Cap. V. The Caribby-Iflands. 



25 



perly, it is but a Mountain rifing up in the mid ft of the Ocean, 

 much like a Sugar-loaf, which is thought to be the figure of 

 Mount Tabor, and the Pic of Teneriffe, lave that the laft named 

 is incomparably higher. The Colony inhabiting it, confid- 

 ing of about fixteen hundred men, acknowledg the Sovereign- 

 ty of the States-General, who have granted the Government 

 of it to Monf. Van Ree 3 and his AlTociates, Merchants of Find- 

 ing in Zealand. 



This Ifland is the ftrongeft, as tofituation, of all the Carib- 

 bies, for there is but one good defcent,which may be eafily de- 

 fended 3 fo that a few men might keep off a great Army : But 

 befides tfjis natural Fortification , there is in it a ftrong Fort 

 which commands the beft Haven, the Guns of it carrying a 

 good diftance into the Sea. 



The Inhabitants have neat houfes, and thofe well furnifli'd, 

 as their Country-men have in Holland. Only the very top of 

 the Mountain is cover'd with Wood 3 all the compafs is manur'd. 

 It can hardly be credited what quantities of Tobacco it hath 

 heretofore and ftill doth yield. 



Though the top of this Mountain feems to be very picked 3 

 yet is there a kind of bottom of a large extent, affording a re- 

 treat to a great number of wild Beafts. The Inhabitants are 

 very induftrious in keeping on their Lands all forts of Poultry, 

 as alfo Swine and Conies, which breed exereamly. 



There are no Springs in this Ifland 3 but there are now few 

 Houfes but have a good Ciftern to fupply that defect : There 

 are alfo Store-houfes fo well furniftYd with all things requifite 

 to life, and the accommodation of the Inhabitants, that many 

 times they have wherewith to pleafure their Neighbours. The 

 Inhabitants live decently andChriftianly, and cannot juftly be 

 reproach'd with thofe crimes which fome have impos'd upon 

 them. There is in the Ifland one Church, which hath from 

 time to time been fupply'd with very able Paftors} of whom 

 one was M r May, who, among other Writings, put out a Learned 

 Commentary on the mod: difficult places of the five Books of 

 Mofes , wherein there are many curious Obfervations of Na- 

 ture. 



S ;t BARTHOLOMEW. 



THe Ifland of S. Bartholomew lies North^eaft from S. Chri- 

 Bophrrs, at the 16. degree of Altitude : It hath but lit- 

 tle ground fit for manuring, though it be it be a confiderable 

 compafs : The Governour-General of the French , de Voincy 3 

 peopled it at his own Charge about fifteen years fince : It af- 

 fords feveral forts of excellent Trees 9 which are much efteern d 3 

 an infinite number of Birds of feveral kinds 3 and a kind of 

 Lime-ftone, which is fetch'd thence by the Inhabitants of the 



E other, 



