Gap. XIX. T.he Caribby-lflands. 



it 



CHAP. XIX. 



Of certain SbelUFi/h^ rare Shells , and other remark^ 

 able productions of the Sea, found on the Coafisof the 

 Caribbics. 



TO dive into the deep Secrets of the Waters to take a 

 view of all the excellent Creatures fporting themfelves 

 therein, and obferve the vertues and occult qualities 

 wherewith they are endow'd, is a work might be expe&ed front 

 that Wifdom which was communicated to Solomon^ who treat- 

 ed of Trees, from the Cedar in Libanon to the Hyffop growing 

 on the Wall .• For the watery Element is furnifhed with fuch a 

 miraculous plenty, that it abundantly produces not only Fifties 

 of feveral kinds fit for the fuftenance of man, and thofeof ex- 

 traordinary bulk and monftrous figures, as hath been (hewn in 

 the precedent Chapters ^ but alfo fuch a multitude of precious 

 Shells, and other Rarities, that we may well aeknowledg that 

 the Divine Wifdom hath djiplay'dall thefe rich beauties of its 

 inexhauftible Treafures, to (hew its Omnipotency in the midft 

 «of the Waves, and gently to win us into an admiration of his 

 Goodnefs and adorable Providence, which humbles it felf to 

 defcend into the Abyfles of the Sea to people them with fome 

 excellent Creatures not to be feen elfewhere, and an infinite 

 number of others bearing the Characters and Idseas of the moft 

 considerable Bodies that either adorn the Heavens, flye in the 

 Air, or embellifti the Earth. Hence it comes, that there are 

 found in the Waters, Stars, Cornets, Trumpets, Purcelains, 

 Trees, Apples, Chert-nuts, and all the delightful curiofities 

 which are fo highly efteemed among men. But to begin with 

 theShell-fifh, there are in the Seas about, and in the Rivers of 

 the Caribbies feveral kinds of them : The more particularly 

 efteemed are the Homars, the Sea-Spiders, and the Crabs. 



HOMARS. 



THe Uomars are a kind of Crevice i •, of the fame figure as 

 thofe of our Rivers $ but they are fobig that there needs 

 but one to make a good large difti : Their meat is white, and 

 of a good tafte, but a little hard of digeftion : The Inhabi- 

 tants of thelflands take them in the night time upon the fands s 

 or in the Shallows neer the low-water-mark 5 and with the 

 affiftance of a Torch, or Moon-light 5 they catch them with a 

 little iron fork. 



