C a p. VI. The Caribby Jfknds. 199 



mendable exercifes$ nay they endeavour to outvye one the 

 other in their entertainments, wherein they are magnificent, 

 there being a furhcient plenty of Beef, Mutton, Pork, wild and 

 tame Fowl of all kinds, FiQi,Paftry, and excellent Conferves, 

 all in as great abundance as at the beft Tables in the European 

 parts of the world. And thefe mutual demonfrrations of kind- 

 nefs arederivdfromthe Officers and thofe of the better rank 

 to the meaneft Inhabitants, who think it a great want of civi- 

 lity to difmils any one from their houfe-s, before they have pre- 

 fented them with fomewhat to eat and drink. 



Wme, Beer, Brandy, and Aqua-vit£, and fuch drinks, are 

 feldom wanting in thefe Iflands , and if there mould chance to 

 be a fcareity of thefe, the Inhabitants have the art of making 

 a delicious drink of that fweet liquor which is got out of the 

 Sugar-canes, and that being kept for certain days becomes as 

 ftrong as any Sack : Of the fame liquor they alfo make an 

 excellent kind of Aqua-vit£, not much unlike that which is 

 brought thither out of France $ only this inconvenience it 

 hath, that they who drink exceffively of it are apt to fall 

 dangeroufly fick. Moreover 3 they make feveral kinds of 

 Beverage with the juice of Oranges, Figs, Bananas, and Ana- 

 nas, which are all very delicious and plealant to the tafte 3 

 and may be ranked among Wines : They alfo make a fort 

 Qt Beer of the Cafiava and the roots of Potatoes, which is as 

 pleafant, nourishing, and refrefhing as that which is brought 

 out of the Low- Countries. . 



As concerning thofe Employments which are equally ho* 

 nourable and neceflary in order to the welfare of the Inhabi- 

 tants of thele- Iflands, it is to be obferv'd, that all are taught 

 the ufe of Arms,and the Heads of Families feldom walk abroad 

 Without their Swords. Every Quarter is difpos'd under the 

 command of certain Captains and other Officers, who have 

 the overfight thereof. They are all well-arm'd, and they of- 

 ten mufter and are exercis'd even in the times of deepeft peace 3 

 ;fo that they are always in readinefi, at the firft beat of Drum, 

 to march to the places where the Captains appoint their Ren- 

 dezvouz. In the Ifland of S. Chrifiophers, befides twelve Com- 

 panies of Foot, there are alfo fome Troops of Horfe, as we 

 laid eifewhere* 



And whereas all perfons of Quality, whereof there is a 

 coofiderable number in thofe Iflands, have Servants and Slaves 

 who are employ'd about the works before-mentioned, and 

 that in moft parts of Europe they do not make ufe of Slaves, 

 there being only the Spaniards and the Portuguez who go 

 and buy them up at the places of their birth, fuch as are 

 Angola, Cap- vert, and Cuinny, it will be but requisite that we 

 here give a fhort account of them : But we fihall in the firft: 

 place fpeak of thofe who are hired Servants, and to conti- 

 nue fuch only for a certain time. As 



