552 DUTCH ISLANDS IN AMERICA, 



likewise generated several intermediate casts, whose colours immu- 

 tably depend on their degree of consanguinity to either whites, In- 

 dians, or negroes. These are divided into Mulattoes, Tercerones, 

 Quarter-ones, and Quinterones, with several intermediate subdivi- 

 sions, proceeding from their retrograde intercourse. There are so 

 great a number of birds, of various species, and remarkable for the 

 beauty of their plumage, in Guiana, that several persons in this co- 

 lony have employed themselves advantageously, with their slaves 

 and dependents, in killing and preserving birds for the cabinets of 

 naturalists in different parts of Europe. The torporific eel is found 

 in the rivers of Guiana, which, when touched either by the hand, or 

 by a rod of iron, gold, silver, copper, or by a stick of some particu- 

 lar kinds of heavy American wood, communicates a shock perfectly 

 resembling that of electricity. There are an immense number and 

 variety of snakes in this country, which form one of its principal in- 

 conveniences. A snake was killed some years since, on a plantation 

 which had belonged to Peter Amyatt, esq. which was upwards of 

 thirty-three feet in length, and in the largest place near the middle 

 three feet in circumference. It had a broad head, large prominent 

 eyes, and a very wide mouth, in which was a double row of teeth. 

 Among the animals of Dutch Guiana is the Laubba, which is pecu- 

 liar to this country. It is a small amphibious creature, about the size 

 of a pig four months old, covered with fine short hair : and its flesh, 

 by the Europeans who reside here, is preferred to all other kinds of 

 meat. 



DUTCH ISLANDS IN AMERICA. 



ST. EUSTATIUS, or EUSTATIA. ...Situate in 17° 29' north lati- 

 tude, and 63° 10 f west longitude, and three leagues north-west of St. 

 Christopher's, is only a mountain, about 29 miles in compass, rising 

 out of the sea like a pyramid, and almost round. But though so 

 small, and inconveniently laid out by nature, the industry of the 

 Dutch has made it to turn to very good account, and it is said to 

 contain 5000 whites and 15,000 negroes. The sides of the mountain 

 are disposed in very pretty settlements, but they have neither springs 

 nor rivers. They raise here sugar and tobacco ; and this island, as 

 well as Curassou, is engaged in the Spanish contraband trade, for 

 Which, however, it is not so well situate ; and it has drawn the same 

 advantage from its constant neutrality. The Dutch first took pos- 

 session of this island in the year 1635. 



CURASSOU, or CURACAO. ...Situate in 12 degrees north Iatir 

 tude, 9 or 10 leagues from the continent of Terra Firma, is 30 miles 

 long, and 10 broad. It seems as if it were fated, that the ingenuity 

 and patience of the Hollanders should everywhere, both in Europe 

 and America, be employed in fighting against an unfriendly nature; 

 for this island is not only barren, and dependent upon the rains for wa- 

 ter, but the harbour is naturally one of the worst in America. Yet 

 the Dutch have entirely remedied that defect ; they have upon this 

 harbour one of the largest, and by far one of the most elegant and 

 cleanly towns in the West Indies. The public buildings are numer- 



