Chap. XVI. A M ERIC A 337 



for being employ "d about their Fortifications, they are worfe m'd, all things con- 

 fider'd, than if they were taken by the Turks. . 



I have feen other parts of the mjldndies, where the Spaniards might be fleec'd of 

 confiderable quantities of Riches, as at Panama, where their Silver Bars lie pyl'd up 

 in Heaps in the open Streets Day and Night without Guard for five or fix Moneths 

 together, waiting the arrival of the Armado- which when arriv'd in Puerto Bella, 

 they Tranfport it thither with fo flender a Guard, for fo great a Treafure, as would 

 be an eafie Prey to a t.houfand refolv'd Men (although of extraordinary value for 

 fo fmall a Charge 5 ) but here is no refting, nor long remaining, they being Co 

 numerous (as in all other places of the main Land) though of great Wealth, and 

 eafily gotten with a Catch and away : But to my purpofe, 



This Ifland of Cuba hath adjacent to it great Conveniences of Salt and Fifliing j 

 and in it are very great plenty of Horfes, Neat, Sheep, and Hogs, both wild and 

 tame of a far larger and better breed than any other parts of Jmerica i It hath alfo 

 many very rich Mines of Copper already open, and is the onely Place that fup. 

 plies all the Weji-lndies with Metal for the infinite number of Ordnance they have 

 in all their Ports and Caftles, both in the North and South Seas , but whether it 

 hath any Mines of Silver or Gold, I know not . but if there were any fuch, they 

 would not adventure their opening and difcovery, fearing the Invafion of that 

 Ifland, whereunto is fo eafie accefs by Sea, and of fo great import to their whole 

 Intereft in America : for which reafon alfo they refufc to work any Mines in Flo- 

 rida, that are nigh the North Sea, (although they have there very many) but do ra- 

 ther employ themfelves about others farther up in the Countrey, although with 

 greater Labor and Coft, for conveyance of the Product by Land to Mexico. And 

 laftly, (for its full praj£J-this Ifland hath many very good Ports and Harbors of 

 great advantage to Ships, for fafe parting the Gulf; and mould the Spaniards keep 

 three or four Frigats always plying between the Weftern end of Cuba and that of 

 Havana, off and on, it were impoffible for any Ships of ours that came from Jamaica 

 to efcape them ; the Scales turn'd would be their Cafe to all America. Neither 

 wants it great Sugar-works, which have Water-mills and Horfe.mills, and very 

 many large Cocoa Walks, the moft and belt Tobacco : and in fljort, it produceth 

 all other Commodities, that any of our American Iflands have knowledge of. 



CHAP. XVI. 



Jamaica. 



THe Ifland of Jamaica lieth North from the Southern Continent of America, ***?£* 

 in the Sea call'd Mare del ZVVr ; and South from the Ifle of Cuba about /■""** 

 twelve Leagues ; and Weft from Hifpaniola twenty, in eighteen Degrees 

 of Northern Latitude . and beareth from <$» de Hacba North. Weft, a hundred and 

 fifty Leagues } from Santa Martba North North-Weft, a hundred and thirty five - t 

 from %io Grande North-Weft, a hundred and thirty } from Cartbagena North, four, 

 teen • from Porto <Bcllo North-Eaft and by North, a hundred and ninety t from the 

 Bay of Varien, North and by Eaft, a hundred and fcventy , from the Bay of Mexico, 

 a hundred and fifty. It is of Form fomething nearly refcmbling oval, being in 

 length from Eaft to Weft.about fifty four Leagues, or a hundred and feventy Miles , 



iCk 3 f f° m 



