SOIL OF THE ISLANDS. 169 



bardie, which is very small and sharpe, having a taste like LlB - 

 vnto verjuice. The Hands which they call Barlovente, 

 which be Hispariiola, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and others there 

 abouts, are beautified with many greene pastures, and 

 abound in cattell, as neate, and swine, which are become 

 wilde. The wealth of these Hands be their sugar-workes 

 and hides. There is much Cassia fistula and ginger. It is 

 a thing incredible, to see the multitude of these marchan- 

 dizes brought in one fleete, being in a maner impossible 

 that all Europe should waste so much. They likewise 

 bring wood of an excellent qnalitie and colour, as ebony, 

 and others, which serve for buildings and joyners. There 

 is much of that wood which they call Lignum sanctum, 

 fit to cure the pox. All these Hands and others there 

 abouts, which are many, have a goodly and pleasant 

 aspect, for that throughout the yeere, they are beautified 

 with grasse and greene trees, so as they cannot discerne 

 when it is Autumne or Summer, by reason of continuall 

 moisture ioyned to the heate of the burning Zone. And 

 although this land be of a great circuite, yet are there few 

 dwellings, for that of it selfe it engenders great Arcabucos, 

 as they call them, which be Groves or very thicke Coppices ; 

 and on the plain es there are many marishes and bogges. 

 They give yet another notable reason, why they are so 

 smally peopled, for that there have remained few naturall 

 Indians, through the inconsideratenesse and disorder of the 

 first Conquerors that peopled it; and therefore, for the 

 most part, they vse Negros, but they cost deere, being very 

 fit to till the land. There growes neither bread nor wine 

 in these Hands, for that the too great fertilitie and the vice 

 of the soile, suffers them not to seede, but castes all forth 

 in grasse, very vneaqually. There are no olive trees, at the 

 least they beare no olives, but rnanie greene leaves pleasant 

 to the view, which beare no fruite. The bread they vse is 

 of cassava, whereof we shall heereafter speake. There is 



