an he 
The Introduction. 
Butter, through the heat of the Air, is fo fott here as ’tis when 
half melted in England; and Tallow-Candles here are very often lo 
foft as not to be able to ftand upright, without falling and doubling 
down, which makes the nicelt forc of people defire thole of Wax. 
The Dog-days, and fome weeks abouc that time, are intolerably 
hot, andunhealthy, few people find themfelves then perfectly well 
and eafie, be they either the antient Inhabitants, or new Comers. 
The heat of the Air here is endeavour’d to be amended by great 
Fans in fome Parlours, fuchas are us'd about Montpelier, and by ly- 
ing in: ffamacs. 
T here are as many forts of Water here as in England; River- water, 
Pond water, Well-water, Spring-water, oc. 
Freth-warer is very {carcein dry years, or fome parts of the year, 
in the Savannas diftant from Rivers, fo that many of cheir Cattle 
die with driving to water. If the place be near the Sea, or fandy, 
the Well-water, as at Port-Royal is brackifh. This brackifh water, 
which is very common in Wells on Sea-fhores, is not wholefome, 
but the caufe of Fluxes, and other Difeafes ia Sailers drinking of it. 
It may be eafily difcovered by dropping a folution of fine Silver into 
it, Which according to Mr, Bayles computation precipitates a white 
fettlement,: if it contain =; of Salt in it. I have not yet known, or 
1§oo 
heard of any method which will clear Water of this brackifhaels bur 
Deftillation. 3 | 
Pond- water, or River-water here, is more pure and not fo much 
infected with Weeds as in England, becaule of the {wiftnefs of the 
Currents, or great Inundations, deftroying the Water-Herbs at 
certain Seafons of the year. Riverswater, becaule of its great 
Delceats and Precipices, carries with it much Clay and Earth, 
whereby ‘tis muddy and thick; this drunk,. has an odd tafte, 
which, in the Town-River, gave occafion to the Spaniards to call 
it Rio Cobre, and the Engl tofay “tis not wholefome, aid tafts of 
Copper; whereas on tial of the Sand and other Sediments, there 
is no Metal found therein. This River-water, if {uffered to fertle © 
fome days in earthen Jars, the Sediments go to the bottom, and the 
Water is good. It’s thought that Pebbles in the bottom of the Jar pro- 
mote this feparation; and Seamen think a lead-holed plate does the 
fame ; but ‘tis likely thefe two methods only hinder the fubfidence 
from rifing eafily. The porous Stones for percolating water is che 
beft remedy for this miuddinefs; they muft beclean’d every day, and 
fometimes che water put through them twice or thrice. They are 
brought from the Canaries to the Spanifh Main, and thence to Jamaica, 
They are made into the form.of Mortars, the water being put inco 
theit Concave fide, foul and troubled, pafles through them, and 
is filtred, leaving its filth in the pores of the Stone. Sometimes this 
water 
