APPENDIX TO Vex.. III. ^s9 



two competitors as much as poffible, that they might not reap ail the 

 benefits they expe(5led. Fortunately for him, they had both turned 

 their thoughts at this juncture to the making further difcoverles and 

 conquefts upon the continent, fo that he was left more at liberty to 

 purfue his fcheme without interruption. 



He made choice of Juan de Efquivcl, an experienced officer (wlio 

 had ferved feme years in Hifpaniola), and difpatched him with feventy 

 men to effciSl a fettlement at Jamaica, of which he was to take the 

 command as his lieutenant governor. 



This officer, foon after his landing on the ifland, began to parcel out 

 and diltribute the country and inhabitants among his followers j which 

 the Indians difliking, betook themfelvcs to the mountains, and flood, 

 on their defence ; but Efquivel, after feveral engagements, in which the 

 doas he had broug-ht with him were almoft as deftru6live as his muf- 

 quetry, found means at length to cut off the chiefs, or leaders, of the 

 malecontents; the reft fubmitted ; and, after being divided according to 

 his original plan, they were employed in planting cotton and provi- 

 fions. A breed of Spanifh cattle, hogs, and horfes, was next intro- 

 duced, which increafed very flift. The cattle improved prodigiouHy irt 

 bulk; and the hogs, by feeding on the plums, and other fruits of the 

 country, not only grew to an immoderate fize, but acquired luch ex- 

 cellence, that their flefli was efteemed the moft delicious and wholelome 

 of all animal foods. Several fpecres of garden-fiuff were obferved to 

 come up furprizingly quick ; lettuce, cabbage, borrage, radrfhes, and 

 the like, were tit for gathering in fixteen days from tlie time of put- 

 ting in the feed ; and gourds, cucmnbers, and melons, within the thir- 

 tieth day. Efquivel, perceiving the Indians more traceable than he had 

 expelled, foon won them over to fubjedion by the moderation of his 

 government, and without any further efTufion of blood. This com- 

 mander has been highly extolled for his prudent and temperate beha- 

 viour. His fubjedls continued to labour hard in their cotton planta- 

 tions, and other improvements, which he had planned for rendering this 

 a permanent and lucrative colony ; fo that the exportation from it about 

 the year 151 1 grew to be coniiderable, and it funiiihed copious fup- 

 plies of provifion to the Spaniards of the two neighbouring iflands,. 

 who were cl.iefly occupied in quelling and extirpating the natives. At 

 this period he had probably, with the affiflance of the Indians, bid the 



foundation- 



