Chap. XiX. AMERICA. 387 



want of Provifions ; Having during this time been on the Iflands St. Martin, Mont- 

 ferrat, and Jntego, thinking to have poffefs'd himfelf of fome or other of them in 

 ftead of St. Ckriflophers, but not finding fuch a fruitful Soil, and convenient Situa- 

 tion, as what he had been fore'd to forfake, he was not forward to fix there, but ra- 

 ther judg'd it convenient to enquire concerning the Condition of St. Chriftophers, 

 and at laft being inform'd by a Ketch, that the Enemy Was gone to Havana, and the 

 English were bufie in Tilling their Lands, he returned to his old Station -, where ne- 

 verthelefs their Endeavors to repair what was ruin'd, had been in vain, by reafon 

 of the icarcity of Provifions, and want of other Ncceffaries, had not in their greateft 

 extremity fome Netherland VefTels arriving there, furnifli'd them with Provifions, 

 Clothes, and other Neceffaries, on bare promifes of payment: But not long after 

 growing rich with Tobacco, Sugars, Ginger, and Indigo, they made Satisfaction 

 to all their Creditors, and at laft attain'd to the Condition before mention d. 



In the late War between Us and the Dutch, the French taking advantage of our 

 Engagement, endeavor'd to deftroy our Plantations there, and to make themfelves 

 Matters of the whole Ifland s but the Matter being at laft brought to fome Agree* 

 ment, Sir Charles Wheeler hath been very lately fent over thither by His Majefty to 

 re-fettle Affairs there, and order the Capitulations between the French and Englifl?. 



I 



CHAP. XIX. 

 The Iilands Sotavento, andthelfleTrinidado. 



IN the Divifion we found to be made of the Iflands that lie between Florida and 

 NeTfc Spain, and Southern America, the laft are the Ifles of SotaVento, which are 

 reckon'd to be thefe three, Margareta, Cubagua, and Tabago, ■ but the laft is by 

 moft accounted, and hath been mention'd amongft the Caribbees. 



Margareta, fo call'd from the abundance of Pearls (of which the Spanish Appel- ^J£*. 

 lation comes near the Latine Margariu) found there by the Spaniards at their firft 

 Difcovery, lies about the twelfth Degree of Northern Latitude over againft the 

 Main Land of Cumana, from which it is diftant about feven Leagues : It is ac- 

 counted fixteen Leagues long, and half as much in breadth, and was difcover'd by 

 Columbus in his third Voyage in the Year of our Lord 1408. and was at firft in great 

 reputation, in regard of the rich PearUfifiiing upon its Coafts, wherein the Spaniards 

 (more favorable it feems to the Natives of this Place than ufual, becaufe of their 

 readinefs to difcover their Trcafures) employ'd Negro'*, brought from the Coaft of 

 Guinee, whom by fevere Punifhments infli&ed, they fore'd to fuch exceffive Labor, 

 that many of them, though excellent Divers, were drown'd,others either devour'd, 

 or lam'd by the ravenous great Fifli thereabouts, and by deftroying the very Seed 

 through their infatiable greedinefs after Pearl,brought the Trade of Pearl-fifliing in 

 a fliort time to a very fmall Account, in refpeft of what it might have been, had it 

 been well husbanded. Nor hath this Ifland of late Years been much frequented, only 

 in the Year 1601. Captain barker with a Fleet of English put on Shore here, and 

 took as many Prifoners as he had fivehundred pounds of Pearl for the Ranfom of, 

 and at his coming away took a Ship he met from ofFthe Coaft of Angola, with three 

 hundred and feventy Negro's aboard her, who were going to be fold for Slaves. 

 The Soil is not unfruitful, bringing forth feveral forts of Fruit, and ftore of 



Mai^, 



ft 



