2 The Natural Eiffory of the  —- Book. I 
Among many uncertain Conjectures, thofe who derive the Name given 
to this Ifland, from the Portuguefe Language, are moft properly in the 
Right ; for, as they were the frft Diftoverers of the Wi ofp-India Wands (if 
not of 4merica ingeneral), it is not unreafonable to fuppofe, that they might 
give this, and theneighbouring Iflands, a N ame analogous to fomething re= 
markable in their firft Appearance’; and nothing of this kind could be 
more furprifing to Luropeans, than'to fee the Shores thaded with a kind of 
Fig-trees, differing from all other Trees in the manner of their Growth ; 
for;. from their Branches hang innumerable fmall Filaments growing down- 
wards, till they touch the Earthy. and: then take: Root. Thofe ThreadHike 
Refemblances have-been’ called} byithe'Engh/b; from the Ait Settlement of 
the Ifland to this Time, the Beards of ar oh ~trees ; “ap i all_P a 
litythe’ Rogtvede mishdoribidall have the fame Kifior off ei/fte em- 
be OE meandered eee ho une con- 
Why called junctly, Las Barbadas, i. e. the Bear déd Tlands ; for Coufa Barbada in that 
Barbadas, Language fignifieth an ie eae . And, when this Ifland ‘a 
“be ighabiédib ‘the Hngli/bS ik ree ined-the general: ame eiveh fc Gil 
° & the. Wibisy haa a AN RRR sehNe hekaee ie 
The origi- Diftin@tion-fake, obliged to be called by different Names, __If we confult 
nal Names “the mole antent Hiftoriess divine on h be we fhall find, that the Ety- 
of Places may, i Hee XY e 
expreflive ofpmology of the original Names given to 
tien Na telative Meaning, expreffive of their Nature, Qualities, 
wor Quulity.” "Thuis, vas carly asthe Time of Myet\owhen the ' 
ee t9 view the:Land._of Ganaan, had brought from thehge: 
fo large, that they bare it between Two} when'the 
of the Country; they; called the Valley by the Name 
of the Bunch. of: Grapes; for fo the Hebrew Word j 
An unhealthy Part-of Arabia was called by the H, 
maveth, and by; the rabians Ses, Hadramaut 
trance of Death... And in Genefis it is faid} that the 
AD ne) 
Dea e Herdimen of Geriar 
did ftrive with:L/aac’s Herdfmen, fayingy' The Water is ours: And he called 
the Name’ of the Well py Exek, i.e. Contention, becaufe they ftrove with 
him, Innumerable are the Inftances which might be produced’ fiom feve. 
tal Languages, efpecially fromthe Coltie'and: Greek,to prove that feveral 
Words in thofe Languages are! adapted? to’reprefent and: be: expreflive’ of 
the Subjects ‘treated of. : “A pueeeiwic: 
‘The Works. of Homer are’ full! of Inftances of: this Kind 5: and, amon 
- many. others, that might be produced, =the original Cele called’ the Sun 
Titan 3 a Name. evidently derived frony Zi, a Houlks and Tan, Fite? whith 
is, very fignificant of the Notion moft Eattern Natioiis had of that:Planét: : 
fo, olf what shath ‘been obferved. of ikhilar Inftances and Examples have 
-any, Weight; we may, from: Parity of Reafons be Rtished With’ the’ pres 
fent Etymology of the Nante given to:thisTflandy and proceed'to bhferva: 
«thatthe Atmolphere is, in general, feréne and clear, feldom cloudy ; aad 
froma total. Ablence of Hail, Froft oF Show, it’ is: Hever Tiablet6 thor 
omny and fodden Vicitfitudes” no lels common than. projudicial in iable 
, ee Chinnates, 
