140 JAMAICA, 



main land. The demand for fire-wood, building-timber, bricks, 

 flefli, corn, fruits, and otlier vegetable provifions, was coniide- 

 rable ; and this was fupplied by the fettlers in St. Catharine and 

 St, Andrew. The advantage of trade to an infant-colony, and the 

 mutual dependence of the merchant and planter one upon the other, 

 were never more confpicuous than in this example. The town 

 was inhabited by fcarcely any other than .merchants, warehoufe- 

 keepers, vintners, and retailers of punch; the latter were very nu- 

 merous, and well fupported by the buccaneers, who diffipated here 

 whatever they got from the Spaniards. As an inftance of their 

 profuiion, it is faid, that one of them has been known to fquander 

 three thoufand pieces of eight, equal to 750/. of prefent currency, 

 inlefs than a month. The immenfe riches they brought into this 

 town, the grand trcafury of all their fpoil, may partly be judged 

 by the fums which the armament, under Sir Henry Morgan only, 

 is faid to have brought in during 1669 and 1670, viz. 

 On the capture of Puerto del Principe, — 50,000 pieces of eight. 



Puerto Vela, — — 250,000 



Maracaibo, — — — 250,000 



Panama and Cruz, — 400,000 



In all, 950,000 or £. 237,500 

 befides an immenfe quantity of filks, linens, gold and filver lace, 

 plate, jewels, and other valuable commodities ; which probably 

 amounted to near as much more. By this means (as an hiftorian 

 has obferved) money grew to be in vaft plenty, and returns eafy 

 to England, into which many hundred thoufand of thofe pieces of 

 eight were imported. A (hare of thefe acquifitions, however, re- 

 mained in circulation among the planters, who by this time brought 

 their manufaftures of fugar and indigo to great perfedion. Their 

 other commodities for export were, ginger, anotto, cacao, cotton, 

 and pimento ; fuftick, mahogany, and lignutn vitte. All their 

 goods were fhipped at Port Royal; and, by an ad: of aflembly 

 pafled in 1683, all produ£lions of this fort, that were levied on 

 for payment of debts, were diredled to be appraifed in tliat town 

 by the church-wardens, upon their oaths, and then delivered to 

 the creditor, who was obliged to accept them at the appraifed value, 



as 



