910 Deane Phillips 



to the Dutch, who were increasing their sugar production in Surinam. 

 There grew up in addition a very considerable indirect trade by way 

 of the barren Dutch island of Curagao, where the Dutch had established 

 a free port. This port soon became a great entrepot for all the West 

 Indies. Here were landed the supplies brought by the New England 

 vessels, which returned home laden with sugar, molasses, and the other 

 products of the islands, while the lumber, horses, provisions, and other 

 supplies brought by them were either transferred directly to island 

 vessels or put ashore and peddled out among the islands by the Dutch 

 at their leisure (106). 



During this time New England horses continued to be sent, as 

 formerly, to the British islands along with the other customary sup- 

 plies, but there is much evidence that they were equally important in 

 the trade with the Dutch and the French. At Curacao they were 

 received in considerable quantities and many were put ashore on the 

 neighboring islands of Boneiray (or Bonaire) and Aruba (107). Here 

 they were kept until there was a call for them in the trade carried on 

 at Curacao. At Surinam no vessel was allowed to trade unless it brought 

 in horses as part of its cargo (108), and the various reports to the 

 Lords of Trade made by the governors of the continental British 

 colonies indicate that this Dutch colony was a. frequent destination for 

 the horses sent out from their ports (109). Another and more con- 

 fidential report made to the Lords of Trade in 1721 " On the State 

 of the British Plantations in America " states that '' the trade of 

 Massachusetts Bay consists chiefly in the exj^ort of horses to Surinam 

 and to Martinico and other French islands, which is a great discourage- 

 ment to the planters in the British islands for without these horses 

 French and Dutch could not carry on their sugar trade " (110). In 

 1743, Ashley, writing on the condition of the British colonies, also 

 notes horses as one of the important items with which the French and 

 the Dutch are supplied by the continental colonies (111), and his 

 statement is confirmed by that of other contemporary writers and, 

 especially, by reports of the various British governors to the Board of 

 Trade in London. 



There are maiiy other indications that this trade in horses between 

 New England and the Dutch and French islands was extensive. Gov- 



