V 6 



a M E ki c A. 



Sect. XXI. 



Martinico. 



Chap. XVIll. 



Situation of 

 Mtrtinico. 



O 



Ppofitc to Dominico lies Martinico, by the Indians nam'd Matunina, which 

 lying at fourteen Degrees and thirty Scruples, is forty five Leagues in 

 circumference^ It appears at a diftance like three Mountains, the higheft' 

 whereof refembles a Hat, and is fcen in all parts of the Illand, which, on the North 

 where three Rocks deny accefsfor Landing, feems to be divided into three Ifles. 



The Qaribbeeans have been fore'd, after many bloody Battels, to furrender up this 

 Ifland to the French : But before they were well fetled, the Caribbeeans rnarching 

 over exceeding high Mountains, deep Concavities, and thick Woods, fell upon 

 them with all the Rage imaginable : the Reafons of which fome attribute to Vu 

 Parquet, who in prejudice of the Mart ink an Caribbeeans, Cent Frenchmen over to Gra- 

 nada and Alouzja : others fuppofe, that they took up Arms to revenge the Death of 

 their Countrey-mcn on St. Vincent, who were deftroy'd by the French with poyfon'd 

 Brandy. But the French furnifh'd with new Supplies, took fufficient Revenge; 

 for theydrove the Qaribbeeans out of their Houfes, and chae'd them into Woods 

 and Deferts. 



The Hills that are over- grown with Trees, are Receptacles for wild Beafts, 

 cfpecially Hogs and Serpents. The other Hills are Till'd and Sow'n, though not 

 without great trouble. 



The Tobacco which grows on thefteep Afcentsmuch exceeds that which grows 

 in the Valleys, or in the Traces of Land fliaded with Trees. 

 The i/iand Since the French, Anno 1635. (being fen t from St. Chrtfiophers by the Lord De/- 

 f«wJ£! namhuc) Setled themfelves on this Ifland, under the Command of his Deputy t)u 

 font, they divided it into five Wards, feparated from that part of the Ifle which 

 was inhabited by the antient Natives : Each Ward hath a Church, or at leaft a 

 Chappel, Armory, Storc-houfes, and Dwelling-houfes, like an intire Village. 



The firft Ward is call'd Tyloot,from 2. Caribbeean Captain, who was very familiar 

 with T>u Parquet, and inform'd him of his Peoples Defigns. 



The fecond, nam'd Capot, is wafh'd by a River of the fame Denomination, and 

 hath many fruitful Plains. 



The third retains the Caribbeean Name, being Carbet, fignifying a Publick Stru- 

 cture, to which they us'd to refortto Feaft, or hold Councils of War ; not far from 

 which the Governor dwelt in a Stone Houfe : Near the Harbor flood alfo an Ar- 

 mory in a Valley,water'd by a frefli River which falls out of the Mountains,fliaded 

 with Trees and Gardens full of Rarities : But lince the Governor gave this and 

 many other fair Buildings to the Jefuits, he remov'd to the fourth Ward, call'd 

 St. Peter, where he built a Caftlc, and furnifli'd the fame with Brafs and Iron Guns 

 to defend the Harbor. 



A Stones-throw from the Governor's Houfe lies the Jtfuits Cloyfter, on the 

 Banks of a pleafant Stream, built very artificially of Marble and Frec-ftone, and 

 having a pleafant Profpect over the River, and adjacent Gardens, bcautifi'd with 

 the choiceft of Flowers, Fruits, and Trees . and alfo a Vineyard, out of which they 

 prefs a considerable quantity of Wine. 



Thelaft Ward, call'd ?reacheur,txttnds Eaftand Weft, fome parts whereof fwell 

 .into high Mountains, at the Feet whereof (land fair Structures ; others fink into 



low Valleys or Savanna*. 



Between 



