A True and ExaB Hiflory 



Children, when they arc firft born, have the palmsof their handsand 

 chcfoles of their feet, of a whitiQi colour, and the fight of their eyes 

 ofablewifli colour, not unlike the eyes of a young Kitling j but, as 

 they grow older, they become black. 



Their Vv'ay of reckoning their ages, or any other notable accident 

 they would remember, is by the Moon , and fb accounting from the 

 time of their Childrens births , the time they were brought out of 

 their own Gountrey, or the time of their being taken Prifoners ^ bv 

 fome Prince or Potentate of their own Country , or any other noto- 

 rious accidents, that they are refolved to remember, they account by 

 the Moon 5 as, fo many Moons fince one of thefe, andfo many Moons 

 fince another 5 and this account th^y keep as long as they can : But if 

 any ofthcm live long, their Arithrrietick fails them, and then they are 

 at a dead fault, and fbgiveover the chafe, wanting the skill to hunt 

 counter. For what can poor people do, that are without Letters and 

 Numbers, which is the foul of all bufinefs that is afted by Mortals,upon 

 the Globe of this World. 



Some of them , who have been bred up amongfl: the Portugals , 

 have fbme extraordinary qualities, which the others have not 5 as 

 finging and fencing. I have fccn fbme of thefe Portugal Negroes^ at 

 Collonel Draxes , play at Rapitr and Dagger very skilfully , 

 with their Stookados, their imbrocados, and their PafTcs: And at fin- 

 gle Rapier too, after the manner of Cl. aranza ^ with fuch comclinefs 5 

 as, if the skill had been wanting, the motions would have pleafed 

 you 5 but they were skilful too, which I perceived by their binding 

 with their pomts, and nimble and fubtle ax'oidings with their bodies, 

 and the advantages the flrongefl: man had in the clofe, which the other 

 avoided by thenimblenefs and skilful nefs of his motion. For, in this 

 Science, 1 had been fb well vers'd in my youth, as I wa? now able to be 

 a competent Judge. Upon their firfi: appearance upon the Sta^e, they 

 march towards one another, with a flow majeflick pdce, and a bold 

 commanding look, as ifthey meant both to conquer^ and coming near 

 together, they (hake hands, and embrace one another, with achearful 

 look. But their retreat is much quicker than their advance, and,being 

 at firff difVance,change their countenance,and put themfelves into their 

 poflure 3 and io after a pafsor two, retire, and then to't again .• And 

 when they have done their play, they embrace, fhake hands,and put- 

 . ting on their fmoother countenances, give their refpcds to their Maftef, 

 and fogoofF. For their Singing, I cannot much commend that,having 

 heard fb good in £//r<?pe 3 but for their voices, I haVe heard many of 

 them very loud and fweet. 



Excellent Swimmers and Divers they are, both men and women. 

 Collonel Drax (ivho was tiot jo JlriB an ohfcrver (?/Sunday es, as to deny 

 him(elf lawful recreations) would f)metimes, to fhev/ me iport, upon 

 that day in the afternoon, fend for one of the Mufco'Via Ducks , 

 and have her put into his largeft Pond, and calling for fbme of his 

 beftfvvimmingNc^ri^f/, commanded them to fvim and take this Duck 5 

 but forbad them to dive, for if they were not bar'd that play, they 

 would rife up under the Duck , and take her as fiie fwome, or 

 meet her in her diving, and fb the fj^ort would have too quick an end. 



But 



