BOOK II. C H A P. VII. 73 



of oil; and much moie might have been obtained. The flefh was 

 cut up into large pieces, and aftbrded a delicious repaft to the Ne- 

 groes that were employed in tlie capture. 



The lower diftridt of this parifh, called Withywood, took its 

 name from its having been formerly overfpread with wood and 

 withes when the Engliih firfl: fettled upon it, and which grew fo 

 thick, that it was impoffible to walk among them without a cut- 

 lafs to clear the way. This is the part, which, on account of its 

 rich foil, was afterwards filled with iiidigo and fugar-works, the 

 opulence of whofe owners is Ipoken of by feveral writers ; and 

 though it has been called in quelf ion by feme, yet it is very certain, 

 that more carriages of pleafure were at one time kept here, than 

 in all the reft of the ifland, Spanifh Town only excepted. It is, 

 indeed, almoft incredible to think what vaft fortunes were made 

 here by cultivation of this fmgle commodity. When the aft of par- 

 liament was pafled with an intent to recover this brand) of trade, 

 the very art of making it was lofl: ; few or no perfons were then 

 living in this part who were able to give inflruftions, and ftill 

 fewer left to receive and follow them if any could have been given. 

 The modern fettlers had converted their lands into paflure, or the 

 raifing of cotton and corn; and could not be perfuaded to give up 

 a little certainty for a much greater probable advantage, where the 

 inftability of ftate-maxims threatened fuch a rifque to the ex- 

 perimentors. The new law, which was merely temporary, in- 

 ftcad of impofing a heavy tax, as the former law had done, al- 

 lowed a fmali debenture in favour of every pound weight of in- 

 digo, the growth and manufafture of the Britifh iflands imported 

 into England ; yet it availed here but very little. None ui this 

 parilh attempted to revive the culture of it. Three or four took 

 it up in other parts of the ifland; and probably, if the law had 

 been renewed after its expiration, v.'ith iome additional bounty, it 

 might have encouraged many more to try the effefts of it. 



For cattle and flock of all forts, particularly horfes and flieep, 

 no parifh in the ifland excels this, either in number or quality. 

 The foil, except Main Savannah, which is a gravelly trad, and 

 rather flerile ia dry years, is of a fine brick-mould, and. were it 

 not for the want of regular fhowers, it would be one of the mofl 



Vol. II. L produftive 



