efthe I jland of hsxhsidotSi 



43 



a third part of my building to be of In Eafl: and Weft line^dnd the other 

 two thirds to crofs that^at the Weft end : in a North and South Hnejand 

 this latter to be a ftory higher than that of the Eaft and Weft line, fo 

 that at four a dock in the afternoon, the higher buildings will begin to 

 (hade the other , and fo afford more and more (hade to my Eaft and 

 Weft building till night 5 and not only to the houle, but to all the walks 

 that I make on either fide that building^and then I would rai(e my foun- 

 dation of that part of my boule wherein my beft rooms were three foot 

 dbove ground 5 leaving it hollow underneath for Ventiduds , which 

 I would have come into every room in the houle, and by that means 

 you (hall feel the cool breeze all the day^and in the evening^when they 

 (lacken, a cool ftiadefrom my North and South building, both which 

 are great refrefhings, in hot Countreys : and according to this Model, 

 I drew many plots, of feveral (izes and contrivances, blitthey did not 

 or would not underftand them .• at laft I grew weary of cafting ftones 

 againft the wind, and (b gave over. 



It v/erefbmewhat difficult, to give you an exadi account , of the T%e mnt- 

 number of per(bns upon the iQand 5 there being fuch ftore of (hipping ber and rut' 

 that brings paiTengers daily to the place, but it has been conje^ur'd, '^''^ 0/ 

 by thofe that are long acquainted, and beftfeenin the knowledge of Inhahitcmts. 

 theldand, that there are not lefs than 50 thou(and fouls ^ befides N^- 

 groQs'^ and forae of them who began upon (mall fortunes, arenowrifen 

 to very great and vaft eftates. 



The Ifland is divided into three forts of men, ^/iz.Mafters, Servants, 

 and Slaves. The (laves and their pofterity, being fubjed to their Ma- 

 ,fters for ever, are kept and pre(erv'd with greater care than the fer- 

 vants, who are theirs but for five years, accofding to the law of the 

 Wand. So that for the time, the fervants have the wdrfer lives, for 

 they are put to very hard labour, ill lodging , and their dyet very 

 jfleight. When we came firft on the Ifland , fome Planters them- 

 selves did not eat bone meat, above twice a week : the reft of the 

 (even dayes. Potatoes, Loblolly, and Bonavift. But the (ervants no 

 bone meat at all, unle(sanOxedyed : and then they were feafted, as 

 long as that lifted. And till they had planted good ftore of Plan- 

 tines, the Ncgr.?cj were fed with this kind of food 5 but moft of it Bo- 

 navift, and Loblolly, with fome ears of Mayes toafted , which food 

 (efpecially Loblolly i) gave them much di(contcnt : But when they 

 had Plantincs enough to ferve them , they were heard no more to 

 complain , for 'tis a food they take great delight in, and their manner 

 of drefFmg, and eating it, is this : 'tis gathered for them ( fomewhat 

 before it be ripe, for fo they defire to have it,) upon Saturday^ by the 

 keeper of the Plantine grove ^ who is an able Ne^eir^?, and knowes well 

 the number of thofe that are to be fed with this fruit, and as he ga- 

 thers, lay es them all together, till they fetch them away,which is about 

 five a clock in the afternoon, for that day they break off work foo- 

 ner by an hour : partly for this purpofe, and partly for that the fire in 

 the furnaces is to be put out, and" the Ingenio and the rooms made 

 clean 5 befides they are to wafli, (have and trim themfelves againft 

 Sunday. But 'tis a lovely fight to (ee a hundred handfom Negroes , 

 men and women, with eVery one a grafle-green bunch of thefe fruits 



M 2 on 



