Cap. XXIII. The Caribby-Iflands. 



QTo this place may be reduced, among others, that Tempeft 

 which happen'd here in England at the removal out of this 

 world of the late Ufurper Oliver Cromwel 5 the mifchiefs 

 whereof are yet frefti in mens minds 5 as alfo that in February, 

 1661.] 



To give an example of a Hurricane that ftiew'd its malice 

 here in Europe, particularly on the Sea, we (hall adde the Copy 

 of a Letter from a Merchant of Rochel to a Correfpondent of 

 his at Rouen , dated January the 30th, M.DC.XLV. 



cc We have been in a very fad condition thefe two days, by 

 cc reafon of the extraordinary Tempeft which began Saturday 

 " night laft, the 28th of this month, and continues yet : We fee 

 "from our Walls between thirty arid forty Ships caft away,and 

 " forc'd to the ftore, moft Englilh bottoms, and abundance of 

 " Merchandize loft One of thefe Ships of 200 Tun burthen 

 <c was caft neer a Wind-mill, which is twelve foot higher then 

 c< any tide was ever feen } for the Tempeft was not only in the 

 <c Air, but it alfo forc'd the Sea much beyond its ordinary li- 

 <c mits, infomuch that the fpoil it hath done by Land very 

 <c much exceeds the lofs of the Ships. All the Salt on the low 

 <c .Mar(hes was carried away 5 all the Wheat on the lower 

 <c grounds and reduced marches overflown : And in the Ifle 

 " of Ree the Sea crofs'd it from one fide to the other, fpoil'd 

 " abundance of Vineyards, and drown'd much Cattel. In the 

 " memory of man the Sea never came up fo high 3 nay it came 

 " to fome places almoft a league within the Land : So that 

 " thofe who have been at S. (Thrift ophers affirm, that the Hur- 

 <c ricanes happening there are not more dreadful then this 

 cc Tempeft was here : The wind was North-weft : The lofs 

 " both on Sea and Land is Valued at five hundred thoufand 

 <c Crowns : Tis conceiv'd there is as much Salt loft as would 

 "have freighted two hundred Ships of three hundred Tuna 

 cc piece. There are alfo loft fome Dutch Ships neer the Ifle of 

 " Ree y at Bourdeaux , and Bayonne , which were very richly 

 " laden. Whence it appears that thefe Tempefts are as violent 

 " in Europe as thofe fo much feared in the Caribbies, 



But in thofe parts, fome to fecure tbemfelves from thefe 

 Storms forfake their houfes,out of a fear to be over-whelm'd 

 in their mines, and make their abode in Caves and the clefts 

 of Rocks, or lye flat on the ground in the open fields, till they 

 be over : Others run to fome houfe neer them, which they 

 think foftrongly built, as that it may elude the (hocks of that 

 Tempeft 5 for now there are in the Caribbies many ftructures 

 that in a manner defie the violence thereof : Nay there are fome 

 will get into the little Huts built by the Negroes,in imitation of 

 thofe of the Caribbians 3 for it hath been found by experience 9 

 that thefe Hutts, being round and having no place open but the 

 door, and whereof the Rafters ftand upon the ground, are 



U com- 



