66 



A True and Exa& Hiftory 



Thefe Crabs are coming from the Sea all the year long, ('except in 

 March") they hide themfelves in holes, and in houles, and fometimes 

 in hollow trees , and into every part of the Ifland they come, fome- 

 times we meet them going up flairs in the night , fometimes in our 

 low rooms, fometimes in our Gardens, where they eat the herbs. 

 Wc hold them not good meat : Butthe Negroes will often upon<s^//»- 

 isf^^ci go a Crabbing, and think them very great dainties when they 

 areboyled. Thefo Crabs in March come all out of their holes , and 

 march down towards the Sea in liich multitudes, as to cover a great 

 part of the ground wherethey go, and no hedge, wall, or houfe can 

 ftopthem, but they will over. As we ride, ourHorfes tread on them, 

 they are fo thick on the ground. And they have this fenfe, to go the 

 neareft way to the Sea, from the place where they are , and nothing 

 can ftoporftay them, but death : Tisthe time I guefs they gq to 

 breed. 



Having paft through all the reafonable and (enfitives Creatures of 

 this Ifland , I come now to lay fomewhat of the Vegetables , as of 

 Trees : and of thofe there are fuch infinite varieties, as to mention all, 

 were to loofomyfelf in a wood , for, it were impoffible for any one 

 in the timelftayedthere, (though he ftudied nothing elfe) to give 

 an account of the particulars. And therefore I will onely mention 

 fuch, as for beauty or ufe , are of moft and greateft efleem in the 

 Ifland. 



And for that there is none of more ufe than the rhyJlck^Nttt , I will 

 begin firft with that, which though the name feem to promife health, 

 yet it has poyfon lodg'd fecretly within , and that poyfon may bring 

 health, being phyfically apply ed, and in fit times and feafons. The 

 reafon why I think it poyfonous, is, becaufe Cattle will notbroufe , 

 nor feed on the leaves, nor willingly come near the fhade. This tree 

 will grow to be eighteen foot high, but we have a way to employ it , 

 as for beauty and ufe,there are none fuch in thelfland.This tveeCwhich 

 is of the height as I have told you) has many fprigs, of four, five, and fix 

 foot long 5 we lop them one after another, and as we take off the bran- 

 ches, cutftakcsofthem 5 about four foot and a half long, and flick 

 them in the ground an inch deep, and no more, clofe to one another, 

 in the manner of Palifladoes , and fo, with a rail of either fidcjto keep 

 I them even, and here and there a fpur or braket on either fide , to 

 keep them fteddy for a month 5 by which time, they will not only ga- 

 ther roots to flrengthenthem, and hold them up, but leaves to cover 

 their tops, and fo evenandfmooth they fall, as to cover the tops of 

 themfelves, at leafttwo foot and a half downward^ and will in a 

 month more, be fo firmly rooted in the earth, as you may remove 

 your rails andbrakets, toaflift thofe that are planted after them, in 

 other places. Thefe leaves being large, fmoothjand beautifully fhapd^ 

 and of a fiill green, appear to your eyes like fo much green Sattin, 

 hang'd on a rail or line, fo even and fo finooth they hang natu- 

 rally. 



The flems will grow apace, but more in their bignefs than their 

 height, (for you may if you pleafe, keep them at this height, by cut- 

 ting off the tops) and in a while they will not only touch, butimbody 



them- 



