The Indians of Barbados. 51 



were very small, one of these weighed 15 ounces : and all were of clay 

 burnt. These lesser idols were in all probalitity their penates. 



" The last proof of their residence in this place is a great number of 

 their stone hatchets and chissels that are here dug up. The use of these 

 hatchets and chissels, was in all likelihood to cut down timber, to make 

 huts, where they had not the conveniency of caves : as well as, with the 

 help of fire, to fell some of the largest kind to make canoes. These, I 

 imagine, after they were roughly squared, were half burnt with live coals ; 

 and then, with their scooping Chissels, they, by degrees, made them 

 hollow. Some of the hatchets, and a great number of the chissels, 

 especially the scooping ones, are made of the most substantial inside part 

 of a conch-shell ; others of the hardest common stones : and a few of the 

 cutting sort of a stone of an opaque greenish colour. 



" Having proved their residence in this place, it will not be surprising 

 to those who know the roving disposition of the Indians, to find that 

 they moved under the shelter of the hills, and almost always at equal 

 distance from the sea, till theycame to a large convenient cave, under a 

 hill called Mount Gilboa, in the estate of Colonel John Pickering : where I 

 found several of their broken images, pipes, hatchets, and chissels. ... It 

 was natural and customary for them to ramble in search of spring-water, 

 which at a little distance from hence they found in the Estate of Edward 

 Bonnett, Esq. Here they settled near a small perennial spring. . . 

 the soil being very proper to produce yams, plantain and banana trees : 

 but as there was no cave to afford shelter, they were obliged to cut down 

 timber to build huts : and from thence, in all probability, it comes, that 

 there are found about this place of their residence so many fragments of 

 broken hatchets, chissels and pots. 



"There are not only near this place, but likewise at May cooks Bay, 

 Joan's Hole, Clu Jfs Bay and near Scotland church, as well as in other 

 places, many tokens of their former abode." 



From these Indian settlements and the large number of idols, 

 hatchets, chissels, and other Indian tools found in Barbados the Eev. 

 Mr. Hughes c me to the conclusion that the island was the residence of 

 Indians. 



As regards the derivation of the name "Barbados" he is doubtful 

 for he states : 



" Among many uncertain conjectures, those who derive the name 

 given to this island, from the Portuguese language are most probably in 

 the right : „ . . Nothing could be more surprising to Europeans than to 

 see the shores shaded with a kind of tig trees, diffe.ing from all other 

 trees in the manner of their growth, for from their branches hang in- 

 numerable small filaments growing downwards, till they touch the earth. 

 These thread-like resemblances have been called by the English from the 



