Chap. XII. a M ET^I C A. 313 



Ebbs or Flows above five Foot. The Shore, for the mod part Rocky, and hardned 

 by the Sun and Wind, receives no damage by the Waves which continually beat 

 againft the fame. 



The Ground it felf differs . for in fome places it is fandy or clayie, and in ^f^ ' 

 others partly black, and partly white, or Afli-colour'd Earth ; which laft is ac- 

 counted the worft, and the black the ben;. Three Foot deep under the Afli*colour'd 

 Earth lie great Slates, and under the black, a white fpungie Stone, like the Pu- 

 mice, in whofe moid Crevifes Trees take root. 



The Pics or Wells, though they Ebb and Flow with the Sea, yet produce a 

 wholfom and fweet Water. 



The Skie is generally ferene,but when over-caft with Clouds, is fubjeft to Light* 2^5% ! 

 ning and Thunder • yet the Air is of a good temper, being neither exceeding cold, Alr * 

 nor exceffive hot : for which rcafon the European Fruits grow better there than in 

 their natural Soil. 



Their Harveft is twice a year ; for that which they Sowe in March, is ripe and 

 gather'd in ]u?ie- y then what they Sowe again in Jugujl y they gather in January. 



Thefe Iflands breed no hurtful Creatures 5 nay, the yellow Spider which fpins Kcc«utr; 

 filken Cobwebs, is free from Poyfon. trey * 



The Plant Nuchtly, which bears fpeckled Pears, grows betwixt the Rocks which 

 are drench'd with Sea-water. 



The Hogs which above a hundred and fifty years fince fwam afliorc out of the 

 Spanijh Wrack, are exceedingly increas'd there, but becaufe of their poornefs are 

 fcarce eatable, they feeding onely on the fweet Berries which fall from the falmito* 

 Trees. 



About the white and red Mulberries, which grow plentifully there, breed 

 thoufands of Silk-worms, which (pin Silk according to the colour of the MuU 

 berries. 



The Sea produces fome quantity of Pearls and Ambergrcece. 

 From the beginning of the year till May, the Whales are feen to fwim not far 

 from the Shore. 



A ftrange fort of Sea-Fowl breed in Holes like Rabbets j and amongft other 

 Birds, here arealfo (lore of Cranes. 



The Tobacco which the Englifh have planted here grows very well* 

 Here are likewife great Tortoifes, which Lay their Eggs in the Sand on the J^^fy 

 Shore, where they are Hatch'd by the Beams of the Sun, and are taken after this **s s . 

 manner: In the Night fome arc fet to watch where they Land, and whileft they 

 are digging a deep Hole in the Ground, are tnrown on their Backs, and not being 

 able to get upon their Legs again, they lie and groan very pitifully : fome of them 

 having above two Bafons full of Eggs in their Bellies ; which being about the big- 

 nefs of a Tennis-Bali, have a thin Shell, which inclofeth a Yolk and White. If thefe 

 Eggs lie buried fix years, then the young Tortoifes breaking the Shell, come out of 

 the Sand, and inftantly creep into the Sea. Their Flefli is not onely wholfom but 

 toothfom. TheOyl made of them is not inferior to Butter. 



Moreover, the Bermudas produce Cedars,thc like of which are not to be found in %£^f * 

 the whole World : The Leaves are douny and prickly at the ends,almoft like thofc kind - 

 of the Juniper Tree : The Wood hath a fweet fmell,and the Berries,which are like 

 the Myrtle, of a pale Red, inclofe four white Kernels ; the outermoft Skin where» 

 of is fweet ; the innermoft, which covers the Kernel, fhavp, and the Pulp tartifli : 

 The Trees arc always flourifhing, being at the fame time full of Bloflbrris, green,. 

 and ripe Fruit : The Berries, when grown ripe, begin to gape, and fall off in rainy 



Hh J Weather, 



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