Cap. I. The Caribby-Illands. 



Thofe running waters, which deferve the name of Rivers, 

 are never dry'd up, even in the greateft droughts 9 and ex- 

 treamly well ftor'd with Fifh, for the mo ft part different from 

 thofe feen in Europe. But there is fuch abundance on the S'ea- 

 coafts, that the Inhabitants will hardly take the pains to fifh in 

 the Rivers. 



The Vine thrives very well in thefe Iflands, ana 1 , belies a 

 wild kind of Vine they have, which grows naturally id |th 

 Woods, and bears a very fair and large Grape, there are rft all 

 the Inhabited ones great Gardens, with the Walks fet about 

 with Vines 5 nay in fome places perfect Vine-yards, as thofe in 

 France, which bear twice ayear 5 and (bmetimes oftener, ac- 

 cording to the cultivation beftow'd on them, with refpeft had 

 to the Moon and conveniency of the Seafons. The Grape is 

 excellent good, but the Wine made of it will not keep many 

 days} and therefore there is but little of it made. 



As for Wheat, which grows in New- Spain as well a9 in any 

 place of the World, itgrowsno further then the blade in the 

 Carribbies, and is only for the making of Green-fauce, in. re- 

 gard that Grain requires winter, and the foil there being too 

 rank, it (hoots forth too much at firft, and there is not ftrength 

 enoughleftin the root to force ittoftaulk and knit intheear. 

 But if tryal were made of the (owing of Barley and Rye, and 

 other Grains which require heat., its probable they would 

 thrive well. And yet, fhould they come to maturity , and 

 with great increafe, the Inhabitants, being at little trouble to 

 get Manyoe, Potatoes , Turkey-wheat, andfeveral kinds ofPulie 5 

 would not take the pains to put them into the ground. 



All the natural Provifions of thefe iflands are light, and of 

 eafiedig;eftion $ in regard the Country being hot, theftomack 

 ought not to be burthened, as may be prefumed in colder Cli- 

 mates. Upon this account it is, that fuch as are newly come 

 into thefe parts are advis'd to eat little, and often. Nor doth 

 what is eaten breed much blood, and therefore Phlebotomy is 

 not much irfed. 



Thefe Iflands are inhabited by four different Nations 5 

 whereof the hrfl: are the Indigent, or Originary Inhabitants, 

 who have lived there timeout of mind ^ and thefe are the Ca- 

 ribbean* or Cannibal/s, o£ whom wee (hall give a perfect accompt 

 in the Second Book of this Hiftory. The other three are the 

 Engliffi y the French, and the Dutch. The eftablimment of 

 thefe foreign Nations in thofe parts happen d about the year of 

 our Lord one thoufand fix hundred twenty five, fince which 

 time they have fo encreas'd, that the Englifi and French are 

 now become a very numerous people ^ as will be feen more at 

 large in the fequei of this Hiftory. 



CHAR 



