Cap. XXIV. Ti&eCaribby-Iflands. 



tary , affirms, that thefe peftilent creatures being extreamly 

 numerous in thofe parts commit very great fpoils, ranfacking 

 the places through which they pafs, making the Fields defo- 

 late, and gnawing the Fruits even to the (talks, and roots of 

 the Trees. 



The Inhabitants of the Iflands have an invention which they 

 call Balan, to keep the Rats from eating their Caffava, and 

 other Provifions. This Balan is a kind of round hurdle, or 

 haply fquare, confifting of feveral ftakes, on which they place 

 the Cajjava after it hath been dried in the Sun : It is faften'd at 

 thetopof the Hut, hanging down by a Witth or Cord 5 and 

 that the Rats may not come-down along the Cord, and foget 

 to the BaU» 3 they put the Cord through a fmooth gourd which 

 hangs loofe in the midfc. of it, fo that the Rats being come to 

 that place, being not able to fatten their feet in it, and fearing 

 the motion of the Gourd, are afraid to venture any further : 

 Were it not for this fecret, the Inhabitants would find it a hard 

 talk to keep their provifions. 



Thus hath the wife Author of Nature been pleas'd, by an 

 admirable equipollence of perfections and imperfections, that 

 thofe Countries which have fome advantages above others 

 (hould alfo be fubjedl: to thofe inconveniences that are not to be 

 found elfewhere. Thus hath the Divine Providence, whofe 

 bufinefsitis liberally to fupply the exigencies of his Creatures., 

 plac'd the prefervative neer the poyfon, the Remedy walking 

 as it were hand in hand with the Difeafe, and fo laid open to 

 Man the inexhauftible Treafures of Grace and Nature, to fe- 

 cure him againft the injuries of Air, the outrages of the Sea- 

 fons, the violence of Poyfons, and whatever the Earth pro- 

 duces that is moft dangerous, fince it became envenomed by 

 the firft Tranfgreffion. 



It he End of the Firft Book. 



THE 



