Their Language.
TheCaribbeeanswhich Converse with theEuropeans, speak two sorts of Languages, the oldest of which is smooth, acceptable, fluent, and for the most part spoke between the Lips. According to the several pronunciations one word hath divers significations: but the Mystery of their oldest Language they will discover to none. It is very observable, that theCaribbeeanMen speak several words, which though the Women understand, yet are never spoken by them: and also the antient People use several Sayings which the younger never mention, and the Youths such likewise as are never spoken by the Antient, which being spoken apart by each in the time of War, are understood by none but their Soldiers, that so their Designs may the better be kept secret. But their mix’d Language hath many of theEuropeanwords, especially of theSpanish, which they speak whensoe’re they converse with theEuropeans. Moreover, though theCaribbeeanson the least occasion laugh aloud, yet they are of a dull Spirit, stubborn, and nothing to be got out of them but by fair means.
Their Manners.
Their Employment is Hunting, Fishing, Tilling, Building of Houses, and the like. Theft is not known amongst them, so that no Man is suspicious of his Neighbor; wherefore they leave their Huts open both Night and Day. They are also seldom at Variance one with another, but generally Love sways amongst them; yet if a Quarrel doth happen, then the injur’d Person revenges himself to the heighth. Persons that profess Chastity are much honor’d amongst them; and here Youth bears great respect to Age.
Their Ignorance.
They are also very ignorant in natural Knowledge, insomuch that when the Moon is Eclips’d, they suppose that it is devour’d byMaboya; and wheresoe’re they smell any ill scent, they believe the Devil to be not far from thence. Gunpowder they suppose to be a Grain, and are very fearful of Fire-Arms: Thoughthey have many brave Salt-pits, yet they use no Salt, nor eat any Swines-flesh, though all those Islands abound in that sort of Animal, fearing that if they should eat the same, it would cause them to have little Eyes, which they account very homely, though it is a property generally incident to them; neither will they eat any Tortoise, because they would not be so gross as that Creature. Lastly, they know now no greater Number than they reckon on their Fingers and Toes, for what exceeds twenty is to them innumerable: They hold that good Spirits, whom they callAkamoue, residing in Heaven, never trouble themselves with Earthly Affairs.
Their Offerings consist inCassaveand the first of their Fruits, which are set at the end of their Huts in Vessels on small Tables, cover’d with Leaves or Rushes, without uttering any Prayers; for they never Pray but in publick in company of theBoyezor Priests, and that either for revenge against Injuries, or for recovery from Sickness, or that they may know the Events of War, or for Protection against theMaboya.
EachBoyehath his peculiar God, which, Singing with a conjuring Verse, he calls to him in the Night whilst he Smoaks a Pipe of Tobacco.
Their Fear of theMaboya.
Some have been of Opinion, that this Conceit of theMaboyaproceeds from the phlegmatick Nature of theCaribbeeans, who in their melancholy Dreams imagine themselves to be grievously beaten by the saidMaboya. But there are sufficient testimonies to prove, that theseHeathenshave often really suffer’d much by thisMaboya, often appearing to them in such horrid shapes, that the poorCaribbeeanswould sweat and quake at the sight thereof, and inflicting such sad Pinches and bloody Stripes all over their Bodies, that they liv’d in perpetual fear of this evil Spirit: and yet notwithstanding these cruel Sufferings, they shew’d no manner of Worship toMaboya, onely they believ’d that they had some ease, when they wore little Pictures about their Necks, made resembling the Shapes in whichMaboyaappear’d to them; but their best Remedy was to flye to theChristians.
Their Consultations about the Death of any Relation.
They believe theirBoyezable to resolve any Question they ask of them; particularly, when any one dies, the nearest ally’d to him asks theBoyethis Question,Who is the occasion of his Death?to which if theBoyenames any one, they never rest till they have dispatch’d him to the other World. Concerning their original brutish way of living, they give much credit to an ancient Fable, which is to this effect:
Fabulous Tradition.
The most antientCaribbeeans, living under no other Roof than the Canopy of Heaven, fed on nothing but what the Fields naturally produc’d, which salvage Life an old Man much beamoan’d; when a certain Deity clad in white Apparel descending down on the Earth, said,That he would have come sooner to have shew’n them the way of a civil Life, had they requested it before. Moreover, the Angel shew’d them a place along the Shore where there lay sharp-cutting Stones, with which he told them they might cut down Trees, and with the Timber build themselves Houses, and cover them with the Leaves of the Palm-Tree to keep out the Rain; which said, he broke his Staff into three pieces, which being Planted, soon after produc’d the RootManioe, which stamp’d and dry’d, made good Bread.
Their Opinion concerning the Soul.
TheCaribbeeanshave also a strange Opinion concerning the Soul, that is to say, That every one hath as many Souls as he hath Pulses, but the chiefest is the Heart it self, which after Death removes withJeheizi, (that is every ones peculiar God or Genius) to the Company of the other Deities, where they live after the same manner as here on Earth; wherefore those that are Persons of Quality give Charge at their Deaths, that their Servants may be kill’d and buried with them, that so they may serve them in the other World; That the other Souls, which are the Pulses,are of two sorts, whereof the first call’dMaboya’s, range through Woods and Wildernesses; and the other call’dThe Oumekous, reside along the Sea, and over-turn the Ships that Sail by; That the Souls of Heroes remove to pleasant and delightful Islands, where they are serv’d by theArovages; That Cowards at their Death go behind a high Mountain, where they become perpetual Slaves to theArovages.
So soon as they hear a clap of Thunder they run into their Huts, and place themselves on little Stools round the Fire, cover their Faces, and laying their Heads on their Knees, make a doleful noise, as supposing thatMaboyais exceedingly enrag’d against them.
Their manner of Dwelling.
Their Huts, for the most part built near Rivers and Streams, are of an oval fashion, their Roofs made of Palm-Tree Leaves or Sugar-Canes, the Walls nothing but Boughs set in the Ground and pleited together, and the Floor of sifted Earth or Sand, rammed in and kept very even and smooth; besides a Room wherein they Sleep and Entertain their Friends, they have also a Kitchin to dress their Meat, and a place to lay their Bowes, Arrows, Clubs, and the like, in; they use Mats in stead of Walls, to separate one Apartment from the other. Their Houshold-stuff is little; the richest of them have Hammocks in stead of Beds; the meaner sort use Sticks laid cross one another, and cover’d thick with the Leaves of theBanana-Tree, made fast at the four corners with Cords. HollowCalabashes, and Earthen Ware call’dCanaris, serve them for their Kitchin Utensils. In the littleCanaristhey prepare theirTumalis, orPepper-pottage, and in the biggest their LiquorOvicou.
Their Cleanliness may appear by this, that when they go to ease Nature, they make a Hole in the Ground with a Stick, and after they have done, stop it up again, burying their Excrement that it may not be seen.
Round about their Huts feed many Hens and Turkies, which they breed not so much for their own use, as to exchange for Iron.
They remove their Habitations very often, either out of fear of being haunted by the Ghost of some deceased Person, or to avoid some Smell which they find noisom and offensive, or because their Hut hath been set on fire by Lightning.
Their Houshold Affairs and Diet.
The Women are always employ’d to keep their Families in good order, to prepare Venison and Fish for the Mens Tables, to spin Cotton, Comb their Husbands, and paint them Red. The Men spend their time in the Wars, Hunting or Fishing. They have also learn’d of theEuropeansto burn Train-Oyl in Lamps in the Night, when as before they burnt Twigs of a gummy Shrub before mention’d, which for that reason theHollanderscall’dCandle-Wood. Each hath a little Stool, and a Table call’dMantoutou, on which he eats his Meat when he pleases, having no set-Meals. The broadBanana-Leaves serve them for Napkins and Table-clothes. Their chiefest Dainty is Crabs roasted in the Shell with the Juice of Lemmon andPyman. At great Feasts they dress their Meat with the Fat of their Enemies, being theArovages. Their usual Drink isMabby, made ofPotato’s, which refreshes, and is good against the Phlegm; also another Liquor call’dOkomade of steep’dCassadar, and is like Beer in taste, strength, and colour. They also by making an incision into the Palm-Trees, tap a Liquor from the same inCalabashes, like White-wine. They use little of the DrinkCouscou, because it swells the Body, notwithstanding it is pleasing to the Palate; But the Liquor which is most esteem’d amongst them, is the Wine made of the Sugar-Canes, which are squeez’d in Mills made for that purpose, and then boyl’d in great Kettles. During the dressing of their Meat (which being done leisurely, is sometimes half a day before it is ready), they Sing, and Dance to the Time, which one keeps with aCalabashfill’d full of little Stones, inwhich they believe the greatest happiness they shall enjoy in the other World consists: But theCaribbeeansnever Dance more antique than when they meet in theCarbet, which is a publick House of Entertainment; whether the Women carry a Drink made ofCassave, which makes Drunk as soon as Wine: The Men bring Fish and Hedge-hogs; all of them painted withRoucou, and adorn’d with Plumes of Feathers, commit all manner of Debaucheries. At other times they also keep Feast-days, which is either when they are preferr’d to some Office, or Place of Honor, or when they have defeated their Enemies, or when they mourn for the Death of one of their nearest Relations.
Their Beasts.
Their Boats, which they callPeriaquo’s, are made of single hollow Trees, full of Benches, and painted with several strange Shapes, and are able each to carry fifty or sixty Men.
Their Musical Instruments.
Their Musical Instruments in which they take most delight, are Drums, Strings of Silk-grass stretcht uponCalabashes, and Flutes made of the Bones of their Enemies.
Their watchfulness against Enemies.
Their Entertainment of Friends.
They keep Watches on high Hills, to descry the Ships off at Sea, and no sooner have they espy’d one, but they immediately give notice to one another; whereupon those that are most valiant put off to Sea in theirCanoosand know by the Languages to distinguish between aSpaniard,French-man,English-man andHollander. If they find that ’tis an Enemy who Lands on their Coasts, they guard all their Avenues, lie in Ambuscades, and gather together in by-ways, and where they see any advantage they shoot thousands of Arrows; which done, they fall in amongst them with great Clubs: but if they chance to be defeated, then they lurk behind Bramble-bushes, or climb up inaccessible Mountains, or else, if near the Sea, they save themselves by Diving and Swimming under Water above two hundred Paces before they appear again; and if a Party of them chance to meet together afterwards, they venture a second Engagement; But if those that come on their Coasts are Friends, they Swim, or go in their Boats to meet them, climb up their Ships, and carry the Sea-men on their Shoulders ashore, where theCasiquein the Name of the whole Island bids them welcome, and conducts them to theCarbet, where an antient Man salutes the old Men, and a Youth the young Men; after which asking their Names, theCoubancalls himself by that Name ever after; and desires the Strangers to accept of his Name; during which their changing of Names they use many Ceremonies of Friendship: this done, they proffer them Cotton Hammocks to rest themselves in, and pleasant Fruit to eat, till they have prepar’d other Meat; which is no sooner Ready, but a little Table is set before every one of them, and a Dish of Meat consisting of boyl’d Hedge-hogs, boyl’d Crabs, and Pot-herbs; which if the Guests do not eat heartily, or drink up all the Liquor which they give them, they take it as a great Affront; but if they eat and drink heartily, they take it kindly, and shew great sorrow at their departure.
Their Offices of Government have been usually three; the meanest belong’d to theTiouboulihauthe, whose Place was to Govern over theCarbet, a House where Strangers were Entertain’d, Matters of War disputed of, and publick Feasts kept.TiouboutontiCommanded theCanoosin the time of War, that is, under theNahalene, who Commanded the whole Fleet: But the chiefest Officer of all was theOuboutou; to which degree of Honor none attain’d, unless he had kill’d severalArovages, or at least a Governor.
When theCaribbeeansdrew all their Forces out of the Islands to a Battel, then they chose one out of theOuboutou, who during their March Commanded the Army as General, which his Office ended with the War, and extended no farther than his own Island.
Their warlike Consultations.
Their warlike Consultations were no less observable for theOuboutouappointed a Day, on which the Islanders met at a Feast in theCarbet, whither they accordingly came all at the time appointed, and having Eat and Drunk, and Danc’d a considerable time, an ancient Woman with tears in her Eyes, and mournful Countenance enter’d theCarbet, and desir’d Audience; which being granted her, and every one silent, she began to relate the Damages which from antient times theArovagesdid to theCaribbeeans; and that in the last Engagement so many valiant Men were slain, and afterwards devour’d by them; therefore it would be a shame not to take Revenge, which being seconded by theOuboutu, put Valor into the Hearts of all that were present: Whereupon the following day Messengers were sent to the other Islands to acquaint them with their Intentions, that they might prepare their Clubs, make sharp and poyson their Arrows, String their Bowes, prepare Provisions, and fit out theirCanoos: They poyson’d their Arrows with the Juice ofManchenillo’s, which made the least Wound mortal. Their Provisions and Arms they laid up in theirCanoos, so to preserve theirPeriaguo’s (which are Boats that can carry fifty Men), if they should chance to over-set, which often happen’d, though they were soon turn’d up again. They went from one Island to another, where they not onely stor’d themselves with fresh Provisions, but increas’d their Fleet with new Assistants; with which approaching the Main, they hal’d their Boats ashore in the Evening, and driving four Stakes into the Ground under the Trees, made fast their Hammocks to the same, in which they slept till Mid-night, and then fell on their Enemies, but if discover’d by them, they retreated to their Boats and return’d home; but if they were not discover’d, they fell upon the Huts of theArovages; who resisting, they shot Arrows with burning Cotton into them, and so setting them on fire, forc’d theArovagesto venture a Battel in the open Field; where having spent all their Arrows, they Engag’d one another with great Clubs, with which at one Blow they broke either Arms or Legs, or knock’d out their Brains. If theCaribbeeanschanc’d to be defeated, then those that remain’d of their Party made a lamentable noise, howling for those that were kill’d, and mix’d their Tears with the Blood of their slain Friends, whom not without the greatest danger they fetch’d from amongst their Enemies, and carried them aboard their Boats: But returning Victors, the were wont to insult over their Prisoners with all the bitter Taunts imaginable, and then taking advantage of those sharp Upbraidings which their cruel usage extorted from them, to put them to death with most inhumane Tortures, and then to Feast themselves upon their mangled Bodies, all claiming a Right to their several Prisoners, as to so many Beasts appointed to the Slaughter; But of late Ages they have contented themselves to dispatch them speedily with their Clubs, and so assign them to their Shambles.
Their Enmity to theSpaniard.
As theArovageshad been formerly, so theSpaniardsat length became the Object of theCaribbeeansirreconcileable Hatred, insomuch that oft-times being Invaded by them, they gave them such rough Entertainment, that they were glad to save themselves by flight; for theCaribbeeansnot regarding their Guns, press’d upon them, and many times took Vessels richly laden from them, till of late years that a Peace hath been concluded between them; wherein nevertheless those of theCaribbeeansrefuse to be concern’d, that inhabitSt. DominicoandSt. Vincent, who cannot to this day forget the cruel Outrages committed by theSpaniards.
Their Marriages.
To come to their Marriages, they were allow’d as many Wives as they pleas’d to have, insomuch that their Governors were in esteem according to the number of their Wives; nor were degrees of Consanguinity so regarded, but that an Uncle might take his Neece; whom he no sooner had carried to his House, but the Marriagewas finish’d. They seldom Divorc’d their Wives after they had bore them Children, but otherwise the Man would break the Bond of Matrimony when he pleas’d. A young Man that had no Relation might court a Stranger, and if her Parents allow’d of it, the Match was made. One that had behav’d himself valiantly against theArovageswas sure of several good Matches, for he was refus’d by none whom he Courted; and the abundance of Wives was the greatest testimony of their Valor. Each Wife had a peculiar Dwelling, so to prevent all Dissentions: So soon as one of them was with Child, her Husband Lay not with her till after Delivery. If any Woman committed Adultery, her Husband was permitted to knock out her Brains, or rip open her Belly; which done, he acquainted her Father with the Deed, who return’d him thanks for the same. Murderers were either burnt or cut in pieces. Children were born here with little trouble, for the Women were no sooner Deliver’d, but they carried the Infant to wash at the next Brook; which done they return’d home to their Houshold Labor, whilest the Man on the contrary kept his Bed, and ate nothing but a piece ofCassavaBread, which he hollow’d out in the middle, and left the edges till the Feast, which was kept at the Naming of the Child: Moreover, he fed on all manner of Dainties for a whole year after. But this Custom was observ’d onely at the Birth of the first Son, at which time they scratch’d the Father’s Shoulder with a sharp Curry-combe, at which if he flinch’d not, it was accounted a good Omen of the Childs future Valor. At fifteen days old they made Holes in the Childs Ears, Lips, and Nostrils, through which they put a String for the tying on of what-ever Ornamentals. With the like Ceremonies the Child receiv’d a Name, taken from his Predecessors, Trees, Fishes, or some remarkable Passages during the Mothers bearing of the Infant in her Womb, or of the Father’s Lying-in: But this Name was chang’d so soon as they went to War, or kill’d a Commander of theArovages, whose Name they exchang’d for their own: After which the Mothers took special care in bringing them up, and at six Moneths the Children were able to run alone: When they attain’d to the age of two years, they cut off their Hair, at a great Feast made for that purpose; from which time forward they exercis’d them in Shooting with Bowes and Arrows; to which purpose they hung up pieces of Meat for them to shoot at, which they must either hit down, or Fast.
Initiation of Soldiers.
Their Ceremonies to make Soldiers were very strange,viz.The Father conducted his Son to theCarbet, where he told him the Duties of a Soldier, beat him with a Bird of prey, call’dMans-fenis, till he had bruis’d the Head of the Bird, and scratch’d his whole Body all over with a Curry-combe till the Blood came, and then put Lemmon Juice into the Wounds, afterwards put him in a Hammock, and hung him up for several days without giving him any Meat; all which Torments and Trials if he endur’d with patience, then he was accounted a good and approved Soldier.
Of their Priests.
Few bred up their Children to beBoyezor Priests; yet those that were brought up to it, abstain’d from certain Food from their Infancy, and before they could be receiv’d into the Order of Priesthood, they were forc’d to draw Blood from every part of their Bodies.
Great age of theCaribbeeans.
TheCaribbeeansattain to an exceeding great Age:Charles de Rotchfortwitnesseth, That in his time there liv’d Men who remembred the first Arrival of theSpaniardsunder the Command ofChristopher Columbus, which consider’d, they could not be less than each of them a hundred and sixty years old. Many Women also were found there, who bare Children after they were eighty years of age: yet nevertheless they are not free from Sicknesses and Distempers, which cannot justly be attributed to theClimate, that being extraordinary healthful, but to their ill Diet. Besides the troublesom Disease call’dPyans, which makes their Bodies swell full of great Knobs, they have been much troubled with pestilential Sores, occasion’d by the eating of Crabs, and poysonous Tortoises,Lamantins, and Hedg-hogs. Against which Evils they wanted not Medicines, consisting of Herbs, Roots, Gums, and Oyl. The bitter Bark of theChipiou-Tree, steep’d in Water, and mix’d withLanbys, hath a soveraign operation. The like vertue is in the Juyce of theMyby-Tree, which they us’d to take inwardly: and for outward Means, they us’d a Salve made of burnt Cane-ashes, temper’d with a Water press’d out of a certain Tree. To draw the Matter out of the Sores, they us’d the Juice ofJunipa. Letting Blood was never customary amongst them, but to cut and scratch the sore part was to them in stead of Phlebotomy. But if all the fore-mention’d Medicines would not help them, they fled for aid to theBoyez, who immediately order’d the Hut wherein the Patient lay to be made clean, the Table call’dMatoutouto be over-spread withCassave,Ouycou, and Garden Fruits, for an Offering to the evil SpiritMaboya, and as many Stools to be plac’d about the same as there were People to be present at the Ceremony; and after that all the Fire and Candles were put out, theBoyeenter’d into the Hut about Midnight with a Lighted Roll of Tobacco, then muttering some words to himself, stamp’d with his left Foot, and blew the Smoak of the Tobacco up into the Air, which done, and tearing the Tobacco in pieces, he threw the same over the Hut, and call’d up his Spirit, who shaking the Roof of the House, made a terrible noise; then theBoyedrew near to the Patient, suck’d his Sores, and anointed them with the Juice ofJunipa; after which if the sick Person recover’d, he made a great Feast, and an Offering to the aforesaid Spirit: But if the Distemper were mortal, then theBoyeinform’d the Patient’s Relations, That his Spirit had compassion upon the Sick, and was resolv’d to carry him above the Stars, to accompany the other Gods which reside there.
Thus much in general of the Inhabitants of the Isles that lie beforeNorthern America; it will next be requisite to give you an Account of them in particular.
The number of theCaribbeeIslands.
Their several Names.
There are generally reckon’d of these Islands twenty eight by Name, though there are many more in number; for besides that there are a multitude of small obscure Islands that are not nam’d, there are of the more considerable sometimes two or three that go under one Name; the twenty eight are these following:Anegada,Sombrero,Las Virgines,Anguilla,Saba,St. Crux,St. Martin,St. Bartholomew,BarbouthosorBarboude,Rotonda,Nevis,Eustathius,Antego,Montserrat,Guadalupe,Deseado,Marigalanta,Todos Sanctos,De Aves,Dominico,Martinego,St. Lucia,Barbados,St. Vincent,Bekia,Granada,Tabago,St. Christopher.
Situation ofAnegadaandSombreros.
Towards the North-East ofPorto Rico, at eighteen Degrees and thirteen Minutes,TheMansfeny.liesAnegada, seven Leagues long, surrounded with Shoals andTheColibry.Banks, as also the neighboringSombrero, being in the same Latitude with the other, and so call’d by theSpaniard, because it appears like a Hat: Both of them being uninhabited, harbor abundance of Birds, amongst which is theMansfeny, a little Eagle, and the remarkableColibry, whose Body being a little bigger than aWren, is adorn’d with divers colour’d Feathers, resembling a Rain-bowe; about its Neck is a Carbuncle red Circle; the Belly and ends of the Feathers are of aGolden colour, the Sides of an Emerauld green, the Bill and Legs black like polish’d Ebony, the Eyes glittering like Diamonds, on the Head a curious green tuft of Feathers: the Cocks far exceed the Hens in beauty; they flie swifter than any Bird whatsoever, and the fluttering of their Wings makes a noise like a Whirlwind: they live upon the Juice of Flowers, and especially of Cotton-Flowers; they smell like Amber, and build their Nests amongst the thick Leaves of a little Bough, where they cannot easily be found; the Nest it self open towards the South, is curiously made of the fine Fibres of the PlantPite, surrounded with pieces of Bark, and within fill’d with Cotton, douny Feathers, and Silk; the Eggs oval, are somewhat bigger than an ordinary Pearl.
Painted Crabs.
In the Moneth ofMaythat sort of Crabs call’dPainted Crabs(for some have Violet-colour’d Shells, others yellow, full of purple Specks, and others tawny, with red Streaks) come creeping down the Hills in good order, eat up all the Herbs and Plants, and go four times one after another into the Water to wash themselves, which done they return to the Woods; but the Females at a set-time betake themselves to the Sea, in which they Lay their Eggs, which afterwards being cast on the sandy Shore, and warm’d by the Beams of the Sun, produce young Crabs in a short time, which no sooner come out of the Shell, but creep towards the Woods, when grown somewhat bigger they climb up the Rocks, where the old ones keep in vast multitudes, and stop up the Entrance of their Holes in such a manner, that they cannot be found out, whilest they cast off their Shell, creeping out backward through an opening at the Tail scarce discernable; thus for a certain time they lie bare, and stript of their Shells, being onely cover’d with a thin Skin, which growing harder and harder, becomes at last a firm Shell like the former.
These Crabs are a wholsom Meat, unless they feed under theMancheneel-Trees, which commonly are poysonous.
Situation ofLas Virgines.
NearSombrero, at eighteen Degrees, lie also the two IslesLas Virgines, surrounded by ten others (and flat Shelves), without Trees or fresh Water; but the Sea thereabouts abounds with Fish, and chiefly with thePerroket, which hath Scales like a Carp, but greenish; the Eyes surrounded with Silver Circles shine very bright; in stead of Teeth they have strong Jaw-bones, wherewith they Grind all manner of Shell-fish, which are their Prey. These Fish have an excellent Rellish, and weigh generally twenty Pound.
The FishDorade.
Here is likewise great plenty of theDorade, which is a very large Fish, and about five Foot long, full of little Scales, with a prickly Back, two Fins at the parting of the Head, and as many under the Belly. This Fish swimming very swift, oftentimes follows the Ships that Sail that way.
Situation ofAnguilla.
Southward at eighteen Degrees and twenty Minutes, on this side of the Line, appearsAnguilla, inhabited by theEnglish, containing ten Leagues in length; It makes a pleasant Prospect, because of the manyJunipa-Trees which growupon the same, whose Boughs bend towards the Ground; the Leaves are not unlike those of an Oak; the Flowers both in smell and shape come near theNarcissus; the Wood firm and grey, may be neatly Plan’d; the Tree bears fresh Leaves every Moneth, and a Fruit like Apples, which generally crack in their fall from the Tree, because of their thin Shell, as hath been already describ’d.
Oculiema sort of Vine
TheOculiem, or Vine, makes the Shore also very pleasant; the Leaf round and thick, hath a mixture of Red and Green; the Bark incloseth a Violet-colour’d Wood; the Boughs whereof are loaded with Violet Grapes, which in stead of Kernels contain hard Stones.
Situation ofSaba.
Westward fromAnguilla, at seventeen Degrees and thirty five Minutes, liesSaba, which shews at a great distance like a Rock. The Inhabitants ofSt. Eustathiusgoing thither, found a pleasant Valley, able to maintain many Families.
The Sea about this Island is so clear, that a Stone may be seen lying on the bottom of it.
The FishBonito.
Amongst many other sorts of Fish, theBonitois the most remarkable, which is thick and fleshy, two Foot long, with a dark green Back, and white Belly without Scales; It devours greedily all manner of Carrion.
Situation and first Plantation ofSt. Crux.
North ofSt. Christophers, in eighteen Degrees and some Minutes, liesSt. Crux, which theCaribbeeanswho were beaten by theApalachites, first inhabiting, call’dAyay, whereColumbusfound great opposition, for the Women themselves shot poysonous Arrows at theSpaniards; and before the Islanders submitted to them, they took manySpanishShips, burnt their Villages, and flay’d many of theSpaniardsalive. The Soil, though Hilly, is rich and fruitful.
TheEnglishLanding hereAnno 1587.found a standing Pool, whose Water made swell the Faces of those who wash’d themselves with the same before Sun-rising, in such a manner, that they were not able to see for several days after; but they at last found a Fountain of wholsom Water.
The several Changes of Dominion in this Island.
Since theSpaniardsdestroy’d the Inhabitants of this Island, it lay desolate for a considerable time, notwithstanding it hath fourteen Leagues in length, and little less in breadth, till at last theEnglishandHollanderstook possession of the same, each in a peculiar place; but not agreeing together, theEnglishfell upon theHollanders, and made themselves Masters of the Island in 1649. and not long after they were serv’d in the same kind; for theSpaniardjudging them to be weakned by theHollandersremoving from the Island, set Sail thither fromPorto Rico, burnt all the Houses, slew the Inhabitants, and broughtSt. Cruxagain under theSpanishGovernment. Mean while the LordPoincyfitted out two Sail ofFrenchShips, to drive theSpaniardsfromSt. Crux, and succeeded in his Enterprize; for theSpaniardsimmediately fled to their Ships, left at liberty someHollandPrisoners whom they had taken, and the Island in possession of theFrench; who straightway sent CaptainAugerthither as Governor, who design’d to build a Fort to secure the Harbor, but died before the same was finish’d.Poincysucceeding him, made an end of the Fort, and stor’d the Island with Ammunition and Provision. The Cross-Church built there by the Order, and at the Cost of a Company ofFlushinginHolland, was deliver’d also to theFrench.
DE STADT ST. Martin
Fruit-Trees.
The Trees which grow here are of four beneficial kinds, serving for four several uses; some yield Fruits of a pleasant taste, and wholsom to eat; some excellent Medicines; others Timber for Building; and others Stuff to Dye with.
Granates, Oranges, Lemmons, and Citrons, grow better here than in any place of the World.
ThePapaye.
But thePapaye-Tree is particularly worthy of our Description; It grows twenty Foot high, without Boughs, thick and streight, hollow and spungy within, bears three-corner’d Leaves hanging on long Stalks, hollow in the middle, and of a Fingers thickness; on the top round about the Body of the Tree, grow a sort of Fruit like Quinces.
This sort ofPapaye-Tree grows on most of theCaribbee Islands; but the second sort call’dMamoa, is to be found no where but onSt. Crux; it hath more Leaves than the first, and a yellow Bark with green Streaks, within full of round and sharp biting Grains; the Blossoms thereof yield a sweet smell; every Moneth the Tree produces new Fruit, not unlike a Womans Breast (whence it hath its Denomination as before observ’d,) and rellishing incomparably well.
Situation ofSt. Martin.
Not far fromSt. Crux, at eighteen Degrees and sixteen Minutes, liesSt. Martin, which hath seven Leagues in length and five in breadth, and is famous for many excellent Salt-Mines; to preserve which, theSpaniardsbuilt a City and Fort there.
TheDutchLand there.
Adrian PeterandMartyn Thyszoon, sent with eleven Sail of Ships from theTexelby theWest-IndiaCompany, to Cruse for theSpanishPlate-Fleet before theFlemmishIsles, finding their labor lost, Steer’d to the Inlet ofTodos los Sanctos; where finding no Enemies Ships, they Sail’d along the Coast ofPernambuck, and from thence (meeting with no Prize) to theCaribbee Islands; and Landing onGranada, receiv’d some damage from the Inhabitants: thence going toBlanca, they got above a thousand Goats, and ten thousand Lemmons fromHispaniola; nearCubathey were surpris’d with continual Thunder, Showers, and Storms, which forc’d them to stand to and again off the Island a considerable time, where they thought to wait for theSpanishShips that came fromNombre de Dios; but being defeated of their aim, by reason that Fleet was re-inforc’d with a considerable Supply, they set SailAnno 1629. towards the City and Fort ofSt. Martin, where coming to an Anchor they found the Place in this condition: On the right side of the City glides a fresh-Water River, with many meandring Streams from the Mountains; on the left side the Ocean makes a great Opening or Bay, which for a little space growing narrower, becomes at last an Inland Lake; from the Countrey opposite to the City on the other side of the fore-mention’d Inlet, runs a Ridge of Hills toward the Sea; on the utmost Point thereof stands a square Fort, defended from the force of the Water with great Stones, pyl’d up at the Foot thereof, cover’d like a House, having on the top of it a Watch-tower, and not far from it a Chappel; moreover, the MountainCalvaria, rises on each side and behind the City, with high Precipices; not far from the Mouth of the River appears a strong Castle with several Bulwarks, and thereon great Guns; along the Inlet is a fair Market-place; in the middle of the City stands a Church Consecrated toDominicus, near which there is a large Hospital, which fronts the Sea; the Cathedral stands at the farther end of the City, and on the declivity of a Mountain a fair Chappel; near the great Fort the Governor hath a pretty Palace; nor are theFranciscanCloysters much inferior to any of the other Structures of this City, which taken altogether bears a good Form, by reason of the uniformity of the Streets.
The Island possess’d by theDutch.
ButAnno 1648.theSpaniardtotally deserted this Island, whichMichael Adriaenszoon Ruiterhearing of, brought several People fromSt. Eustathius, and took possession of it in the Name of theStatesof theUnited Netherlands: Yet they enjoy’d not long the entire Propriety, for theSpaniardsagain went and claim’d those Places which were theirs upon the first gaining of the Island; which theHollandersallowing them, they liv’d peaceably and quietly together, each having their own Churches, Store-houses, Land, andNegro’s. TheDutchPlantation was maintain’d by theZealandLords,LamsenandVan Ree.
There are divers Pools of salt Water in this Island, which afford the Inhabitants store of Fish, and especially Tortoises.
The Woods produce wild Hogs, Pigeons, Turtle-Doves, and Parraquito’s resembling a Parrot, and which though much smaller, are more apt to be taught.
Flammans.
Near the Salt-pools also breed Birds call’dFlammans, not unlike a Jack-daw, onely differing in Feathers, for they are first white, next ash-colour’d, and at last turn red; they seldom flye or sit alone, but for the most part in great Flocks in open places, and Moorish Grounds; when some of them seek for their Food under Water, one of them stands Centinel, and on the least noise or appearance of a Man, gives notice by Chirping to the rest, who hereupon immediately flee away; those that shoot them lie commonly hid under an Ox Hide.
AmericanSwallows.
About the same Pools breed likewise theAmericanSwallows, with crooked Bills, Feet like Ducks, black Bodies, white Bellies, and long Tails.
Sect. VIII.St. Bartholomew.
Situation and Description ofSt. Bartholomew.
NearSt. Martin, at sixteen Degrees, lies the IslandSt. Bartholomew, which being about five Leagues in circumference, is surrounded with Rocks, and was first Planted byDe Poincy: It makes a delightful Prospect, because of the many Trees which grow on the same; amongst which the most noted are Soap-Trees, whose Wood makes the Water Lather, and washes as well as Soap; but they are of two sorts, for in some this soapy Quality is contain’d in a round yellow Fruit, not unlike a Plumb; in others a white soft Root supplies the office.
TheCanopia-Tree.
The little TreeCanopia, out of whose Bark drops a Gum, grows also very pleasant, the Body being divided into several Branches; the Leaves are discolour’d, being underneath of a dark Green, and of a brighter at the top; the Flower consists of five Leaves, and closes at last into a kind of Cherry, full of yellow Juice, and white Pulp; it blossoms generally inOctoberandDecember, and bears ripe Berries the two following Moneths: a Fire being made about the Tree causeth the Bark to crack, whereby it yields abundance of Gum, chiefly us’d in Medicine for its opening and loosening Quality.
TheParetuve-Tree.
Likewise theParetuve-Tree, which grows along by the Sea-side and by Pools, is sufficiently remarkable, for the Boughs thereof grow downwards, twin’d and pleited together so thick, that in time of War they serve for Bulwarks, and are the Recesses of wild Swine.
TheCalabash-Tree.
Moreover, on this Island, as on all the other hereabouts, growCalabash-Trees, which have thick Boughs and oval Leaves joyn’d one to another, and bear every Moneth fresh Flowers and Fruit, grey Flowers, mark’d with green Streaks and black Spots, and Fruit with hard Shells, full of juicy Meat and flat Seeds, which being taken out serve for Boxes, Cups, or little Dishes.
Sea-Star.
Along the Shore is also found a sort of Fish call’d theSea-Star, which is a yellowish Fish, whose hard Skin full of little Knobs shoot forth five Darts or Beams; in stormy Weather they fasten themselves to the Rocks.
Sea-Apple.
No less wonderful is the Fish call’d theSea-Apple, whose brown Skin is full of Prickles, which when the Fish dies fall off, nothing remaining but a white Shell, curiously embroider’d with little Holes.
On the Banks, and near the Rocks, grow also Sea-Trees, whose thickest Boughs putting forth still lesser and lesser Branches, are pleited together very wonderfully, and being all glaz’d as it were with Salt-petre, seem greyish.
Situation ofBarbouthos.
Barbouthos, which some callBarboude, othersBarbada, being five Leagues in length, lies at seventeen Degrees and thirty Minutes, and North-East fromMonserrat, in a shallow Sea.