Cap I. The Caribby-lflands 171 



fortune happen'd to them upon this occalioii, that they had 

 planted themlelves at their firft landing in thofe pants of the 

 Iiland where the foil was moft barren, and unfit for cultivati- 

 on or any in it, and that they had upon too light grounds en- 

 ter'd into a War with the Caribbians i the originary Inhabitants 

 of the place, who might have plentifully furnifn'd them with 

 moft or the provisions neceflary for their fubfiftence at the be- 

 ginning, till the earth and their own induftry had fupply'd 

 them better. Difeafes were the confequences of that unwhol- 

 fome nourishment which hunger fore'd them to make ufe of 

 for want of better : whereto this may be added , that the 

 ground being not redue'd to culture, the air was the more ea- 

 fily corrupted. 



Dh Plejjis reflecting on the misfortunes and inconveniences 

 which daily fell one in the neck of another upon that unfetled 

 Colony, and having juft grounds to fear that other yet great- 

 er might happen to it, took it fo much to heart, that he dyed 

 out of pure grief, in the leventh month after his arrival. The 

 lofs of him was much regretted by all the French, who had 

 always exprefs'd a great fubmiffion to his advice, and much 

 love and refpecl to his perfon. He was a man of Angular pru- 

 dence, of fo affable and obliging a difpofition, that he gain'd 

 the afTe&ions of all th at treated with him. 



After the departure of Monfieur du Plejfis, de I' Olive be- 

 came fole Governour. This latter was a Perfon of an humour 

 as active and ftirring as that of his Collegue was gentle and 

 moderate ^ and he fo much harkned to the violent counfels of 

 fome reftlefs fpirits, who like fo many peftilent Ear-wigs were 

 continually putting him upon new projects, that he foon after 

 engag'd himfelf in that fatal War againft the Caribbians, which 

 bad almoft prov'd the deftrucfion of that newly-planted Co- 

 lony. True it is, that at firft he prefs'd fo hard upon them, 

 as to force them to leave him the abfolute pofleffion of Gar- 

 deloupc but in regard that to compafs the defigns which he 

 had fram'd to himfelf from the time of his arrival he was ne- 

 cefiitated to commit feveral cruelties, fuch as the very Barba- 

 rians themfelves would not have exercis'd upon their greateft 

 enemies, it prov'd fuch a blaft to his reputation, that the ap- 

 provers of his conduct were only fome fanguinary perfbns and 

 Defperadoes. 



The poor Caribbians which the Governour had fore'd out 

 of the Ifland of Gardeloupe retreated into that of Dominico : 

 Thofe of the fame Nation who were poffefs'd of the latter 

 entertain'd them kindly, and to give them a greater affurance 

 how much they were fenfible of their misfortune, they prof- 

 fer'd to joyn with them to revenge by the way of Arms the 

 injury which bad been done them , a proffer too obliging 

 to be refus'd. Their forces being thus united, they made 



Z 2 feveral 



