ee ee 
The Introduction. ey 
‘The Negros are of feveral forts, from the feveral places of Guinea, 
which are reckoned the beft Slaves, thofe from the Eaft-Tidies or Ma. 
dagafcins, are reckoned good enough, but too choice in cheir Dier, 
being accuftomed in their own Countries to Flefh Meat, ¢rc. and dd 
not well here, but very often die. Thofe who are Creolians, born in 
the Hland, or taken from the Spaniards, are reckoned more worth 
than others in that they are feafon'd to the Ifland, 
— Clothing of the Ifland is much as in England, efpecially of the 
better fort, that of the Indians and Negros is a little Canvafs Jacket and 
Breeches, given them at Chriffmas. It feems to me the Europeans 
do not well, who coming from a cold Country, continue here to 
Cloth themfelves after the fame manner asin Angland, whereas all 
Inhabitants between the Tropics goeven almoft naked, and Negros 
and Indians live almoft fo here, theit Cloths ferving them but a very 
{mall part of the year. 
_ When they fleep they unty their Breeches, and loofen thir Girdles, 
finding by experience this Cuftom healthy, and there is good reafon 
for it, for by that means the Circulation of the blood is not inter- 
rupted, and fo confequently humours are not depofited in the 
feveral parts of the Body, which ever follows fuch interruption. 
The Buildings of the Spaniards on this Uland were ufually one 
Story high, having a Porch, Parlour, and at each end a Room, 
with {mall ones behind for Clofets, gc They built with Pofts 
put deep in the ground, on the fides their Houles were plaiftered up 
with Clay on Reeds, or made of the fplit Truncs of Cabbage- 
Trees nail’d clofe to one another, and covered with Tiles, or Pal- 
metto Thatch. The Lownefs, as well as fixing the Pofts deep in 
the Earth, was for fear their Houfes fhould be ruin'd by Earch- 
quakes, as well as for Coolnels. 
The Houfes built by the Englifh, are for the moft part Brick, and 
after the Anglifh manner, which are neither cool, nor able to en- 
dure the fhocks of Earthquakes. ‘The Kitchens, or Cook-Rooms 
here, are always aca fmall diftance from their Houles, becaule of the 
heat and fmell, which are both noifom and troublefome. | 
There are no Chimneys or Fire-places in their Houfes, but in the 
Cook-Room, this word is ufed to fignifie their Kitchen, and is a 
Sea word, as many others of that Country. 
‘The Houfes of confiderable Planters are ufually removed from 
their Sugar, or other Works, that they may be free from the noife 
and fmells of them, which are very offenfive. : 
The Negroes Houfes are likewife at a diftance from their Mafters, 
and are {mall, oblong, thatch’d Huts, in which they have all cheir 
Moveables or Goods, which are generally a Mat to lie on, a Pot 
of Earth to boil their Victuals in, either Yams, Plantains, or Po- 
| ratoes, 
