Chap. XX. *A M EX^IC A. jg p 



of Taria, over againft which it lies by a Straight chat is three Miles over, and which 

 for the dangeroufnefs of paffing ic, Qolumbus, the firft Difcoverer of ic, call'd <Bocca 

 del Draco ; the length thereof from the moft Southern Angle call'd funta del Andrada 

 to the North-Eaft, call'd funta del Galera, is reckon'd twenty five Leagues, (thofe 

 that reckon fifty, may be fuppos'd to miftake Leagues for MilesJ and the breadth 

 about eighteen. 



The Air of this Place is fo impure, that it is accounted the unwholfomeft Ifland GWefG^ 

 of all the Indies* nevcrthelefs the Soil is not unfertile, as bringing forth Sugar-Canes, *ci£k 

 Cotton, Mai^e, Tobacco of the beft kind, with other Commodities of the general 

 growth of the Weji-Indies, befides ftorc of good Fruit and Cattel . and one part of 

 the Ifland call'd Terra de Sea, produceth great plenty of Pitch, but not of the beft 

 kind ; and there have been difcover'd feveral Veins of Gold and other Metals. 



The Natives,fome fay,were antiently call'd Cam, or Carat, and were diftinguifh'd 

 into feveral Clans or Tribes, each under the Government of a Cafique, or petty 

 Prince ; but moft of them dreading the Spaniards Cruelty, deferted the Ifland, and 

 Setled themfelvesin Guiana ; andatprefenc both this Place, Guiana, and El Dorado, 

 have of Cuftom one and the fame Governor, whofe Place of. Refidence here is 

 St. Jofepbs, the chief, if not onely Town of the Ifland } it ftands Southward upon 

 the Carone. Here moft of that Tobacco is made, which is fold amongft us for 

 Spanifh. In the Year 1595. Sir Walter Raleigh poflefs'd himfelf of it, being then but 

 a petty Village of about forty Houfcs, and took Prifoner the then Governor Antonio 

 <Berreo, who, in all probability, to ingratiate himfelf with him, gave him fome light 

 towards the difcovery of Guiana. 



On the North-Eaft of Trinidado, and not above eight Miles diftanc from it, lies ™<x: 

 the Ifland of Tabago, which hath been already treated of, as one of the Qaribbees, 

 though fome will have it one of the SotaVento ; it is otherwife call'd Nem>- Walcberen, 

 from a Town of that Name in Zealand, from whence a Colony of I^etberlanders 

 was fent to Plant it. 



Amongft others of the fmall obfeure Iflands hereabouts, is Virgin Gorda, which is *■*»••*{ 

 fometimes reckon'd amongft the Caribbee Iflands j but fince there is nothing cotifi- 

 derable to be fpokenofit, it is fufficicnt that it hath been mention'd, though not 

 punctually in its proper place. 



CHAP. XX. 



California; 



< 



HAving before made mention of California, as it is by fome taken for that cugMi 

 large portion of Northern America which lies moft Southward, and alfo ut- gJSw. ln: 

 moft Weft of all that is known of the Mrtb World, and having treated of 

 thofe feveral Provinces which are generally reckon'd to be comprehended in it, 

 (excepting California ftri&ly taken, as it is generally granted to be an Ifland) V/>> 

 (luivira y Gbola,znd No*a ^/£io«, lying on the Continent (though there want not thofe 

 who make £{pva Albion onely the North part of California) we fhall clofe up our 

 Difcourfe of thefe Iflands that lie Northward of the Equinoctial Line with the afore- 

 faid California, fpecially fo call'd, which was by many thought and defcrib'd to be 

 but, a feninfula, or half Ifland, by fcafon that the Bay which divides it from Quivira 



and 



