z6 The Hiftorj of Book I. 



other Iflands. There is no fafe coming in for Ships of great 

 burthen, by reafon of the many Rocks which encompafs it. 

 Such perfons as are enclin'd to folitude cannot difpofe them- 

 felves to a fitter place for it than this is. 



SABA, 



THe Ifland of Saba, lies North-weft from S. Eufttce\ at the 

 altitude of 17 degrees and 35 minutes: A man would think 

 it at a diftance to be only a Rock , but the Colony of S. Euftace> 

 which fent over men to manure It, hath found in it a pleafant 

 Valley,able to employ many Families, who live contentedly in 

 that delightful retirement. Only Shallops can come neer it. 

 The Fifhing about it is very plentiful : Nor is there any want 

 of other Refrefhments that are neceflary. 



$* M A R TI N. 



THe Ifland of S.Martin lies at the Altitude of 18. degrees 

 and 16 minutes: It is about feven Leagues in length, 

 and four in bredth : There are in it excellent Salt-ponds, which 

 hadoblig'd the Spaniard to build a Fort in it, the better to fe- 

 cure the pofleffion of it, but about nine years fince he demo- 

 liftYd the Fort and quitted the Ifland.* Which being obferv'd 

 by Monfieur de Rujtter, who commanded one of the Ships which 

 Monfieur Lampfen commonly fends into America^ and who then 

 failed by this Ifland, he went to S.Euftaces to raife men, whom 

 he brought thither, and took polTeffion of it in the name of the 

 States-General. 



The news of the Spaniards departure thence coming at the 

 fame time to the French General,he prefently dhpatch'd thither 

 a Ship very well mann d, to recover the right and pretentions 

 of the French^ who had been poflefs'd of the faid Ifland before 

 the usurpation of the Spaniard : Since the French and Dutch 

 have divided it, and live very friendly together. The French 

 have there about 300 men. The Salt-ponds are in the Dutch- 

 Quarter. The Dutch are more in number than the French : 

 Lantpfen and FanRee are the Directors of the Colony. They 

 have very fair Houies, large Store-houfes, and a confiderable 

 number of Negroes, who are their perpetual Slaves. 



There is no frefh water in this Ifland, but what when it rains 

 isreceiv'd into Citterns, which are common enough. There 

 are feveral little Iflands about this, very convenient for the di- 

 vertifements of the Inhabitants. There are alfo Ponds of fait 

 water, which run up far into the Land, in which are taken 

 abundance of good Fifh, efpecially Sea-Tortoifes. There are 

 in the Woods Wild-Swine, Quifts, Turtles , and an infinite 

 number of Parrots. There are alfo feveral Trees, out of which 



diftil 



