A True and ExaG Hiftory 
Children, when they are firft born, have the palms of their hands and 
the foles of their feet, of a whitifh colour, and the fight of their eyes. 
they grow older, they become black. aa 
heir way of reckoning their ages, or any other notable accident 
time of their Childrens births, the time they wete brought out of 
their own Countrey, or the time of their being taken Prifoners , by 
{ome Prince or Potentate of their own Country , or any other noto- 
rious accidents, that they are refolved to remember, they account by 
fince another 5 and thisaccount they keep as long as they can : Butif 
any of themlive long, their Arithmetick fails them, and then they are 
ata dead fault, and fo giveover the chafe, wanting the skill to hunt 
counter. For what can poor people do, that are without Letters and 
Numbers, whichis the foul of all bufinefs that is adted by Mortals,upon 
the Globe of this World... _ a , . 
meof them, who have been bred up amongft the Portucals , 
have fome extraordinary qualities, which the others have not; as 
firiging arid fencing. Ihave feen fome of thefe Portugal Negroes, at 
Gollonel James Draxes , play at Rapier and Dagger very skilfully , 
with their Stookados, their Imbrocados, and their Pafles: And weft: 
gle Rapier too, after the manner of Charanza , with fith comelinc&: ; 
$= 
as, if-theskill. had been wanting ; the motions would have pleafed 
with their points, and nimble and fubtle avoidings with their bodies, 
| and the advantages the ftrongeft man had in the clofe, which the other 
avoided by thenimblenefs and skilfulnefs. of his motion. - Fér, in this 
Science, Ihad been fo well vers’din my youth, asI was now able to be 
Anes etel 
J as 
commanding look, asifthey meant both to conquer 5 and coming near 
of a blewifh colour, not unlike the eyes of a young Kitling ; but, as| 
they would remember, isby the Moon-; and {0 accounting from the | 
the Moon 5 as, fo many Moonsfince one of thefe, and fo many Moons | 
you; but they were skilful too, which I perceived by their binding | 
competent Judge. Upon their firft appearance upon the Sta e, they | 
march towards one another, with.a flow majeftick pace, and a bold |: 
together, they fhake hands, and embrace one another, with 4 chearfil 
look: But their retreat ismuch quicker than their advance, and, being 
at firft diftance,change their countenance,and put themielves into their 
pofture 5 and fo after a pafsor two, retire, and then to’t again: And 
when they have done their play, they embrace, fhake hahds,and put- 
ting’ on their fmoother countenances, give their refpects to their Matter, 
and fogooff, For their Singing, I cannot much commend that, having 
heard fo good in Europe; but for their Voices, I have heard many of| 
them very loud and fweet. — : : 
4 
|Gollonel Drax (who was not fo firid an obferver of Sundayes, as to deny 
: ot fome of his 
beft {wimming Negroes, commanded themtofwim and take this Duck 5) 
but forbad them to dive, forif they were not bar’d that play, they 
_ | would rife up under the Duck, and take her as the fivorne, of 
meet herinher diving, and fo the {port would have too quick an end. 
Fr | . 
and have her put into his largeft Pond, and calling * 
ut. 
-. Excellent Swimmers and Divers they are; both meh and women, = 
}-himfelf lawful recreations) would {umetimes, to fhew me fpott, upon} 
{that day in the afternoon, fend fot one of the pe yl Ducks , : 
