The Hi/lory of BookL 



CHAP. IF, 

 Of each of the Caribbyl-flands in particular. 



THat we may obferve fome order in the Defcription we 

 intend of each of thefe lilands in particular, we ftiaH 

 divide them into three Gaffes 3 whereof the firft fliall 

 comprehend thofe which lye towards the South, and are neereft 

 the Line 5 the fecond thofe which lye Northward 5 and the 

 laft, thofe which are commonly called the Lee-ward Iflands a 

 which reach Weftward from St Chriftophers^ the bell: known 

 of them all. 



T AB AGO. 



THe firft, and mo ft Southerly of all the Caribbies is Tabdgp 9 

 or 1 abac , diftant from the Equinoctial , Northward^ 

 eleven degrees and fixteen minutes. It is about eight leagues ia» 

 length, and four in breadth. There are in it feveral plea&at 

 Mountains, out of which arife eighteen Springs or fmall Ri- 

 vers, which, having drench'd the Plains, fall into the Sea. It 

 is conceiv'd the air of it would be healthy enough, if the Trees 

 were cut down, and the ground opened. 



The extraordinary height of the Trees growing in dais 

 Ifland argue the fruitfulnefs of its foil. There are in this the 

 five kinds of four-footed creatures, whereof there are but one 

 or two in any of the other lilands. As 1. a kind of Swine , not 

 much furnifti'd with briftles, which have a certain hole on 

 their backs. [2 Tatous. 3 Agoutis. 4 OpaJJums 2 and 5 Mm$^ 

 Rats, all which we (hall defcribe in their proper place. Not 

 to mention the Wood-Quifts, Turtles, Partridges, and Parrat&> 

 which are commonly feen there, it affords abundance of other 

 Birds, not known in Europe. 



The Sea which encompaffes this [Ifland is abundantly fur- 

 nilh'd with all forts of excellent Fifti. Sea-Tortoifes come m 

 multitudes to hide their Egges in the fand, which lyes on the 

 Hioars. On the Weft and North fide of it, there are Bayes,, 

 where Ships may fafely Anchor. 



About fixteen years fince, a Company of Burghers of IValcrs 

 in Zealand lent thither 2CO men, to plant a Colony there, under 

 the States-General of the United Provinces, and call'd the 

 Ifland , the New-Walcre. But the natural Inhabitants of the 

 Country, fearing the Neighbourhood of thofe Foreigner^ 

 oiafiacred fome of them , which fore'd the reft , who were 

 troubled with ficknefs and feared the treatment their compani- 

 ons had receiv'd, to retire elfewhere. Whereupon the llland 



was 



