n The Hiflory of Book!. 



Moft of the Houfes in this Ifland are of wood, very conve- 

 nient, and delightful to the eye. The moft considerable are 

 built on certain eminences. That advantageous fituation con- 

 tributes much to their health who live in them, for the air is 

 clearer then that of the Valleys. It alfo adds much to the 

 beauty of thofe pleafant Sttu&ures 5 andcaufes a verydiver- 

 tive profpecr. 



The beft Haven of this Ifland lyes between Carbet and 

 St. Peters Fort. It is more fafe then any of the neighbouring 

 Iflands, as being encompafs'd with high Mountains, which fe- 

 cure the Ships lying in it from the violence of all winds. 



Between Cafe du Pilote, and a bottom called Culde Sac des 

 Salines, there is a tvock, running about half a league into the 

 Sea, which is called the Diamond, from its figure, and is a 

 retreat for an infinite number of Birds, and among others 

 Wood-quifts, which breed in it. It is hard getting up to it, 

 yet fome vifit it, as they pafs by, when the young ones are fit 

 to eat. 



There is another place on the fame fide as the Diamond^ into 

 which Ships are brought, to be refrefti'd, and mended. The 

 Sea there is always calm, but the air not healthy, in regard the 

 Sea-men commonly catch Fevers, which yet are not very 

 dangerous, inafmuch as they fhake them off, as foon as they 

 depart thence. 



Befides the Torrents, which in times of rains fall down with 

 great violence, and the inundations of this Ifland, there are 

 nine or ten confiderable Rivers which are never dry. Their 

 fources are at the afcent or foot of the higheft Mountains, and 

 having watered the Valley s they fall into the Sea. They are 

 prejudicial to the places neer them, in regard that when they 

 overflow, they root up Trees, undermine rocks, and make a 

 defolation over the Fields and Gardens, carrying along with 

 them, the houfes which lye in the plain Country, and what- 

 ever oppofes the impetuofity of their courfe. This inconve- 

 nience hath oblig'd the Inhabitants of this Colony to take up 

 their habitations on the tops of thofe little Mountains, where- 

 with their Ifland is richly furntth'd 3 for they fecure them from 

 thele inundations. 



But what is moft confiderable in this Ifland, is the multitude 

 of the Inhabitants poflefling it, who are thought to amount to 

 nine or ten thouland perfons, not comprehending in that num- 

 ber the Indians and Negroes , who are neer as many. The 

 mildnefs of the Government and the advantageous fituation of 

 the Ifland contribute much to the advancement of it and the 

 multiplication of its Inhabitants. For moft of the French and 

 Dutch Ships, bound for America, fo order their courfe, that 

 they may touch here, rather then at any other of the Iflands : 

 and as (boo as they have caft Anchor in any of the Havens, to 



take 



