The Dirifion 

 of the Ifland 

 into feveral 

 Wardi., 



Bafli-Ttrrt 

 the chief 

 Town be- 

 longing to the 

 French, 



Dcfcription 

 of thcCatfle. 



584. <a M E XI C A. Chap. XVIII. 



Saviour in the appearance of a little Child on his Shoulders through a deep Sea. 



This Ifland lying feventeen Degrees and twenty five Minutes Northward of the 

 Equinottial Line, hath twenty five Leagues in circumference. 



The Soil light and fandy, refufes not the production of divers forts of Fruits 

 common amongft us. 



In the middle of the Ifland riles a high Mountain, out of which run frefii 

 Streams, that fomctimes fwell fo high with fudden Rains, that they drown all the 

 Countrey neat them. 



This Ifland being jointly the Plantation of both Engli/h and French, was divided 

 into four Wards, two whereof have been long fincein pofleffion of the French, and 

 the other two in poflefTion of the Englifb, ftrangely divided one from another • for 

 the Englijh in one Ward cannot go to the other without troubling the French ; and 

 fo on the contrary : the Englifk have more Rivers and People,the French more plain 

 Land, fitter for Cultivation, and Forts furnifh'd with Guns and Soldiers. At the 

 Entrances of the Paths which lead into the feveral Wards ftand Watch-houfes, 

 where Sentinels, or Watch*men ftand daily in their turns. 



In a Bay of the Sea they found a brave Salt-pit, from whence a fandy Cliff runs 

 fofar into the Ocean, a that Tome have fwum from the end thereof over to the 

 Ifland Nevis. 



A Silver Mine hath been long fince difcover'd on this Ifland, in which the Eng* 

 lish and French claim equal Intcrcft, but neither Party make any benefit of it for 

 want of Miqers. 



The high Mountains, the Springs of boyling fulphurous Water, and brambly 

 Woods, hinder all paflage through the middle of the Ifland : The Ground runs 

 more and more floaping to the Sea-fide, and is divided into feveral High-ways 

 along which ftand convenient Houfes, covered with red or glaz'd Slate, (haded 

 with Trees, and environed with pleafant Gardens, to which there is a delightful 

 Profpeft from the Fields, of the green Tobacco-Lcavfcs, the yellow Sugar-Canes, 

 Ginger, and Potato's. 



Befidesthe fcatter'd Buildings, the French have built a compfeat Town near the 

 convenienteft Harbor of their Quarter, call'd Bajfe-Terre, where the Merchants 

 dwell in fair Houfes built of Brick and Free-ftone ; whither all forts of People 

 bring their Commodities, and Truck their European Goods for fuch as St. Chrifto- 

 fhers produceth. All manner of Trades and Handicrafts live alfo in this Town 

 and a Court of Judicature is kept every Week. Tde Church built of Free-ftone, is 

 cover'd with the aforefaid red Slate, and was formerly Govern'd by the Capuchins'* 

 but they being difmifs'd Anno 1646. the Government was given to the Jefuits and 

 Carmelites ; who alfo built themfelves other ftately Edifices ; b£\ the Jeluit Henrick 

 du Viv'xer was the firft whobore the chiefeft Command over all. 



The Sick that have not fiifficient Means to maintain them, have an Hofpital ap- 

 pointed, where all Neceflaries are provided for them . and to which is added a 

 School for the bringing up of poor Children. 



But the chiefeft Stru&ureis the Caftle, on the building whereof the Lord ?oincj 

 fpar'd no Coft . it is built half a French Mile from the Sea at the Foot of a high 

 Mountain, fliadowed with great Trees. In the Way thither ftand the Houfes of 

 the prime Officers ; and a long Walk of Orange and Lemmon-Trees leads to a large 

 Court before the Front of the Caftle it felf, which is built fquare with Bricks and 

 Free-ftone three Stories high • and the Entrance inpo it is afcended by a large pair 

 of Stairs . near the Gate which opens to the Weft, ftand great Stone Cifterns, into 

 which they receive the Water through Pipes laid under Ground . the Chambers 



and 



