A P PENDI X TO Vol. Iir. pjr 



The plants and fruits of this country were found to be much tlie 

 fame as thofe of Hifpaniolaj with this difference, that the provifions 

 were better flavoured and more abundant, and the cotton efleemed 

 of a finer ftaple, than in the adjacent iflands. It was commended 

 for the agreeable temperature of its air, the fertiUty of its fuil as 

 well near the coaft as inland, and the multitude of its convenient 

 harbours. Martir calls it, " a rugged theatre for military opera- 

 " tions;" and, no doubt, if the Indians had been of a difpofition to 

 maintain it againft their invaders, they might have held out a long 

 time, by withdrawing into the mountains. When Columbus cir- 

 cumnavigated the coaft, they ran from all quarters with arms in 

 their hands, and menacing looks, to dilpute his landing; this in»- 

 duced him to think that they were more warlike than their neigh- 

 bours, among whom he had met with a different reception; bur, 

 like the people of Ocah/ttei after one or two Ilcirmifhes, in which 

 theSpanifh fire-arms eafily prevailed, they contracted friendship with. 

 the admiral, fhewing a far ftronger inclination to commerce than 

 to war. . When therefore he was fome time after forced by diftrefe 

 to take fhelter here, he acknowledged it a great blefiing, that Pro- 

 vidence had conduced him to a place, where provifions were fo 

 abundant, and the natives fo humanized, and defirous of trading 

 with him. 



They are reprefented by all authors, as a tradable, docile peoplej 

 equal to any employment ; modeft in their manners; of a quick 

 and ready genius in matters of traffic, in which they greatly excelled 

 the neighbouring iflanders ;. more devoted alfo to mechanic arts; 

 more induftrious ; and furpafiing them all in acutenefs of under- 

 ftanding. They dwelt in cottages; and the illand was fo populous^ 

 that it appeared to Columbus to be full of villages. Thefe confilled 

 of feveral houfes, and the buildings muft have been extenfive, fince 

 the cuftom was for a whole generation to live together in one houfe; 

 we read of a village in Cuba, confifting only of fifty houfes, that 

 contained about two thoufand perfons, or twenty to each houfe; 

 The. principal articles of their food were the gumia^ and the iit'ui 

 (or Indian, coney). They had no other edible quadrupeds, unlefs 

 we reckon the younger alligators. Fifh, falted and frelh ; crabs; 

 parrots; fowls^ tame and wild; caffava, whofe root they called 



yucca ; 



