Cap. IV. The Garibby. iflanck 



21 



fhall give of this,, as being the chiefeft, will be fomewhat larger. 

 For which reafon, we lhall affign it a Chapter by it felf. 



CHAP. IV. 



Of thelflandofSt. Chriftopher. 



St Christophers was fo called by Chriftopher Columbus ^ who 

 finding it very pleafant , would needs give it his own 

 name. He was engag'd to give it this name from a con- 

 fideration of the figure of its Mountains, the Ifland having on 

 its upper part., as it were upon one of its (boulders, another lef- 

 fer Mountain, as S £ Chriftopher is painted like a Gyant, carry- 

 ing our Saviour upon his, as it were a little Child. Its altitude 

 is at 1 7 degrees, 25 minutes. 



It is about 2 5 leagues in compafs. The Soil being light and 

 fendy, is apt to produce all forts of the Country Fruits, as al- 

 fo many of the choiceft growing in Europe. It lyes high in the 

 nridft, by reafon of fome very high Mountains, out of which 

 arife feveral tvivers, which fometimes are fo fuddenly over- 

 flown through the rains , falling on the Mountains, fo as that 

 there is none feen at the extremities of them, or in the Plains, 

 that the Inhabitants are many times fuipriz'd by thofe 

 Torrents. 



The 'whole Ifland is divided into four Cantons, or Quar- 

 ters, two whereof are poft'efs'd by the Englijh 5 the other two 

 by the French 5 but in fuch fort, as that people cannot crofs 

 from one quarter to the other, without paffing over Lands of 

 one of the two Nations. The Englifi have in their part a great- 

 er number of little Rivers then the French 5 but in requital, 

 the latter have more of the plain Country, and Lands fitter 

 for cultivation. The Englifi alfo exceed the 'French in num- 

 ber j but the latter have more fortified places, and are better 

 armed. The French have four Forts, well fUrnmYd with 

 great Pieces, which carry a great way into the Sea 5 and one 

 of them hath regular works, like a Citadel. The moft confi- 

 derable next that lyes at the Haven, or Anchoring-plaee, cal- 

 led Baffe-terre. There is in both a conftant Guard kept: And 

 to prevent the differences which might happen between two 

 different Nations , each of them upon the Avenues of their 

 Quarters hath a Guard which is renew'd every day. The 

 Englifi have two fortifi'd places, whereof one commands the 

 great Haven, and the other a Defcent, not far from Vointe 

 de Sable. 



This Ifland is furnifh'd with a fair Salt-pit, lying on the Sea- 

 fide, which the Inhabitants commonly call Cul-de-Sac. Not 



