in the Savanna's, near forty thousand.
​The Spaniards thought that in Liguanee, was to be found good Gold and Copper Oar, for when Sir Thomas Lynch sent to know of the old Inhabitants of Jamaica at Cuba, where they had found Mines in Jamaica, they answered in Liguanee, but that they never had wrought them.
When I was at Liguanee, I was inform'd that there was a Plantation in the Mountains belonging to Captain Harrison, where was a Garden the best furnished of any in the Island with European Garden Plants; such as are either used for Physick, for the Kitchen, or for Ornament. The high situation of the place made it fitter for the Production of these Vegetables, because the higher the cooler, and that generally there are more Rains and Showers on Mountains than in the Valleys. Here follows a List of the European Plants I met within this Garden, and of those which I observ'd to grow in other parts of the land. They all thrive almost as well as in Europe, save Wheat, Oats, and Apples.
* Apium hortense seu petroselinum vulgo, C.B. pin. p. 153. Common Parsley.
* Absynthium Ponticum, seu Romanum officinarum, seu Dioscoridis. C.B. pin. p. 138. Common-Wormwoood.
* Artemisia vulgaris major. C.B. pin. p. 137 Common-Mugwort.
* Melissa hortensis, C.B. p. 229. Bawm.
* Lavendula major sive vulgaris. Park. p. 73. Lavender.
* Thymus vulgaris folio tenuiore. C.B. pin. p. 219. Thyme.
* Satureia hortensis. Park. p. 4. Savory.
* Hyssopus sativus vulgaris. Lugd. p. 933. Hyssop.
* Pulegium latifolium. C.B, pin. p. 222. Penny-Royal.
* Tanacetum vulgare. Park. 462. Tansie.
* Carduus Benedictus, Park, p. 530. Carduus.
* Horminum sclarea dictum. C.B. pin. p. 238. Clary.
* Borago. Cam. hort. p. 29. Borrage.
* Buglossum. Park. p. 239. Bugloss.
* Pimpinella sanguiforba minor hirsuta, C.B. pin. p. 160. Burnet.
* Melo vulgaris. C.B. p. 310. Musk-Melons.
* Asparagus sativus. Ger. Sparagus.
* Cinara hortensis foliis non aculeatis. C.B. pin. p. 383. Artichokes.
* Pastinaca sativa sive carota lutea & alba. J.B. Tom. 3. lib. 27. p. 60.
* Pastinaca sativa sive carota rubra. Ejusd. 16. Yellow, White and Red Carrots.
* Nasturtium hortense vulgatum. C.B. pin. p. 130. Common-Garden-Cresses ​
* Mentha prima sive rubra. Park. par. p. 480. Garden-Mint.
* Fragaria vulgaris. C. B. pin. p. 526. Strawberry.
* Similax hortensis sive phaseolus major. C. B. pin. p. 339. Kidney-Beans or French Beans.
* Raphanus minor oblongus. C.B. p. 96. Garden-Radish.
* ——— Rusticanus. C.B. pin. p. 96. Horse-Radish.
* Brassica vulgaris sativa. Lob. obs. p. 122. Icon. p. 243. Coleworts.
* Lactuca sativa. C.B. pin p. 122. Garden-Lettice.
* Glycyrrhiza vulgaris, Dod. p. 341. Liquorice.
* Ruta hortensis major latifolia. Moris. hist. p. 507. Rue.
* Calendula sativa. Tab. tom. 2. p. 49. Marygold.
* Cucumis sativus vulgaris. C.B. pin. p. 310. Cucumbers.
* Rosa Provincialis sive Damascena. Ger. Province Roses. These grow very well in Barbados.
* Rosmarinus. Riv. p. 10. Rosemary.
* Vitis Venisera. Lac. p. 502. The Vine.
* Pomus sive malum. C.B. pin. p. 432. The Apple-Tree.
* Salvia major vulgaris. Park. p. 40. Sage.
* Brassica capitata alba. C.B. pin. p. 111. Cabbage.
* Ficus communis, C.B. pin. p. 557. The Fig-Tree.
* Acetosa pratensis, C.B. pin. p. 114. Sorrel.
* Marrubiam nigrum fætidum ballote Dioscoridis, C.B. pin. p. 23.
* Avena vulgaris sive alba, C.B. pin. p. 23. Oats.
* Rapa sativa rotunda, C.B. pin. p. 89. Round-Turnep.
* ——— Oblonga. Ejusd. p. 90. Long-Turnep.
* Pisum arvense. C.B. p. 342. Field-Pease.
* Cepe vulgaris. C.B. p. 71. Onion.
* Sinapi sativum. Ger. Mustard.
* Triticum. Adv. p. 5. Wheat.
* Rubus Idæus. Rasberries. This was the same with that of Europe, only more creeping.
*** Flowers.
* Tanacetum Africanum majus flore pleno. C.B.
* ——— Minus flore simplici. C.B.
* Amaranthus simplici panicula. C.B. pin. p. 124. Amaranth.
* ——— Panicula incurva holosericea. Ger.
* Hyacinthus Indicus tuberosa radice. Clus.rar.pl.hist. p. 176. Tuberoses.
I went to Colonel Crew's Plantation, May, 19. they were setting after a days Rain, some clay-colour'd and red Pease. One or more of the Negroes went with a How, and scratch'd up some Earth, and a little after followed another Black, who put into the hole three Pease, and then with his Foot cover'd them with the mould scratch'd ​off by the former. One or two of the Pease is supposed to be eaten by Vermin. They were planted at about two Foot distance, and are ripe in two months, gathered when dry, and boiled as Pease in England. They are good nourishment for Negroes. They are uncertain in Seasons, or Rains here, therefore plant no Cotton.
Indian Corn cannot be set to grow but after Rain. It is best to be hung up in its Membranes to be hardened and kept from Weevils.
There is a sort of White Cassada not poysonous, which boil'd as Yams are, may be eat like them.
I was inform'd here that Snails Calcin'd, and a water made of them like Lime-water, it is a good Remedy in Bloody-Fluxes.
For the better understanding of several matters in the West-Indies, I think it proper to subjoin some accounts I received from several Credible Persons who had lived, and made Voyages to several parts in the Neighbourhood of Jamaica. These follow without any other order than that of the time they were told me, and enter'd in my Journal which was generally when the Persons came upon their first arrival to wait on the Duke of Albemarle as Governour of the Island.
One King Jeremy came from the Mosquitos (an Indian People near the Provinces of Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica) he pretended to be a King there, and came from the others of his Country, to beg of the Duke of Albemarle, Governor of Jamaica, his Protection, and that he would send a Governour thither, with a power to War on the Spaniards, and Pirats. This he alleged to be due to his Country from the Crown of England, who had in the Reign of King Charles I. submitted itself to him. The Duke of Albemarle did nothing in this matter, being afraid it might be a trick of some people to set up a Government for Bucaniers or Pirats. This King Jeremy, in coming to Town, asking many questions about the Island, and not receiving as he thought, a satisfactory account, he pull'd off his European Cloaths his Friends had put on, and climb'd to the top of a Tree, to take a view of the Country. The Memorial, and substance of what he, and the people with him, represented to the Duke of Albemarle; was, That in the Reign of King Charles I. of ever Blessed Memory, the Earl of Warwick (by virtue of Letters of Reprizal granted by his said Majesty for Damages received from the Subjects of his Catholick Majesty) did possess himself of several Islands in the West-Indies, particularly that of Providence, (since called by the Spaniards St. Catalina,) which is situate in 13 deg. 10 m. Nᵒ Lat. lying East from Cape Gratias de Dios, (vulgarly known by the name of the Muskitos) between Thirty and Forty Leagues; which put the said Earl upon trying all ways and means of future ​Correspondence with the Natives of the said Cape and neigbouring Country, and in some little time was so successful as to gain that Point, and farther prevail'd with them so far, as to persuade them to send home the King's Son, leaving one of his People as Hostage for him, which was Colonel Morris, now living at New York. The Indian Prince going home with the said Earl, staid in England three years, in which time the Indian King died, and the said Natives having in that time had intercourse of Friendship and Commerce with those of Providence, were soon made sensible of the Grandeur of his Majesty of Great Britain, and how necessary his Protection was to them. Upon the return of the said Indian Prince, they persuaded him to resign up his Authority and Power over them, and (with them) unanimously declare themselves the Subjects of his said Majesty of Great Britain, in which Opinion they have ever since persisted, and do own no other Supream Command over them. As to the Fertility of their Soil, 'tis a very great Level, free from any Mountains for several Leagues from the Sea, the Soil black Mold mixt with Sand, where otherwise, the Land is covered with Pine-Trees, of the nature of New England Fir, well watered with great Rivers and Rivulets. Their chief Commerce being managed in Canoes; for Harbours it hath but two, and they both barr'd, and so not capable of receiving any Vessel that draws above Eleven or Twelve Foot Water, but when within, able to receive Ships of the greatest Burthen, that may lay their Sides to the Shore, and Careen safely. In these Harbours are Banks or rather Rocks of Oisters, from the bigness of Horseshoes, to those of Colchester, or less. As to the Nature of the Inhabitants, they are Affable and Courteous, very Hospitable, and ready to relieve all People in Distress, but more especially endear'd to those of the English Nation. The Men generally speak broken English, there is nothing more hateful to them than breach of Promise, or telling an Untruth, their Words being inviolable. They are always on their Guard for Fear of their neighbouring Enemies, and for the most part get their Living by Fishing. Their most usual Arms are six hand Lances slight ones, and one other very large and strong with which they nimbly avoid those that are darted from their Enemy, the lesser ones they handle so dextrously, that they dart small Fishes, about the bigness of a Salmon-Trout, Thirty Yards, and though their Country have great plenty of Deer, Pecary, and Wild-Fowl; yet they get most of their Provisions out of the Sea. Their manner of living now is Patriarchal, their Families being numerous, they allowing plurality of Wives, of which only the old Women and Children perform the Work of all the rest of the Family, but every individual Person pays great Duty and Respect to the Paterfamilias, who is absolute Judge in all Cases, and from ​whom there is no Appeal. All they produce from the Earth, of Provisions (which they sell to the Men of War, and other Vessels trading on the Coast) is equally divided among the whole Family, only the Chief and his Wife have each two Shares. Were some Persons industrious to settle among them, and encourage them to plant, the richness of the Soil would easily, and advantageously produce any Commodity, especially Indico, but they will not permit any other Nation to settle among them but the English; they have some propensity to the Dutch, but the French they morally hate for their wanton behaviour towards their Wives. As to their Number, no sure account can be given, they being settled at such great distance, and uncapable to give a true Estimate of themselves, being wholly unlearned, only some that have been at Providence, have learned the Lords Prayer, the Creed and Ten Commandments, which they repeat with great Devotion.
One Captain Gough, who had lived there, told me they had thereabout much Cochineel-Tree planted both by the Indians and Spaniards, sometimes in Fields of Fifty or Sixty Acres of Ground: that they keep these Opuntia or Trees very clean, that the Insects may breed on them; that this sort grows very high like prickly Pears, only has no Prickles or very few: that the Insects come from another Tree, and that they appear on the Surface of these Plants, in form of little Bladders, which they sweep down into an Iron Pan, which afterwards being set on the fire, leaves something like a Spiders Web. Afterwards they put this Cochineel into Chests as cured; if it be not enough dried, it takes life and flies away. I shall have occasion to speak more of this hereafter.
He told me also Vaniglias grew here, and are cured by taking them off the Vine (which runs very far) at a certain ripeness, dipping them into hot Water, and drying them in the shade. If they be pulled too young they break, and are brittle; if too old they open, which they do of themselves on the Trees. Another Person told me the Vaniglias were cured after the following manner, and I am the more willing to publish it, because they are said to grow in Jamaica, and that they cannot be sent from thence to Europe, because of their Ignorance of the way of curing them.
Another Way to Cure Vaniglias.
Gather them when full ripe, prepare a Liquor, or Brine of Water and Salt, so strong as to bear an Egg, then put to it a fourth part of Chamber-ly, and a reasonable quantity of unflak'd Lime, and when that is incorporated, boil all together about half an Hour, then take it off, and put the Vaniglias into the Liquor, and let them re​main there till they are throughly scalded or parboil'd; then take them out, and dry them in the shade where no Sun may come at them.
The same Person spoke of a Gum or Balsam, called China-Balsam, growing in the aforesaid Mosquitos Country, which is procured by applying Fire to one side of the Tree, and gashing the other, at which gashes a black Balsam sweats out, very proper for Wounds.
They make use of Plantain or Musa-Leaves for Table Cloths, and Napkins.
The Women live very much in awe and submission to their Husbands in this Country.
Towards the Havana, in Cuba, there are abundance of Spouts to be seen, more than in any other part of the West Indies. It is all plain, level, and very fertile Ground thereabouts. I was told that the English Prisoners taken, as Pirates or Traders, and kept by the Spaniards, by their several Artifices, and Skill in Mechanics, get a very good Subsistence.
In the Lake of Maracaybo, Sir Henry Morgan told me, afar off he once saw a thick Cloud, which when he came near, he found to be Mosquitos or Gnats. The Country thereabout is so marish and wet, as that the Inhabitants are forc'd to build their Houses on the Trees, as Ants do in many places for the same reason.
I perused here at Jamaica, a Journal of Sir William Phipps, which gave an account of the first finding of the great Plate Wreck to the North-East of Hispaniola. After Sir William Phipps had been at Samana, on the North side of Hispaniola, he went with one Rogers, Master of a small Ship to Porto Plata, and there discharging three Guns to get the Spaniards to Trade, they came down, and the English sold small Bables, and Searges for Hides, and jirked Hogs taken by the Hunters there. In the mean time Rogers had been on the Wreck, discover'd by means of a Sea-Feather, growing on the Planks of the Ship lying under water, and brought from thence the news of its being found. They went thither, found it grown over with Coral, and Lapis Astroites, and took up Silver as the Weather and their Divers held out, some days more, and some less. The small Ship went near, the great one rode afar off. At last they got in Bullion 22196l. in Coin 30326. of which were Sows, and great Bars 336. After they sail'd for Turks Islands for Salt, and going thither, after several hours sailing, had almost been a-ground and wreck'd on the Handkercher Shoal. They about the Wreck were sometimes in seven Fathom Water, and immediately almost out of reach of the bottom by sounding.
​This Wreck had been a Spanish Galeon lost on these Shoals, near the Abreojos or Handkercher Shoals, to the North East of Hispaniola, about the year 1659. bound for Spain. The inhabitants of Hispaniola, who used to Trade with Sir Willian Phipps, had acquainted him with it. He proposed the taking up of this Silver to the Duke of Albemarle, who together with Sir James Hayes, Mr. Nicholson, and others, set out two Ships, a greater and a lesser, laden with Goods to Trade with Hispaniola, and the Spaniards in the West Indies, in case they sailed of the Wreck. They found this Wreck, as is above related, and wrought on it till the Ships Crew grew scarce of Provisions, when they had taken up about Twenty six Tuns of Silver. A Sloop from Bermudas came to their help: when they sail'd for England the Sloop return'd to Bermudas, and there disclosed the Matter, which soon went to the other Islands. From these parts, and Jamaica, Sloops and Divers were sent, who took up a vast quantity more of Plate and Money, so that before a second Fleet came from England, the greatest part of what Silver remain'd unfish'd was taken up. Not only the English from the Plantations and England, but the Prince of Orange, afterwards King William, from Holland, equip'd a Ship which was sent thither, but they came too late. Those who commanded the Dutch Ship, and Sir John Narborough, who was in the English, return'd without any considerable Cargoes of Silver. It happened so not only to the first Patentees, but to many other People, who by the example of this Project (where the Duke of Albemarle received Fifty thousand Pound for Eight hundred, and others in proportion) hoping for the same Success, took out Patents for Wrecks lying at the bottom of the Seas in all places, especially in the West-Indies, where any Traffick is used, not considering that though there have been lost divers Ships laden with Money, on many Shoals of the West-Indies, such as the Serranillas between Jamaica and the Continent, the Bahama Shoals, &c. yet in most parts there is such a Vegetation of Coralline matter out of the Sea-water, as that the bottom of the Sea is incrustated with it, and the Wrecks hid by them. The Pieces of Eight in the Silver-Wreck above-mention'd, that was lost in 1659. were covered with this Matter about a quarter of an Inch thick, and I have a piece of the Timber of the Ship, with an Iron Bolt in it, grown over with the Corallium asperum candicans adulterinum J.B. and some of the Pieces of Eight incrustated, others almost covered with Astroites. Those underneath were corroded with the Sea-water, so that many of them stuck together. These things I have caused, at least some of them, to be graved. It is not only from this, but also Sand driving by the Winds and Currents, or Earthquakes that happen at the bottom of the Sea, that Wrecks may be cover'd, and past finding out. I remember ​an African Ship, laden with Elephants Teeth, wreck'd on the Coast of Sussex, which Mr. Halley told me was in a very short time almost covered with Sand and Oase, so that the Project of recovering the Teeth, was frustrated, though by the help of a Diving-Bell contriv'd by his extraordinary Skill, they had gone to the bottom of the Sea, and into the Ship, where they had a perfect view of the Ship, and all about it. Though the Money brought into England from the first Wreck was very considerable, yet much more was lost on Projects of the same nature. For every silly Story of a rich Ship lost, was credited, a Patent taken out, Divers, who are us'd to Pearl-fishing, &c. and can stay under Water some Minutes, bought or hir'd at great Rates, and a Ship set out for bringing home Silver. There was one Ship lost amongst the rest, said to be very rich, near Bermudas, which was divided into Shares and sold. It was said to be in the Possession of the Devil, and they told Stories how he kept it. I do not find the People, who spent their Money, on this, or any of these Projects, excepting the first, got any thing by them.
Colonel Nedham, who had liv'd some time in Teneriff, told me, that in the Year 1649. Locusts destroy'd all the Product of that Island; they saw them come off from the Coast of Barbary, the Wind being a Levant from thence; they flew so far as they could, then one lighted in the Sea, and another on it, so that one after another they made a heap as big as the greatest Ship above Water, and were esteemed almost as many under. Those above Water, next Day, after the Sun's refreshing them, took flight again, and came in Clouds to the Island, from whence they had perceiv'd them in the Air, and had by their Military Officers gathered all the Soldiers of the Island and La Laguna together, being seven or eight thousand Men, who laying aside their Arms, some took Bags, some Spades, and having notice by their Scouts from the Hills, where they alighted, they went strait thither, made Trenches, and brought their Bags full, and cover'd them with Mould. This did not do, for some of the Locusts escap'd, or being cast on the Shoar, were reviv'd by the Sun, and flew about and destroyed all the Vineyards and Trees. They eat the Leaves, and even the Bark of the Vines where they alighted. After two Months fruitless management of them so, the Ecclesiasticks took them in hand by Penances, with Swords tied to their Arms, voluntary Whippings, &c. by Excommunications by Bell, Book and Candle, by sprinkling with Holy-Water, Processions and Crosses; amongst the rest one voluntary Penance was rolling round the Hands and Arms, Feet, Legs, and Body with hard Ropes; but all would not do, the Locusts staid there four Months; ​Cattle eat them and died, and so did several Men, and others struck out in Botches. The other Canary Islands were so troubled also, they were forced to bury their Provisions for fear of being oblig'd to relieve their common Necessity with what was to produce for their own Families. They were troubled forty Years before with the like Plague.
A very credible Person, on the Agreement of the Assiento or Spanish West-India Company, with the Merchants call'd Grillo's of Genoa, and of them with the Royal African Company, went to Cartagena, in a Spanish Ship, with Five hundred Negroes, he was sent from thence to Porto-Bello, where they could not get Liberty to go on Shoar, but received their Money and good Entertainments in their Ship. They return'd to Cartagena, where buying Spanish Habits, they went about the Town. It is, as he told me, twice as big as Port-Royal, stands almost encompass'd by the Sea, is wall'd with Stone, and has several Forts or Castles in it. Its Houses are built of Stone or Brick two Stories high, with Balconies and Roofs jetting over them. Things here are twice as cheap as at Porto-Bello, because of the vent of Commodities from this last place to Panama.
When the English, under the Command of Sir Henry Morgan, came from Porto Bello, and Panama, (which places they had taken) after certain contagious Fevers, they, for the most part, fell into the Yellow-Jaundice, grew worse and died of it, after languishing a great while in the greatest Degree of it, which is commonly call'd the Black-Jaundice. They look'd with the Jaundice like Indians, and were, when remediable, chiefly cured by the Infusion of Goose-Dung.
A Sea-man related that he washing his blue Jacket on the Forecastle, coming hither, the Ship having fresh way he lost it, but two Days after, having been becalm'd, they took a Shark, and found in his Belly the blue Jacket, not otherwise alter'd than by the holes of his Teeth in chawing.
Several Persons who used the Logwood Trade, or who were imploy'd in cutting that Wood, otherwise call'd Campeche-Wood, used by Dyers, inform'd me, that at about fifteen Leagues from the Town of Campeche, are two Creeks, the Eastern and Northern, in which last they cut Logwood. This is call'd the Logwood-River, the Inhabitants live in Huts on each side of this narrow Creek, near Two hundred English, and are ready on the appearance of any Enemy to hinder their landing by firing on them on each side, every ​one having his Firelock and other Arms ready. It is a knotted crooked Wood, growing in Marshes, three or four together up the two Creeks, or Lagunas, about eight Leagues from where the shipping Rides; it is very hard, and bears a small Leaf like a Heart. They Saw it down, then cut pieces of it of about four or five Foot long, then cleave it. It is of a dark or purple, near a black colour. The English, who have lived there many years, Cut and Sell it to the Sloops for about Three Pound per Tun, for which the Sloops bring them Cloathing, Victuals, Rum, Sugar, &c. The Sloops carry this Wood, and sell it at Port-Royal for about Six Pound per Tun; the half of the Profit going to the Master of the Sloop. When any of the English at Campeche resolve to come away, they having got Logwood, it may be Thirty or Forty Tun, they embark it and themselves in a Sloop for Jamaica, where the half Profits go to themselves, and the half to the Master, otherwise they send it, and paying the Fraight, viz. the half Profits, their Money is return'd them. The Indians of this place us'd formerly to Trade with them, but the English not keeping ther Faith, but taking and selling them, they are retired up into the Country several Leagues. There are on an Island near this, wild Cows and Bulls in abundance; there are also wild Deer near this River. The Spaniards who are offended at this settlement equipp'd some Periaguas and Hulks against them; but before they were ready they were burnt by the English, since they only lie out at Sea off this place cruising on their Sloops and Merchant Men. The English have a place stronger than their Huts for their Provision, and when a Strength much greater than theirs comes against them, they retire to the Woods. They have been cut off several times by the Spaniards in this place, and yet have settled here again. This usage of the Spaniards is somewhat harsh, if what Sir Henry Morgan has often told me be true, that this Logwood River was in the Possession of the English at the time of the Treaties being sign'd at Madrid concerning the West-Indies. The Ships lie Eight Leagues from the cutting place, and the Wood is carried to them by Long-Boats and Sloops.
I was told that the Pearl-Fishing of the Spaniards at Margarita was sail'd, but that there was a fishing at Rio de la Hacha not far of. The Indians Dive and bring up the Pearl-Oisters, they dare not take any Rake or Iron to Drudge them up, for fear of destroying the young breed, under pain of High Treason; the biggest lies in deepest water, they Dive on the Banks in Nine Fathom water. The Indians String the firm part of the Oisters on Lines, and dry them against a Wall, and when they are dry and transparent, they are ​eaten by the Spaniards. The Pearls are sold by the Indians to the Spaniards by the Shell full. They are dark more or less, and are not of so clear a colour as the Oriental Pearls are. When the Indians find very large Pearls, they keep and hide them till they find a better Merchant, which are often others than the Spaniards. This Pearl fishery was farmed of the Spaniards by English Merchants of Jamaica when I was there.
New-England Horses are frequently brought to Jamaica, they are bought for Five Pound apiece in New England, and kept by the way on Bran, they usually are sold in Jamaica at Fifteen Pounds, they are rougher than the Horses in the Island usually Pace, and lose their Hair at first coming.
The Inhabitants of New-England Pickle Pork and Beef either dry or wet, the first is done in bad Cask, the other in good Cask, and is much the better, the first proving ordinarily rusty.
Fish preferv'd and cur'd, both dry and wet, come from thence.
One half-Barrel of Irish Pork is worth about Twenty two Shillings, and a Barrel of Beef as much, which is in Provision, to be distributed for the support of Servants and Slaves, reckoned equivalent to it.
Salt wet Mackerel comes from New-England, and is much used in this Island for the support of Slaves and Servants.
The true way of fatting Cattle, as I was inform'd by the Grasiers of Jamaica, is by bleeding them in the Jugular Vein (which will stop of its self) and then purging them with Aloe or Sempervive Leaves clear'd of their outward Skins, and thrust down by Gobbets till a whole Leaf is swallowed.
The same has been effectual in a Man, in restoring the tone of his Stomach lost by drinking. It purges Cattle and Men of Worms, and may make them fat that way.
The less Nourishment the Grass affords, the greater the Paunch of the Beast feeding on it, so that the Bellies of Cattle are so large in dry times in hot Countries, as if they were big with young.
On Hispaniola, at Samana are many French Hunters. They go out Twelve in a Company, for fear of the Spaniards. The Hogs they take have sometimes Stones in their Bladders; one of these Stones I had brought me thence was long, of divers Tunicles, the outward white, those within it reddish, and smelling very strong of Urine. I had two others bigger than any Pease, round, and set about with protuberant Prickles they were taken out of the Urethra of Hogs. They were shining and Crystalline, and exactly resembled those taken out of Human Bodies.
​At Samana the French setled several Families, who were cut off by the Spaniards, of a Town called Isabella, of three or four hundred Inhabitants. They have Horses and Mules in the Savannas about it. The English at Jamaica buy most of their Mules from the Spaniards. It is not far from Porto Plata where the Spaniards are also settled.
The Manati Stones are brought from thence, and taken from behind the Ears of that Animal, each Ear having one.
One Doctor Fritz a German Chirurgeon and Chymist, who had been in the South-Seas with Captain Townley, told me he had seen of the Cascarilla-Trees, or those on which grows the Peru or Jesuits Bark: that they grow near the Sea side and are very large Trees; that they cut a piece of the Bark round the Trunk of the Tree near the ground; that a while after the Bark withers on the whole Tree, and falls off; that they had taken a Ship named the Cascarilla, and had thrown most of that Bark, her loading, into the Sea, to make room for Provisions. That the Leaves generally found in the Bags of the Bark, was of that Tree, and Plenty of the Trees is to be met with in the South-Sea.
A Bristol Ship, coming towards Jamaica, struck on a Rock two Miles from without the Town of Port-Royal, but this Ship when lighted of the Goods was got off again. This is very ordinary, for the Rocks and Shoals being here-about covered with Coral and Coralline Substances, the Ships coming upon them, are not often pierc'd nor bulg'd, but bruise these Coralline Substances to Sand, and very often get off again without much damage.
Captain Groves told me he had left a while ago on the Island of Tobago, seventy Curlanders in a Fort on that Island, that their Food was European Bread, which they had provided for several Months, wild Hogs, Hogs with their Navels on their Backs, Armadillos an excellent Food, and Racoons, with very great plenty of Fish. Their Trade was as yet chiefly cutting of very large Mastick, Cedar and other Trees for Timber, to be sent to the Island of Barbados, with which by Licence from the King, they might Trade. This Island is, I think, held by the Curlanders at the Crown of England.
They have there a sort of Pleasant, very good Meat.
He told me that having been often in the Mediterranean, at certain Seasons some sort of wild Pigeons were so plentiful on the Isle of Zante, as the Inhabitants sold them for half pence apiece, that they came from Egypt, and that on the Island Caprea, near Naples Quails are sold at a certain Season at the same rate. Pigeons are at Jamaica very plentiful at some Seasons. Ground-Doves are sold for a Bitt, or Real a Dozen. They are taken with Clavannes, and wild ​Cassada Seeds for Bait. The Cane-Rats are numerous, of a gray colour, cheap, large, and very good Victuals.
I was inform'd that Sarsaparilla is very frequent and cheap up Rio San Pedro, in the Bay of Honduras, where are several Indian Towns. There is brought into Jamaica great Quantities of Sarsaparilla, by Trade with the Bay of Honduras, New Spain and Peru. It grows in all these places on the Banks of the Rivers, and in moist Grounds: The Spaniards think it makes the Water of those Rivers, where it grows wholesome. It is a sort of Smilax aspera, and comes very near to that common in Spain, France and Italy, though it differ from it. It is also very near akin to China, the Strings or Sarments of the Roots of Sarsaparilla, taking their Original from a knobby Tuberous Root, like that of China, and going very deep into the Ground. It is moderately warm, used to promote an easie Sweat, and open Obstructions. There is an Account and Figure of it published in a Book printed at Mexico in the year 1570. in Latin, written by Franciscus Bravus, a Physician, who lived there, whither I refer the Curious.
I went from Port-Royal in a Boat to House Key and Gun-Key, or Cayo, so called from the Tryal of Guns from the Fort; they shooting thence at a Cask set up here. They were defended by Coral and Astroites Rocks to the South, and were very small Islands, with some few Bushes on them. Such places are called by the Spaniards Cayos, whence by corruption comes the English word Keys, used to signifie such places in those parts.
A Master of a Vessel from Barbados, bound to seek a new Wreck, came into Jamaica, and told me he had been in Crab-Island near Porto Rico, so called by our Seamen, from the great number of Land-Crabs on it: in the Charts 'tis named Borrinquem. A little before his being there, two Ships appear'd before the Island with English Colours, but coming nearer put out Spanish-Colours, and sent five Englishmen on Shore with a Flag of Truce, who enticed the Commander in Chief on board the Ship. When there they forc'd him to write on Shore for the Inhabitants he had left, to tell them of his civil Treatment, who all went on board likewise, and were carried to Santo Domingo Prisoners; they were reported to be one hundred and fifty in all, Men, Women, and some few Negros. They burnt all the Houses, which were of Timber. A Negro lying in the Woods, made his escape to the North side of that Island, and embarq'd in a Sloop which lay there for the Windward Islands, where he gave this Relation; the like escape had five other white Men in a Sloop, that lay in another place, where they were cutting Timber to carry to the Windward Islands.
The Inhabitants had been there several years, and had come from the Leeward Islands, chiefly Anguilla, to settle Borriquem. Anguilla is ​rocky and barren, and this fruitful and rich in Soil, and easily to be clear'd, and of a very rich Mould, well water'd with Rivers, and Springs to be had for digging a few Feet deep. They had planted Cassada, Yams, Patatas, Indian-Corn, and other Provisions, with some few Sugar Canes. Since this the English have again possessed this land, and I am told have now Captain Sharp, formerly an English Commander in the South Seas, for their Commander. The Governor of Anguilla had beat some Spaniards off with the loss of some of their Men, with the help of only fifty Soldiers, and had desir'd leave of the Governour of the Windward Islands to settle it again. The Spaniards in this Attempt were thought to have had Bear a Pirat with them, and to be sent out by the Governour of Santo Domingo. The Spaniards are very barbarous to all Nations in these parts where they are superior. They think they have the only right to the West-Indies, and it was a long time ere they would hear of any Treaty with European Nations. This was the first rise of the Privateers, Bucaniers or Freebooters, who consisted of all Nations except Spaniards, from whom they often took great Riches, and as easily parted with them to the people of their own Nations.
A Master of a Sloop from Anguilla, related to me that this Bear a notorious English Pirat, under a Spanish Commission, had made a descent on that Island, and barbarously handled threescore Families of English which lived: in it such treatment is very ordinary in these parts of the world where the Inhabitants are not able to defend themselves, and small Islands often on this account change Masters. This island is reckoned amongst the Caribe or Leeward Islands, and is under the Government of their Captain General or Governor.
Some Turtlers being at the South Cayos off of Cuba, had been robb'd by a Periagua, sent by the Governor of Havana; they were stript, and the Spaniards talk'd of putting them all into one Sloop, and burning them in it. The Turtle-fishery there, and at the Caymanes were thought by Sir Henry Morgan to be ours by right, seeing it could be prov'd by several at Jamaica, that those were in the Possession of the English at the time when the Treaty between Spain and England concerning the West-Indies was ended at Madrid. The same is to be said of the Turtle-fishing at the Island Vaches, off of Hispaniola, pretended to by the French of the Island Tortugas. This Island Tortugas or Tortue, lies a little off the North-West side of Hispaniola. It was planted by the French some years ago, and from that small Island they have spread themselves over a great part of the North-side of that large Island, where they have a Governor stiled Gouverneur des Cotes de St. Domingue. They have pretended lately to a right to the Isle des Vaches or Ash.
​There is a sort of Loggerhead Turtle or Tortoise at Jamaica, very little differing from the common sort, only in every part less, and having the Brest of a yellowish white colour.
The Turtle or Tortoises come to Caymanes two small Isles West of Jamaica, once a year to lay their Eggs in the Sand, to be hatch'd by the Sun, and at that time the Turtlers take them in great numbers. At other times they go to the South Cayos off of Cuba; there to feed on the Sea-Grass growing under water: wherefore the Turtlers go thither in quest of them, and it may be four Men in a Sloop may bring in thirty, forty, or fifty Turtles, worth seventeen or eighteen Shillings apiece, more or less, according to their goodness. The Female with Egg is reckoned the best. They sometimes get their Loading in a day, but are usually six weeks in making their Voyages. The Turtlers feed on Turtle, Bisket-Bread and Salt. They catch the Turtle with Nets made of Yam larger than Whipcord. When they come home to Port-Royal they put them into the Sea, in Foursquare-Palisadoed places, where they keep them alive till there be occasion to kill them, which will be very long sometimes, though the sooner they are killed after taking, they are the fatter. The Callepee, or under part of the Brest or Belly, bak'd, is reckon'd the best piece, the Liver and Fat are counted Delicacies, Those who feed much on them sweat out a yellow Serum, especially under their Armpits. Their Fat is yellow, tasts like Marrow, and gives the Skin a yellow Hue or Tincture.
Saltertudos, is corruptly called so, it being, properly speaking, the Island Tortuga, near Margarita: 'tis uninhabited, but has several Salt-Ponds, filled with Salt, reputed very good, it being large grained. 'Tis always to be found there in great quantities, except about July, when the Rains moisten and dissolve it. The New England Vessels carry Lumber and Fish to Barbados, and from thence go for this Island, and stretch it thence again streight home. They carry with them Wheelbarrows, and Bags to load this Salt. It is reckon'd much better than the Salt of Jamaica commonly sold here, and looks reddish. The Governour of Barbados takes Salt Tertudos to be under his Dominion,
The Bahama Islands are fill'd with Seals, sometimes Fishers will catch one hundred in a night. They try or melt them, and bring off their Oil for Lamps to these Islands.
There are Islands lying North off of Hispaniola, where are many Salt-Ponds; but because of the Neighbourhood of the French and Spaniards, they are accounted more dangerous than the other. They are called the Turks Island.
​A Ship came into Jamaica from Carolina with Beef and Pork. A curious Person on board related to me, that that Country abounds in every thing for Food. That they chiefly plant Indian-Corn. That he had travell'd from Palatzo or the Apalathean Mountains, to St. Augustin in the Spanish Dominions, and that the whole Country was level, most sandy and barren, except about five Miles extent near the Rivers, where it was planted with Indian-Corn, and some Wheat for the Priests. That the Fort of St. Augustin had Twenty four Guns in it, and that the Indians paid yearly to the Spaniards a piece of Eight a Head Tribute-Money. That in Carolina Pines and Walnuts were the commonest Trees, with some Oaks bearing Acorns, on which the Swine feed, as well as on some other wild Fruits abroad, and on Indian-Corn within. He said, Fevers and Agues were there common and mortal. That he had come through the Bahama Islands, and stretch'd it between Cuba and Hispaniola, and so came to Port-Royal. The Duke of Albemarle once shew'd me a very rich piece of Silver Oar which his Father had sent him from the Apalathean Mountains on the Confines of Carolina.
One from Tortuga and Petit-Guaves, told me that at this last place the French have about Thirty Inhabitants keeping always good Guard for fear of the Spaniards. They have no Sugar-Works, but Indico. Tobacco and Hides were their chief Commodities, the last they get by hunting; but that fresh wild Beef is scarce, for they must go a great way from their Habitations to find it, and that in Companies. That Petit-Guaves is in the middle way between the Isles de Vacas and Tortuga.