24 True and Exact theory 



that the Indians brought fonietoo , and vvhoknovvs/vvhich were the 

 mort exaftly made. For, 'tis cenain, that from fome part of the Ifland, 

 yoLi may (ee (in a clear day J St. Vincents perfectly ; And if we can fee 

 them, why may not they fee us 5 aad they will certainly venture t^ 

 > any place they fee, fo far as they know they can reach before night , 

 ^ fetting out very early in the morning. But I leave you to credit which 

 ofthefe youpleafe^either, or both. 



But I have a great inclination to believe , the Indians have been 

 thercj for this reafon, that the lOand of St. Vincents^ lying in the fame 

 Climate with x.Mx'ioi'Barhadocs^ the Clay may be of the fame nature 

 and quality , andthey, having the skill to bring their Clay to fo fine 

 a temper, as to barn and not break, may (hew us the way, to temper 

 ours of the Barhadoes fo, as we may make Bricks to burn, without 

 chopping or cracking ; which thole of being far off, and it 



may be, their Clay of different temper, cannot help us in. And it is no 

 hard matter, to procure an Indian or two, to come from that nland,and 

 give us direftion, which would be of infinite uleandadvantagCjtoour 

 buildings in Barhadoes. But this digreffion muft not lead me out of 

 the way of my bufincls. 



This difcovery being made, and advice given to their friends in 

 England^ other Ships were fent, with men, provifions , and working 

 tools, to cut down theWoods,and clear the ground, fo as they might 

 plant provifions to keep them alive, which, till then, they found but 

 ftraglingly amongft the Woods. But having cleared fome part of it, 

 they planted Potatoes^ Plant ines^ and Mayes^ with fome other fruits 5 

 which, with the Hogs-flefii they found, ferv'donlyto keep life and 

 foul together. And their fopplies from £;y_g/^?/(5^ coming fo flow, and 

 fo Uncertainly, they were often driven to great extremities : And the 

 Tobacco that grew there, fo earthy and worthlefs, as it could give 

 them little or no return from England^ or elfewhere^ fo that for a 

 while they lingred on in a lamentable condition. For, the Woods 

 werefo thick, and moftofthe Trees fo large and maffie, as they were 

 not to be fain with fo few' hands 5 and when they were lay'd along, 

 the branches were fo thick and boy fterous, as required more help, and 

 thofe ftrong and adive men, to lop and remove them off the ground. 

 At the time we came firft there, WQiouud both Potatoes^ Maies ^ and 

 Bonavifts^ planted between the boughs, the Trees lying along upon 

 the ground 5 fo far fhort was the ground then of being clear'd. Yet, 

 wefound W/tv? planted, and fo well ordered, as it fold in London at 

 very good rates, and their Cotton wool, and Fuftick wood, prov'd 

 very good and ftaple commodities* So that having thefo four forts of 

 goods to traffick with, fome fhips were invited (in hope of gain by 

 that trade) to come and vifit them, bringing for exchange, fuch com- 

 modities as they wanted, working Tools, Iron,Steel,Cloaths,Shirts,and 

 Drawers, Hole and Shooes, Hats, and more Hands. So that beginning 

 totafte the fweet of this Trade, they let therafelves hard to work, and 

 lived in much better condition. 



But when the Canes had been planted three or four years, they 

 found that to be the main Plant, to improve the value of the whole 

 Illand .• And fo, bent all their endeavours to advance their knowledge 

 in the planting, and making Sugar Which knowledge, though they 

 find ied hard, was long a learning. But I will forbear to lay any thing 



