Towns and 

 Places of 

 chief note. 



338 A M E<KI C A. Chap. XIX. 



Mai^ and probably if improved, would as well bear Wheat, and other ufual kinds 

 of Grain . but there is great want of Water, which the Inhabitants arctroubled to 

 fetch from the neighboring Continent. 



The Places of chief note, are i . Monpater, a Fort built by the Spaniards in a Nook 

 of the Ifland, lying Eaftward to fecure the Pearl.fifliing Trade, and to defend the 

 Town where the Governor refides, as alfo the Treafurer of the King of Spain's Cu. 

 ftoms of Pearl, which have been formerly valu'd at 50000 /. yearly. 



2. El valle de Santa Lucia, two Leagues from this Town, and as much from the 

 Sea, a Spanifl) Colony. 



3. Macanao, the oncly noted Place belonging to the Natives, 



Sect. II. 



Cubagua. 



Situation of 

 CHiagtM. 



The Mod 



Situation of 

 TrinUaJt. 



CUbagua lies South. Weft of Margarita, about the eleventh Degree of North. 

 Latitude, a League or thereabouts diftant from Margarita, a°nd fix Leagues 

 from the neareft Continent, and about three Leagues in circumference. 

 Thisis alfo a very great Place for Pearl.fifliing, the benefit whereof hath been fo 

 confiderable, that the King of Spain's Fifths are laid to have amounted fome years 

 to fifteen thoufand Ducats . but otherwife of a poor and barren Soil, not oncly de- 

 ftitute of Water, but of Fruit, Grain, Herbage, and all manner of Cartel and eata- 

 ble Beafts, except a few lean Coneys • neverthelefs, in refpeft of the Pearl.fifliing 

 Trade, the Spaniards have Planted here a Colony, which they call'd New Qaii^ ha- 

 ving plenty ofProvifions brought them from the adjoining Coafts, and foon after 

 their firft Planting grew in a ftiort time fo powerful, that they became Mafters of 

 one of the beft Ports of thofe Seas, call'd Maracapana Venezuela « but upon an Alarm 

 of the Salvages of Qimana,(ox a while deferred the Ifland, and betook themfelves to 

 Hijpaniola ; from whence neverthelefs being remanded back with frefli Supplies 

 under, rhe Command of James de Qafiellon, they foon re-inftated themfelves in their 

 former Plantation, and made it more ftrong and flourifliing than before - in which 

 ftatethey remain'd as long as the Pearl.fifliing Trade continu'd, but that'decaying 

 the fplendor alfo of this Colony dcclin'd : fo that at prefent theonely thinp which 

 makes the Place remarkable, is a Fountain on the Eaft part of the Ifland/not fer 

 from rhe Sea, yielding a liquid bituminous Water, of Angular nfc in Medicine, and 

 iometimes found floating on the Sea at two or rhree Leagues diftance. 



About four Leagues diftant from Cubagua rhere is an Ifland call'd Code about 

 three Miles in compafs . It was difcovef'd in rhe Year ,520. and was formerly lit- 

 tle lefs confiderable for Pearl.fifliing than the other two. 



Sect. III. 



Trinidado. 



THc : Ifland of Trimdado was firft difcover'd by £Wiw, Anno H47 . in his 

 third Voyage, and by him fo call'd, as fome guefs, from its three Points or 

 „., , P i om j ° n j torics ; ^ut that feems not fo probable, in regard it is otherwife 

 call d La Trmtdad, or Jn/ula Sanilx Trinitatis, and rherefore is likely to have been de. 

 nominated upon a religious Account ; It lieth nine Degrees or thereabouts diftant 

 from the L,ne, at the Mouth of the River Orenoaue, and is feparartd from the Coaft 



of 



