BOOK 11. CHAP. VII. 19 



tion that they deftroN'ed the houfes. It is pretty, certain thev 

 ought to be regarded as antient, as it is now near one hundred and 

 twenty, years fince tl^e^iya(ipj\, uadat,,XgA?J^^ Their duratioa 

 for fo long'^a time in defiance of earthquakes and hurricanes, fomc 

 of which, fince the Engh Hi fettled here, have been fo violent as to 

 demohfli feveral more modern buildings, is a demonftrativc proof 

 of the Spanifhjagaclty^^^^^ lellon to the Engljfli 



inhabitants ; for although thefe houfes are inconveniently fmall, 

 yet thlsTlran be no objection to the method of ftrudure, fmce it 



by building three fides ol: a fquare after the Eaftern manner, whigh 

 allows fufficient range for a great variety of apartments. The 

 Spaniards had to guard againft the |uddenconcufliqn of earthquakes, 

 the impetuofity of hurricaiies, the d^^^^ periodical 



rains, and tTTelieat of the iun^ We find their houfes excellently 

 well contrived to anfwer thefe different purpofes; with the further 

 merit, that the materials of which they are built were cautioufly 

 prepared in fuch a manner as to become extremely durable. A cer- 

 tain number of polls of the hardefl timber, generally Up-num vitce. 

 brazillet^.,or„fuLOip^^Q£..,Abp.ftL^^^ 



to eight inches diameter, being firft vvell-feafoned and hardened in 

 fmoak, were fixed" at proper diftances to the depth of two or 

 three feet in the ground ; then a wall of brick, incloling thefe 

 polls, vvas carried vip with veij llrong mortar to. the plate, which 

 was pinned_ wjth wppde,u. fpikes to^^d^^^ ports. The 



main rafters were fmall, but, being of the like hard wood, and 

 perfedly well-feafoned, were fufficiently flrong : thefe were like- 

 wife pinned upon each other, and at their angle of interfedlion at 

 top formed a crutch, to receive the ridge-pole.' The fmaller raf- 

 ters were ofthelefl'er ebony trees, flript of their bark, hardened 

 in fmoak, notched at bottom, and being placed at the diflance of 

 about eighteen inches from each other, were pinned to the plate. 

 Athwart thefe fmall rafteis, a flratum of the wild cane (anindo 

 Ind'ica Bambujpecies), previoufly fmoaked, vvas tied on by way 

 of wattling, with ftraps made of the bark of the mohoe or man- 

 grove trees. Upon thefe wattles, fome mortar was laid, to the 

 thicknefs of about four inches ; and the whole covered with large 



D 2 pantiles, ' 



