950 APPE ND IX TO Vol. 111. 



The name 'Jamaica [?/], or Jamica [w] was given to it by the 

 Indian inhabitants ; yet feme Spanifh authors have thought that it 

 was alfo the Babeche, or Bohlo (land of cottages), to which Colum- 

 bus was directed by the people of the Lucayo or Bahama illands ; 

 .for when he enquired the place, whence they furniflied themfelves 

 with gold and pearls, they told him there was abundance at Bohio, 

 .pointing to the Eaftward, which courfe brought him to Hifpaniola; 

 but even this ifland was called by its natives ^dfqueya, (the great 

 xountry) and alfo Aytiy or Hayti (uncouth), by which latter appel- 

 lation it was likewife known to the Caribes of the windward Antilles. 

 • It is probable, that the Lucayans only meant fome particular diflricT: 

 cr province, as (for example) the territory of the cacique Bohcchio, 

 .which lay between Cape Nicholas and Tiburon, on the North-wefl: 

 .part of Hifpaniola. and neareft to Cuba, confequently the part 

 .with which they were beft acquainted. 



Columbus was afterwards led into a fimilar miftake at Hifpaniola, 

 .when, upon a like enquiry about their gold, the Indians there men- 

 tioned feveral different provinces, or petty kingdoms, where it was 

 'found in greateft plenty, and which the admiral miftook at firfl 

 for the names of as many different iflands; befides, Jamaica pro- 

 duced but very little gold in comparifon with Hifpaniola; and, by 

 the Spaniards who firfl fettled in it, was believed to contain neither 

 that precious metal, nor pearls. The like opinion was formed of 

 Cuba, when it was firfl difcovered. 



Jamaica was compared by Columbus to the ifland of Sicily, both 

 .in regard to its extent and fruitfulnefs ; he fuppofed it about one 

 hundred and fifty miles in length, and fixty in its utmofl breadth, 

 .which comes near to exadnels, and fliews what a degree of accurate 

 geometrical knowledge that able navigator pofTefied. At this time, 

 the hills adjacent to the coaft were covered with thick woods; and 

 to this caufe he attributed, that, in pafling along the South-wefl end, 

 very heavy rains came off fliore [x] with great regularity every 

 afternoon. 



[«] Priiiiam rcjierit Infuliim, qj.iin Incola; Jamaicani vocant, p. 7. 



[w] Deveiilt ad Inllil.mi, quum Inquiliai appellant J auiicam. D« Chriiloph. Colunib. Navi- 

 gat. Pet. !\Iarr. p. 91. Caj). 98. 

 [.r] In the month of Jul}'. 



The 



