Sloane, Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica (1707)

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Excerpted below: Preface, pp. 1-8; Introduction, pp. i-vi, xiv-xx, xxv-xxvii, lv-lviii, cxli-cxlii

THE PREFACE.

IT is now Eighteen Years since I went Physician to the Duke of Albemarle to Jamaica. I had from my Youth been very much pleas’d with the Study of Plants, and other Parts of Nature, and had seen most of those kinds of Curiosities, which were to be found either in the Fields, or in the Gardens or Cabinets of the Curious in these Parts. The Accounts of these strange Things, which I met with in Collections, and, was inform’d, were common in the West-Indies, were not so satisfactory as I desired. I was Young, and could not be so easy, if I had not the pleasure to see what I had heard so much of, especially since it had been a great contentment to me, to see many things cultivated in English Gardens which I had seen grow wild in other Countries, whereof I conceived my self afterwards to be better appris’d, than I was of such as I had not seen common in the Fields, and in plenty. I thought by that means the Ideas of them would be better imprinted in my Mind, and that, upon occasion, both the knowledge of them and their Uses might be afterwards more familiar to me. These Inclinations remain’d with me some time after I had settled my self to practise Physic in London, and had had the Honour to be admitted a Fellow of the College of Physicians, as well as of the Royal Society. These unmerited Favours did not at all alter my mind, but rather incited me to do what I could to be no useless Member, but to cast in my Mite towards the Advancement of Natural Knowledge, and the Faculty of Physic, and by that means endeavour to deserve a Place amongst so many Great and Worthy Persons: This Voyage seem’d likewise to promise to be useful to me, as a Physician; many of the Antient and best Physicians having travell’d to the Places whence their Drugs were brought, to inform themselves concerning them.

His Grace the Duke of Albemarle having obtain’d the supreme Command of the Island of Jamaica, and other Parts of English-America, where he should arrive, employ’d Dr. Barwick, who was his Physician, to look out for one who could take care of Him and his Family in case of Sickness; Dr. Barwick spake to me in this matter, enquiring if any Physician of my Acquaintance would undertake it. This seem’d to me to be such an Opportunity as I my self wanted, to view the Places and Things I design’d, and at the same time to prosecute the Practice of Physic; wherefore I desir’d he would give me time to think of it, and after due consideration I resolv’d to go, provided some Preliminaries and Conditions were agreed to, which were all granted.

I intended so soon as on board to have made several Experiments and Observations in the Voyage, but was prevented by a very long and tedious Sea-Sickness, unless in some particulars, of which I have given an Account in the ensuing Voyage. His Grace the Duke of Albemarl’s Commission and Instructions requiring he should muster all the Forces of the English-Caribe-Islands, in his way to Jamaica, made him stop some days at most of them, which gave me an opportunity of spending some time in looking after the Curiosities of those Places, which are taken Notice of in the Voyage thither. I have left out most of whatever is related by any Author I had perused, unless they mention of the Uses of Plants, or such particulars wherein I thought they were mistaken.

Upon my Arrival in Jamaica, I took what pains I could at leisure-Hours from the Business of my Profession, to search the several Places I could think afforded Natural Productions, and immediately described them in a Journal, measuring their several Parts by my Thumb, which, with a little allowance, I reckoned an Inch. I thought it needless to be more exact, because the Leaves of Vegetables of the same sorts, Wings of Birds, &c. do vary more from one another, than that does from the exact measure of an Inch; As to Colours, ’tis certain they are very hard to describe: There are so many Varieties of them, that they require new Names to express them. I observed in describing them, that the Leaves of most, if not all, Plants are Greenest on their uppermost sides, or that exposed to the Sun-Beams; and Lighter and more Whitish underneath. This is not only so in Jamaica, but in all places where I have been; when the Leaves or Tops of Plants have not been exposed to the Light and Sun, they are not only whiter, but tenderer, and often digestible by our Stomachs. This appears by the Tops of the Palm [in Jamaica and the West-Indies] call’d Cabbage-Trees the Germen, Sprout, Top, Bud or unexpanded Leaves of which, are boil’d, and eat like our Cabbage, or pickl’d. The tops of the Chamaeriphe or Dwarf-Palm (of the Leaves of which are made Brooms) are likewise eaten in Spain and Italy. Thus Hops, White-Briony, Smilax aspera, Sparagus, just sprouting, common Cabbage naturally, Seleri, Lettuce, Fennel, Chardons and several Herbs, are render’d White and tender by only being cover’d with Earth from the Sun and Light. I have seen a common Bramble whose Twigs accidentally grew through the chink of a Window into a dark Room, which, because not exposed to the Light or Sun, were white and tender. ‘Tis not only so, as I believe, in Greens, but also in other Colours which are heightned by the Sun: for the great variety of Colours observ’d in Tulips, at first sprouting out are all whitish, then greenish, and when the Sun and Light has farther acted upon them, they arrive at that variety we observe in them with pleasure. This I take notice of, because the same Plants I describe, may have in European Gardens different Colours, from what they are in their native Soil, and a warmer Sun.

After I had gather’d and describ’d the Plants, I dried as fair Samples of them as I could, to bring over with me. When I met with Fruits that could not be dried or kept, I employ’d the Reverend Mr. Moore, one of the best Designers I could meet with there, to take the Figures of them, as also of the Fishes, Birds, Insects, &c. in Crayons, and carried him with me into several places of the Country, that he might take them on the place. When I return’d into England, I brought with me about 800 Plants, most whereof were New, with the Designs before-mention’d, &c. And shew’d them very freely to all lovers of such Curiosities: I gave my very particular and intimate Friend Mr. Courten whatever I brought with me, that he wanted in his extraordinary Museum. Amongst other Persons who saw them, was Sir Arthur Rawdon, who observing the great variety of Plants I had brought with me, sent over Mr. James Harlow, a Gardener, (who had formerly gone to Virginia for Mr. Watts) to bring the Plants themselves alive to him, for his Garden at Moyra in Ireland. This Mr. Harlow perform’d, and there they grew and came many of them to great perfection. He not only brought over with him a Ship almost laden with Cases of Trees, and Herbs, planted and growing in Earth, but also a great number of Samples of them very well preserv’d in Paper; and knowing that he that went over on purpose, might meet with some things I had not observ’d, and seen others in different Seasons from me, I wrote to Sir Arthur Rawdon and my very learned Friend Dr. William Sherard, who then was with him, to desire the favour of them, that in order to the perfecting my Account of Jamaica, I might have a sight of what of that kind he brought over with him. This Sir Arthur Rawdon and Dr. Sherard not only granted, but also made me a Present of such Samples as had been brought over which I wanted. The Reader will find these taken notice of, in several Places of this History. After I had perused them, they were, together with abundance of other rare Plants, by Dr. Sherard’s Direction sent to Oxford, where Mr. Jacob Bobart has made very good use of them in the History of Plants he lately publish’d there; and left there might from dry Samples, come any Confusion in Natural History, Dr. Sherard afterwards at my Request gave me the View of such Plants as Mr. Bobart had describ’d, which has enabled me to put the Synonymous Names of the aforesaid History of Plants, publish’d by Mr. Bobart, which the Reader will likewise find taken notice of in their due places. These were not the only Favours I had of Dr. Sherard; for he furnished me with many scarce Books he bought in his Travels beyond Sea.

Many Persons were desirous I should publish an Account of what I met with towards the forwarding Natural History, I consented to this, provided the Observations I had made, should be thought worthy of Publication. I thought the greatest Judge I could advise with, in these Circumstances, was Mr. Ray, who for his Probity, Learning, Language, &c. seem’d to me the properest to advise with: I therefore waited on him shew’d him some of the Plants, and transmitted to him my Observations on them. I desired him to correct them and add his Emendations. He was pleased to approve of them, and think much better of them than I my self did, or do; so that the Emendations I expected, are wanting. I am afraid his Kindness, and favourable Opinion of me, may be the cause; for I am sensible there are herein a great many faults, not only in Hypotheses or Opinions, which I propose only as Conjectures, and shall easily part with; but there are likewise many imperfections in the Language, and in the Observations themselves, which were generally written in haste, and by me, who know too well how unduly qualified I am for such an Undertaking. However, such as they were, when I was resolv’d to publish them, I thought it necessary to look into the Books in several Languages, which treated of those Subjects either designedly or accidentally. Some Men seem to have a great desire to be the first Authors of discovering such or such Plants, and to have them carry their Names in the first Place, but I endeavour’d rather to find if any thing I had observ’d was taken Notice of by other Persons; I therefore look’d into most Books of this Nature, and the greatest part of what I found, is publish’d in the Catalogue of Jamaica Plants I printed about ten Years since, wherein I endeavour’d to do right to the first Authors and the Publick; It is a Catalogue of the Plants I met with at Jamaica, &c. Which I think, for Synonymous Names of the Plants therein mentioned, is somewhat more Copious and exact than any other before it: And which may be of some Use to inquisitive Persons, especially when they shall have this History of the things therein contain’d. I have not reprinted in this Book those Names or Titles, because ’twas great Labour, and is done there already, but have only added the Synonymous Names I found in such Books as are since Publish’d or come to my Hands. The looking after the Observations of Others, to make this more Exact and Useful, has given an Opportunity to several People to anticipate me, by either Publishing such Things as I have shewn them, told them, or communicated to Mr. Courten, from whom they had them; wherein they have committed some Mistakes, for want of full Information or exact Memory.

I have been sometimes short, in giving the Uses of these Plants, but I hope I may be understood, and the Author whose Name is set down (Abbreviated,) may on any Ambiguous or Obscure Passage by consulted, for those Notes were written to bring to my Mind what they said, to be perused at leisure, and modell’d after, which I have never yet had time to do. The principal Design of them was, that the Inhabitants of those Places, might understand what Uses the Plants they have growing Sponte orin Gardens with them, are put to in any of the Countries wherever they grow, that so they may have recourse to them in Cases that require them. It is very hard to carry thither such European Simples as are proper for the Cure of all sorts of Diseases, and People are put to it to find such as are effectual in some of them, and yet will keep their Vertues. This puzzl’d me several times, as may be seen in the following Medical Observations.

The first Volume contains an Introduction, giving an Account of the Situation, Temperature, Diseases, &c. of the Island, which seem’d necessary to be premis’d to the History itself. After this, follows the Voyage thither, and then the History of the Plants that grow there, in which I have followed mostly the Method of Mr. Ray in his History of Plants, joining his Genera or Tribes together by the Method of Rivinus, or Number of the Petala or Leaves of the Flowers; As those which are Monopetalous first, those Dipetalous next, then the Tripetalous, Tetrapetalous, Pentapetalous, Hexapetalous, and such as have no exact Numbers of Coloured Leaves in their Flowers. When this History was begun, and near finished, I wanted many considerable helps, the Method of the great Botanist Dr. Tournefort was not printed, much less the Book of new Kinds of West-Indian Plants, lately published by Mons. Plumier, who, since my Return from the West-Indies, went into the Caribe-Islands, and there observ’d and design’d himself many of the Plants very accurately. He has engrav’d them himself, and printed a Book, which consists chiefly of Ferns; And has sav’d me a great deal of Trouble, finding his Figures so Good, that I did not judge it necessary the same Plants should be engraven again, but be only referr’d to, in my History.

In the Second are contained the Trees, the Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, Testaceous and Crustaceous Animals, and Insects, &c.

It may be ask’d me to what Purposes serve such Accounts, I answer, that the Knowledge of Natural-History, being Observation of Matters of Fact, is more certain than most Others, and in my slender Opinion, less subject to Mistakes than Reasonings, Hypotheses, and Deductions are; And on this Occasion I have heard it reported of Gabriel Naude, That he used to say he Acquiesc’d in the Ecclesiastical History, Doubted the Civil, and Believ’d the Natural. These are things we are sure of, so far as our Senses are not fallible; and which, in probability, have been ever since the Creation, and will remain to the End of the World, in the same Condition we now find them: They afford great Matter of Admiring the Power, Wisdom and Providence of Almighty God, in Creating, and Preserving the things he has created. There appears so much Contrivance, in the variety of Beings, preserv’d from the beginning of the World, that the more any Man searches, the more he will admire; And conclude them, very ignorant in the History of Nature, who say, they were the Productions of Chance.

Another Use of this History may be, to teach the Inhabitants of the Parts where these Plants grow, their several Uses, which I have endeavour’d to do, by the best Informations I could get from Books, and the Inhabitants, either Europeans, Indians or Blacks. Jamaica had been, before it was taken by the English, in the possession of the Spaniards, almost from the time the West-Indies were discover’d: They had brought many Fruit-Trees from the Main-Continent, where they are Masters, and suffer no other Europeans to come; which throve wonderfully, and now grow as it were Sponte: These they made use of for Food, Physic, &c. And were forc’d to leave with their Habitations, to the English, and the Skill of Using them remain’d with the Blacks and Indians, many of whom came, upon a Proclamation that they should be Free, submitted peaceably, and liv’d with the English after the Spaniards had deserted it. They were among these, several which made small Plantations of their own, wherein they took care to preserve and propagate such Vegetables as grew in their own Countries, to use them as they saw occasion: I made search after these, and what I found, is related in this History. Besides these Helps, some of the Dutch who had liv’d in Brasil, came hither, and others of the Dutch and English from Surinam, where they had observ’d the Effects of some Plants they met with in Jamaica, and used them for the same Purposes they had done in Brasil and Surinam, towards the Relief of the Inhabitants. For this Reason the Reader will find herein, many of the Vertues of Plants to agree with the Observations of Authors, writing of other Parts of the West-Indies.

There is another Use to be made of this Book, which is this; In reading Voyages, and talking with Travellers to the West-Indies, &c. one shall meet with Words, and Names of Things, one has no Notion or Conception of: by looking for such Names in the Index of the Catalogue of Jamaica Plants, you are referr’d to the Page where you find a List of such as have treated of it: And in this History under the first Title of it in the Catalogue, is the History of it. If on the other hand, any Person desires to know who has written of such or such a Plant in Jamaica, let him look into the Catalogue, and under the first Title of the Plant, he will find Citations to direct him to the Pages of most of the Books wherein it is spoken of.

Another Advantage, the Knowledge of what is produced there naturally brings, is a Consideration of the Causes of some very strange, but certain, Matters of Fact. It has puzzl’d the Philosophers of all Ages, to give an Account how Parts of Vegetables and Animals, Real Sea-Shells and Substances should be found remote from the Seas, wherein they seem to have been produced and bred. This Phaenomenon will appear stranger, when it is made out, that many of the Substances, as for instance, Corals, Echini marini, the Palats and Tongues of Fishes hereafter described, and which now live and breed in the Seas, adjoining to Jamaica, and no nearer than some few Degrees on this side, are found in as great plenty in the Inland Parts of England imbedded in the Earth, Clay, Sand, Chalk, or Stone, as if it had once been the natural Place of their Production and Increase. This I was very much surpris’d to find.

These matters of Fact being certainly laid down, may perhaps afford some Hints for the more clear Reasonings and Deductions of better Heads; And I know not but that the several Species of new Ferns, and some Plants by me found there, and here describ’d and figur’d, may be discover’d upon some of the Stones or Slates called Werk, which lie in plenty in the Strata over the Cole-pits in many Places of England. These Plants and their Impressions are of several Kinds, and many of them are not to be reduced to the Ferns or Plants, found in England or the adjoining Countries. His Grace the Duke of Beaufort has done me the honour to give me some of these Slates he had in Gloucestershire; Dr. Richardson from Yorkshire has communicated several of them to me; as has also Mr. Beaumont from Somersetshire.

…

THE INTRODUCTION.

[pp. i-vi]

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 any where else. This Map, and this Proposal were not regarded, and ’tis a common Tradition, that instead of discovering the West-Indies, there was bought at Antwerp, a Suit of fine Tapistry Hangings, with the 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 of 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 the 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 this Day are gilded) Spices and other very rich Commodities in great plenty. He was oppos’d in this Project by learned Men, and with Difficulty was at least believ’d by Isabella, then Queen to Ferdinand King of Spain, who being influenced by her Confessor, Luigi di S. Angelo, in favour of this Project, pawn’d her Jewels to equip Columbus, who 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 [in] the Sea, and at last Saint Salvador or Guanahani, 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 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, tells 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. Dodonaeus, 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, who liv’d in 1270. Valescus de Tarenta, 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 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, 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 Gold 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 Caunapo, a Cacique, had killed most of them, and come and burnt their Fort, whereby the remainder flying had been drown’d, and were perished.

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 Canaries and Madera before their being clear’d of Trees.

When Columbus, in 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 come 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 them he 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 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 was there present with his Father. 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 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 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 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. 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, had no Money and only fifty Persons in one Town, but they had 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. Notwithstanding this it 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. 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; but soon obtained again its first name, which it retain’d 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 of Caribes, had the same name with this 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 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 bout 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 sail of getting plenty of Turtle or Tortoises, to furnish the inferior sort of people with good Food, at an easie and moderate price.

…

[pp. xiv-xx]

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 to 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 is 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 placed 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 Island. 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 Juking. 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 forfeeding 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 poorest 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 eight, 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 vitualling 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 scarcing, the powder is put into a Bag, and its juice squeez’d out, the ends of the Roots are kept for other uses. The scarc’d and dry Farina, is spread in the Sun to dry further, then put on Gridiron set on Coals, and there bak’d as Oat-Cakes are in Scotland. ‘Tis is 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 Faeculae 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 Scarabaes, if long kept.

Chocolate is here us’d by all People, at all times, but 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 is 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.

Beesides 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 here very delicious Victuals. Snakes or Serpents and Cossi (a sort of Worms) are eaten by the Indians and Negros.

…

[pp. xxv-xxvii]

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 Colocassia, &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 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 tells 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 quaedam, omnes tamen fere: idque aves cavi corticis sono experiuntur. Iam quidem & in hoc luxuria esse coepit: praegrandesque roborum delicatiores sunt in cibo: cossos vocant, atque etiam farina saginati hi quoque altiles fiunt. I cannot find any mention made of them in Apicius de re culinaria: but Ludovicus Caelius 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 Aelian de Animalibus, in the 14. Book, Chap. 13. p. 817. has to this purpose this passage. Inter caetera animalium naturae propria hoc quoque non omiferim. Indorum rex secundis mensis & bellariis non iisdem delectatur quibus Graeci, qui palmarum pumilarum 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 … comedisse luxuria est.

Aristotle does extremely extol young soft Cicadae, 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.

Athenaeus speaks of a Marriage Dinner, where one of the greatest Dishes were Cicadae salted and dried.

As for Locusts or Grasshoppers, ’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 (His. 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. Cicadae, of which before, grillos Crickets, & langostas de las que destruyen los panes secas y Salados, Locusts or Grasshoppers.

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.

…

[pp. lv-lviii]

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 venomous 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 Vitae, 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-Nutts, 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 there 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 Creolians, is as in England, and the same proportion of Dissenters are there as in England.

The Indians and Negros 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 believed 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 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 distinguish’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.

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[pp. cxli-cxlii]

One Hercules, a lusty Black Negro Overseer, and Doctor, was not only famous amongst the Blacks in his Master Colonel Fuller’s Plantation, but amongst the Whites in the Neighborhood, for curing several Diseases, and particularly Gonorrhoeas. He had been three years before troubled with that Distemper, which he thought by the Country Simples he had cur’d, but came to me, complaining of a very great heat in making water with intolerable pain, and scalding. Looking upon the part affected, I found he had neglected his Clap, and that Caruncles had grown up and stopt almost quite the passage of Urin or Urethra, wherefore Nature had by a Tumour and Apostemation made a passage for the Urin in Perinaeo. This passage had callous Lips. I order’d him some Mercurial Medicines, and would have try’d several other Remedies for his Cure, had I not soon after left the Island. There are many such Indian and Black Doctors, who pretend, and are supposed to understand, and cure several Distempers, but by what I could see by their practice, (which because of the great effects of the Jesuits Bark, found out by them, I look’d into as much as I could) they do not perform what they pretend, unless in the vertues of some few Simples. Their ignorance of Anatomy, Diseases, Method, &c. renders even that knowledge of Herbs, not only useless, but even sometimes hurtful to those who imploy them.

Emanuel, a lusty Negro Footman, was ordered over night to get himself ready against next morning to be a Guide on Foot for about an hundred Miles through Woods, to a place of the Island, to seize Pirats, who, as the Duke of Albemarle was informed, had there unladed great quantities of Silver, to Careen their Ship. About Twelve a Clock in the night he pretended himself to be extraordinary sick, he lay straight along, would not speak, and dissembled himself in a great Agony, by groaning, &c. His Pulse beat well, neither had he any foaming at Mouth, or difficulty in breathing. The Europeans who stood by thought him dead, Blacks thought him bewitch’d, and others were of opinion that he was poyson’d. I examin’d matters as nicely as I could, concluded that this was a new strange Disease, such as I had never seen, or was not mention’d by any Author I had read, or that he Counterfeited it. Being confirm’d that it was this latter, and that he could speak very well if he pleas’d, to frighten him out of it, I told the Standers by, that in such a desperate condition as this ’twas usual to apply a Frying-Pan with burning Coals to the crown of the Head, in order to awake them throughly, and to draw from the Head, and that it was likewise an ordinary method to put Candles lighted to their Hands and Feet, that when the flame came to burn them they might be awaked. I sent two several People in all hast to get ready these things, in the mean time leaving him, that he might have time to consider and recover out of this fit of Dissimulation, which in a quarter of an hour he did, so, that he came to speak. I question’d him about his pain, he told me ’twas very great in his Back. I told him in short that he was a Dissembler, bid him go and do his business without any more ado, or else he should have due Correction, which was the best Remedy I knew for him, he went about his Errand immediately, and perform’d it well, though he came too late for the Pirats.