of the Ifland of Birbsidoes, 



53 



I but that play being forbidden^the duck would make them gdod Cpovtj 

 for they are ftronger Ducks, and better Divers by far than ours ; and 

 I in this chafe, there was much of pleafiire j to fee the various fwim- 

 ! mings of the Ncpjv^cj- ^ fome the ordinary wayes, upon their bellies, 

 fome on their backs , fbme by ilriking out their right leg and left 

 arm, and then turning on the other fide, and changing both their 

 leg and arm, which is aftronger andfwifter way of fwimming, than 

 any of the others : and while we vvere feeing this fport , and obfer- 

 vingthedivedities, of their fvvimmings, a Nc^rf maid, who was not 

 there at the beginning of the fport, and therefore heard nothing of 

 I the forbidding them to dive, put offherpeticoat behind a bufli, that 

 iwas at one end of the Pond , and clofely funk down into the wa- 

 iter, and at one diving got to the Duck, pulfd her under water, 

 j and went back again the fame way fllecametothcbuili,allatonedive. 

 I We all thought the Duck had divM : and expected her appearance 

 I above water, but nothing could be feen, till the (flfctilty was difco- 

 vered, by a Chriftian thatfaw her go in, and fo the duck was taken 

 from her. But the trick being fo finely and fo clofely done, I bcg'd 

 that the Duck might be given her again, which was granted, and the 

 young girlemuch pleafed. 



Though there be a mark fetupon the(e people, which will hardly 

 ever bevvip'd off, as of their cruelties when they have advantages, 

 and of their fearfulnefs and falfenefs, yet no rule fo general but hath 

 his acception : for I believe, and I have ftrong motives to caufo rile to 

 be of that perfvvafion, that there are as honefi:, faithful, and conlcio- 

 nable people amongft them, as amongft thofeof £//r^>p(', or any other 

 jpart of the world. 



A hint of this, I will give you in a lively example , and it was in a 

 time when Viduals vvere (carce, and Plantins were not then fo fre- 

 quently planted, as to afford them enough. So that fome of the high 

 fpirited and turbulent amongfl: thenijbegan to mutiny, and had a plot, 

 fecretly to be revcng'd on their Mafter and one or two of thefe Were 

 Firemen that made the fires in the furnaces, who were never without 

 ftoreof dry wood by them. Thefe villains, were refolvedto make 

 fire to fuch part of the boyling-houfe, as they were fure would fire the 

 reft, and fo burn all, and yet feem ignorant of the fad:, as a thing done 

 by accident. But this plot was diicovered, by fome of the others 

 who hated mifchicf,as much as they lov'd it; and fotraduc'd them to 

 their Mafter, and brought in fo many witnelfes againft them , as they 

 were forced to confcfs , what they meant ftiould have been put in aft 

 the next night: fo giving them condign puniQiment, the Mafter gave 

 order to the ovcrfeer that the reft ihould have a dayes liberty to 

 thcmfelves and their wives, to do v/hat they would ; and withall to 

 allow them a double proportion of vidual for three dayes, both which 

 they refus'd : which We all wonder'd at,knowing well how much they 

 lov'd their liberties, and their meat, having been lately pinch'd of the 

 one, and not having overmuch of the other ; and therefore being 

 doubtful what their meaning was in this , fufpefting fome difcontent 

 ame>n!;>ftthcm3 fcnt for three or four of the beft of them, and defir'd 

 to know why they refus'd this favour that was offer d them, but 



P receiv'd 



