VI 
The Introduction. 
* Cap. 59. 
Town to Mexico, for its trading in Gold and Silver, Cochenille, and 
Sarfaparilla, Tc has a fituation very happy, likewife in this refpect, 
that it is near the Caymanes, the Cayos or defert Rocks or Iles, of 
Cuba, and the Ifle de Vacas, des Vaches, or of Afh, where.the 
Turtlers feldom fail of getting plenty of Turtle or Tortoifes, to fur- 
nifh the inferior fort of people with good Food, at an eafie and 
moderate price, 
The Latitude of St. Jago de la Vega, or Spamfh ‘Town in fa- 
maica is 17°. 30. North of the Equinoctial, between it and the 
Tropic of Cancer, fo that it is placed in the Tortid Zone. Its In- 
habitants are Amphi/cii, that is, have their Shadows thrown South of 
them, that partof the Year when the Sun is to the North of them, 
and North the greateft part of the Year, viz, when the Sun is to the 
Southwards of them. When the Sun is vertical, or diretly over 
their Heads, they are 4fcit, that is, their Bodies at Noon have no 
Shadow at all, and this happens twice a year, that is, when the 
Sun is going to the Tropic of Cancer, and returning from the 
fame. 
It iseafie to find from its Latitude, that ‘tis in the Arabic, or fe- 
cond Climate, according to that divifion of the Earth, whereby 
10° of Latitude is allowed each Climate, and which has its Name 
from Arabia, which is comprehended in it, cis alfo plain, that the 
days and nights mult be very near equal the year round ; fo chat there 
will be only an hours difference between the length of the. longeft 
day in Summer, andthe fhorteft in Winter. This Latitude, likewife 
demonftrates that the Twilight here, between the Sun’s fetting, and 
no perception of any of his Rays at night (which is when ic is about 
18°, under the Horizon) or fome of his Rays being feen, and 
his Body vifible in the morning, will be very fhort, or not near 
fo long, as the fame continues in places that are fituated in an ob- 
lique Sphere. : | 
‘The Longitude of the middle of this Ifland is about 76°. Weft of 
London, this has been afcertain’d by Obfervations of feveral Eclipfes 
by Mr. Charles Boucher, who fent thefe Obfervations to Mr. Hialley, 
fo that I cannot bet wonder how Chriffopher Columbus could miftake 
fo much as *to fay that by an Obfervation of an Eclipfe of the 
Moon, the Eaft end of Hii/paniola was five hours twenty three mi- 
nutes Welt of Cadiz, whereas by Mr. Boucher’s, and. later Obferva- 
tions, it is certain Jamaica is not much over five hours Weft of Lon- 
don, ‘That is to fay, when *tis about twelve aClock at Noon at 
London, ’tis about feven in the morning at Jamaica, and when ‘tis 
fivea Clock in the evening in London, *tis about twelve at Noon at 
Jamaica. Butthe value of che Philippine Mlands, which were to 
belong to the Crowns of Spain or Portugal, by the Popes Bull, ac- 
cording 
