Chap. XIV. zA r M E %_ I C A. ^ 9 



two over one another , the Flowers have -alio five Leaves, in the middle of which 

 rifes a Crown like that on a Peacock's Head : The Fruit, which is cover'd with a 

 fort Doun, and fomewhat longer than the European Apple, when cut through, 

 hath a pale red Pulp, full of eatable Kernels : before it U ripe, it is of a fliarp tafte, 

 yet good boyl'd, but when ripe, of a moll delicious and pleafant rellifli . neverthe- 

 lefs too much of it caufes a Lask : The Roots, which are red without/and white 

 within, are juicy, fweet, and very long,the Leaves fallow and fowre of tafte. 



Amongft the ftrange Beads the JaVaru, Opaffum, and T*tt» are the moft remark- th< BciA 

 able. The Javans are taken for a fort of wild Hogs, and have fliort Ears and a ? "'"" 

 Navel on tiieir Backs, little Tails, fome black, and fome fpotted white. 



The Opajfum is as big as a Cat, hath a fliarp Mouth,the upper Jaw-bone hanging n, <MM 

 over the lower, long,ftraight,flnd broad Ears,and a very long Tail,bald at the end, 

 which winds in a Circle, on its Back black Hair fprinklcd with grey Spots, and 

 with its fharp Claws climbs up the Trees, where it feeds on Fruit, and fometimes 

 preys on Fowls. Nature hath furnifli'd this Beaft with a ftrange Bag under its 

 Belly, whereof the in-fide hath a far fofter Doun than the out-fide, in°which the 

 young ones lie and fuck, after which the Bag opening, they creep out upon the 

 Ground. The Males have alfo a Bag, which ferves onely to carry their Young in, 

 for they and the Females carry them by turns. 



The Tatof», which is arm'd with fliarp Scales, hath the Mouth of a Hog, and at **«**. 

 each Foot five (harp Nails : when it is Hunted, or goes to fieep in the Nighi, it 

 draws its Head, Legs and Tail under its fcaly Coat of Mail, like a Tortoife,°and in 

 that manner lies fecure againft all manner of danger. 



The Venifon taken here is very delicate*, but difficult to be got ; for this Beaft 

 having a breathing.place in its Back, never tires with running, and when encom. 

 pafs'd by the Dogs, falls valiantly on thofe that are neareft to it, and often tears 

 them in pieces. 



The chief Towns in this Ifland, are i. Porto <%ico it felf, commonly call'd 

 St. John de Porto %o (fo term'd by Cbrijlopber Qohmbut, as being the firft Land difco- 

 ver d by him in the Year 149-. at that time when he could not perfwade his Sea. 

 men, wearied out with continual hardfliip, from returning, if they difcover'd not 

 Land in two days) a ftrong and neat Town, built by the Command of Philip the 

 Second, King of Spain : It was attempted by Sir Francis Drake in the Year 1505; 

 without fuccefs, but a few years after taken by the Earl of Cumberland. 



2. St. Germans, in the Weft part of the Ifland, three or four Leagues diftant from 

 the Sea. 



3 . Jrrecibo, Weft ward from Porto <%jco, where the moft noted Haven is of thofe 

 Parts, for all the others arc full of Rocks and Sands. 



The antient Inhabitants of this Ifland maintain'd continual Witt With the 

 Cannibals (probably the Natives of the Iflands fo call'd; who us'd every year to 

 tome thither : thofe that were conquer 'd, as well of the one fide as of the other, 

 were eaten by the Conquerors, fo that in effeel, both fides were but a different fort 

 of Cannibals. 



Columbus Landing here, found a great Houfe furrounded with twelve others, but 

 all or them empty and defolate. 



This Ifland (which formerly is faid to have been under the abfolute Power of 

 one lole King) the Spaniards not much regarded at firft, having enough to do with 

 Hijpamola, where they found more Gold than on Porto %o. 



Jmw^io.John Ponce de Leon obtain'd a Commiffion from the Court of Spain, to J* *■■« 

 be chief Governor of this Ifland, and built dparra, which Place was inhabited — "" 





Chi.f Townt 

 and CitK$» 



' 





twelve 



