The Hi/lory of Book I. 



Spaniards, for expreffwg themfelves in that manner,, and ta- 

 king thofe rainy moneths for Winter. He affirms, that the 

 time of the drought and fair weather is the true Winter in all 

 the Torrid Zone, becaufe then the Sun is at the greateft diftance 

 from that Region, and on the contrary, that the feafon of 

 Rains and Mifts ought there to be called Summer, by rea- 

 fon of thenearnefs of that Planet. To {'peak properly and ri- 

 goroufly, there isfome reafon we fhould comply with the fen- 

 timent of Acefta 5 yet inafmuch as not only the Spaniards, but 

 alfo many other Nations, exprefs themfelves otherwife , we 

 (hall keep to thek terms rather, efpecially in a thing of fo little 

 confequence. 



But how rainy fbever this Seafon may be in the Carribies^ 

 thofe who have liv'd there feveral years affirm, that there hard- 

 ly paflesaday, but the Sunisfeen. The fame thing is faid of 

 the Ifland of Rhodes , whence Antiquity dedicated it to the 

 Sun, out of an imagination, that that Star had a particular care 

 of it. 



The Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea is regulated in thefe 

 Countries, as in our parts 3 but it riles not above three or four 

 foot at mofr. 



The greateft part of thefe Iflands are cover'd with feveral 

 forts of excellent Woods, which being green at all times, 

 afford a very delightful profped , and reprefent a perpetual 



Summer. 



The Soil, in moft places, is as rich and as pregnant as in 

 any part of France^ Infomuch that all thofe Iflands that are 

 inhabited , give not the Inhabitants any occafion to repent 

 them of the pains they take. In which particular, they differ 

 much from thofe Countries of New-France, where the poor Sa- 

 vages are foput to it to get their fubfiftance, that thtir Chil- 

 dren, going out of their Hutts in the morning, and finding 

 their Parents a hunting, are wont to cry out as loud as they 

 can, Come Tatom 5 come Cajlors ^ come Orignacs 5 calling thus 

 to the relief of their neceffities thofe creatures, whiclj yet 

 come not in their fight as often as they (land in need thereof. 



The¥ame inhabited Iflands are alfo furniihed with good 

 fources of frefh Water, Springs , Lakes, Brooks , Wells and 

 Citterns , andfqme of them have fair Rivers. There are fur- 

 ther in feveral places Mineral-waters, which arefuccefsfully 

 ufed, in order to the curing of divers Difeafes. Brimftone is 

 got out of the bowels of the Mountains in divers places j and 

 the bright filver fpangles which the Torrents and Rivers bring 

 down along with them, and are found in the fand, and the 

 froath of their waters, after they have been over-flown, are 

 certain ivi;cia and difcoveries, that there is Cryftal to be had 

 in them, and thai there are alfo Mines of thofe precious Metals, 

 which ue fo much fought after by moft men. 



Thofe 



