AVoyageto JAMAICA. 
Of Redon- 
do. 
t Col.97- 
* Harcourt. 
Smith, 
} Laet. 26. 
Of Nieves. 
Tab. 14 
Between Monferrat and Nieves lies a very fmall Iland called Redondo or 
Rotonda, difcovered by Columbus in his Second Voyage, who gave it the Name 
of Santa Maria Rotonda, from its Figure ft. {t confilts of one Rock very Per- 
pendicular and high, looking like a Pyramid, and as if there were nothing 
but Rock; but! was inform’d by thofe who have been upon it, that there is 
on its top an Acre or two of very good Ground, that it has a very good 
Landing Place, and a Well of very good frefh Water. It has alfo great {tore 
of Zeuanas of a blackifh colour. Many Boobies, and other Birds that come 
hither to lay their Eggs at proper Seafons. 
On Friday the oth. of December we came to Anchor in Nevis Road, in Se- | 
yen Fathom Water. 
Nieves, fometimes Mevis or Meves*, was inhabitedin 1628 4. It Confifts of 
one Mountain of about Four Miles heighth to the top, whence is an eafie 
defcent to all parts of the {fland; but fteepeft towards the Tewn where is 
the Road. They have neither Springs nor Rivers, but have what Water 
they make ufe of from Cifterns receiving the Rain-Water. The Ground is 
cleared almoft to the top of the Hill, where yet remains fome Wood, and 
where are Run-away Negros that harbour themfelves in it. There are about 
Two thoufand Inhabitants here, who being gathered together for the Duke of 
Albemarle to Review, 1 found more Swarthy, or of a yellowith fickly look, 
than any of the Inhabitants of thefe Iflands. The Town or Road is well for- 
tified with Batteries, anda Fort. They have little Money, but Buy and Pay 
with Sugars which are blackifh. Their Horfes, which are {mall, as well as 
many of their Provifions, come from Barbuda, an Wand not far diftant where 
Cattle are bred. I went to the top of the Hill to gather Plants, and though 
it had nor did not Rain at bottom; yet I was taken there in fo great Showers 
that I was wet unto the Skin. There is here an hot Spring affording a con- 
ftantly running Rivulet of Water, made ufe of for all purpofes as common 
Water. I found here the following Plants. 
Filix arborea ramofa, caudice non divifo, pinnulis anguftis raris obtufis integris. 
Cat. pl. Fam. p.r2. 
As tothe Trunk, and the manner of its growth (as well as I can remember) 
this was the fame withthe Tree Fern of Famaica, in the whole Face of the Tree 
and Leaves, refembling a young Tamarind-Tree. The Foot-ftalks and middle 
Ribs of this Trees Leaf were not prickly, but their Stalks {mooth, large, and of 
a reddifh green colour: the Branches and Twigs rofe out of it alternatively, 
and the Pisnule were blunt, even, not dented about the Edges, and were a- 
bout half an Inch long, being join’d at bottom to the Twig, but having a defect 
between them becaufe of their narrownefS. The Pizaule were of a dark green 
colour, and pretty thick. 
This I gathered in the Mountain which makes the Ifland of Nieves, to- 
wards the rop, in a Gully where it grew very plentifully. 
; Gramen dattylon bicorne tomentofum maximum, Jpicis numerofifimis. Cat. pl. 
Am. Pp. 33. 
This has many ftrong Thongs, or large white Filaments, which are Two 
or Three Inches long tapering, and taking firm hold of the Earth. The Stalk 
rifes Three, Four, or Five Foot high, and has at bottom many Leaves enclofing 
it, andone another, after the manner of fome of the Cyperus-Grafles ; cach of 
them being Two Foot long, with a fharpBack, being harfh, narrow, and fome- 
thing like thofe of the Cyperus-Grafles. The Stalk is {treight, round, pale 
green, as big as a Goofe-Quill, made up of Four or Five Joints, the {paces 
between them being covered with a Leaf, from the uppermoft of which to- 
_wards the top go Twenty, Twenty four, or a great many Petiolz or Foot- 
ftalks jointed, and from whofe Joints go other fmaller Petiolz, making in all, 
both a little under, and at the top itfelf, a vaft number of Pannicles, each of 
which 
