20 



The Hi/lory of Book I. 



NIEVE S. 



/ [ "* He Ifland called Nieves, otherwife Mevk y lyes at the aj- 

 l titude of 27 degrees, and 19 minutes, Northward. It 

 is not above fix leagues about, and in the mid ft of it there is 

 but one only Mountain, which is very high, and cover'd with 

 great Trees up to the very top. The Plantations are all about 

 the Mountain, beginning from the Sea-fide, till you come to 

 the higheft part of it, the afcent being commodious enough. 

 This Ifland may eafily be compafs'd either by land or water. 

 There are in it divers fprings of frefti water, whereof fome are 

 ftrong enough to make their way to the Sea : Nay there is one 

 ipring , whereof the waters are hot and mineral. Not far 

 from the fource there are Bathes made, which are frequented 

 with good fuccefs, in order to the curing of thofe difeales for 

 whicfi the waters of Bourbon are recommended. 



Tjie EngUJh^ who planted themfelves there in the year 

 M.DC.XXV1II. are frill the Inhabitants of this Ifland, and the y 

 are now thought to be between three and four thoufand men, 

 wbofubfift and live handfomly, by the trade they drive in Su- 

 gar, Ginger and Tobacco. 



This Ifland is the beft governed of any in the Caribbies. 

 Juftice is there adminiftred with great prudence by a Coun- 

 cil, confifting of the moft eminent and moft ancient Inhabi- 

 tants of the Colony : Swearing, Thieving, Drunkennefs, Forni- 

 cation, and all diflolutions and dnorders are feverely punifh'd. 

 In the Year M.DC.XLIX. Mr. Lak§ 3 a knowing perfon and fear- 

 ing God, had the Government of it. f He is fince departed 

 this life. 



There are in this Ifland three Churches, which have nothing 

 extraordinary, as to Structure, but are very convenient as to 

 the performing of Divine Service. For the fecurity of the Vef- 

 fels that are in the Road, and to prevent the invafion of an Ene- 

 my, there is a Fort built,wherein are feveral great Piecc^which 

 command as far as the Sea. It fecures alfo the publick Store- 

 houfes, into which all the Commodities that are imported, and 

 neceflary for the iubfiftance of the Inhabitants, are difpofed. 

 And thence it is, that they are afterwards diftributed to thofe 

 private perfons who ftand in need thereof, provided thofe who 

 have the over-fight of them think them folvent perfons, ac- 

 cording to the time and price agreed upon, and ordered by the 

 Governor and Council. 



A further recommendation of this Ifland, is, that it is di- 

 vided only by a fmall arm of the Sea from that of St. Ckrtjto- 

 pherS) the nobleft and moft famous of all the Caribhies. Having 

 given but a ftiort Defcription of the other Iflands , what we 



m (hall 



