of the Ifland of Barbadoe^. 



wide, fas was beyond the proportion of windows to repair that; 

 want) and fo let in the fire 5 not confidering at all, that there was fuch | 

 a thing as fhutters for windows, to keep out the rdin that hurt them, ! 

 and let in the wind to refredi them, and do them good at their pleii-i 

 fure. But this was a confideration laid afide by all , or the moll \ 

 part of the meaner fort of Planters. But at laft I found the true] 

 reason, was their poverty and indigence , which wanted the means | 

 to make fuch conveniences; andfb, being compelled by that ^ had' 

 rather rafter painfully, and patiently abide this inconvenience, than 

 fell or part withany of their goods, to prevent fo great a milchief .• 

 So loath poor people are to part with tb-^tt , which is their next 

 immediate help, to fupport them in their great want of fuftenance. 

 For, at that lock they often were, and fome good Hanters too, that 

 [far'dvery hard, wheti we came tirft into the Illand. So that hard la- 

 I bour, and want of viduals, had fo much deprels'd their fpirits, asthey 

 were come to a declining and yielding condition^ Nor can this be 

 called ilothfulnefi or Ouggifhneis in them, as fome will have it, but a 

 decay of their fpirits, by long and tedious hard labour, Height feeding, 

 and ill lodging, which is able to wear out and quell the beft fpirit of the 

 world. 



The Loaijlh a tree of fuch a growth, bothforlength and bignefs, 

 as may (erve for beams in a very large room : I have (ecn many of '. 

 them, whofe ftraight bodies are above fifty foot high, the diameter of } 

 the ftcm or body, three foot and half. The timber of this tree is a ' 

 hard clofe fublf ance, heavy, but firm, and not apt to bend, fome- j 

 what hard fortooles to cut 5 brittle, but lafting. Mjjiick,o not alto- 1 

 gether lb large as he, but ofa tougher fabftance, and not accounted j 

 fo brittle. The Bully-tree wants fomething of the iargenels of thefe, 

 but in his other qualities goes beyond either f for, he is full out as la- | 

 fting, and as ftrong, but not lb heavy, nor fo hard for tooies to work. 

 The Reav^ood and prukjed yellow vpood^ good for pofts or beams,and are 

 lighter than the Locnji'^ both are accounted very lafting, and good for 

 building. The Cedar is^ without contfoiil , the beft of all 5 but by 

 reafon it works (hiooth , and looks beautiful, weu(eit moft in Wain- 

 Icot, Tables, and Stools. Other timber we have, as the IroH-mood.^2Lnd 

 another fort, v/hich are excellent good to endure wet and dry; and 

 ofthofe we make Shingles, which being fuch a kind of wood, as will 

 not warp nor rive, are the beft coverings for a houfe that can be, full 

 out as good as Til es, and lye lighter upon the Rafters. 



We have two forts of Stone , and either will ferve indifferently 

 well in building The one we find on fides of fnall Hills, and it lyes 

 as ours do \n England^ in Quarries; but they are very fmall , rough, 

 and ill Ihaped, fome of them porous, like Honey combes; but being 

 burnt, they make excellent Lyme, the whiteft and firmeft when 'tis 

 dry, thatlhave feen; and by the help of this , v/e make the better 

 fhift with our ill (hap'd ftone; for this lime binds it faft together, and 

 keeps It firm to endure the weather. Other Stotie we have, which we 

 find in great Rocks, and maflie pieces in the ground , but fo foft , as 

 with your finger you may bore a hole into it ; and this foftnefs gives uo 

 the means of cutting it with two-handed Sawes, vMxch. being hard, 

 we could not fo eafily do, and the eafinefs caufes the expedition ; for 

 j by that, we the more fpeedily fit it for our walls, taking a juft breadth 

 I M of 



what mm 

 rials grow 

 ititheljland 

 fit to build 

 with, which 

 may be call'd 

 the Lie m ems 

 of Archite- 

 BiiYc. And 

 firfi-. for 

 Timber. 



Stem ft for 

 Building- 



