Cap. VI. T^Caribby^lflands. 



provifions for the fubfiftence of their Mafters and themfelves j 

 being well order 'd and carefully look'd after, they promote the 

 making of feveral other Commodities, as Tobacco, Sugar, 

 Ginger, Indico, and others, which bring in great profit. Add 

 to this, that their fervice being perpetual, their number in- 

 creafes from time to time by the Children that are born of 

 them, which have no other Inheritance than that of the fla- 

 very and fubjedtion of their Parents. 



All the Forreign Inhabitants who have planted themfelves in 

 thofe iQands are govern'd according to the Laws and Cuftoms 

 of their own Countries. 



Among the French Inhabitants of S. Chrifiophers Juftice is ad- 

 miniftred by a Council confiding of the principal Officers who 

 have the overfight of the Militia of the Ifland, of which Coun- 

 cil the General is Prefident : And though there are certain 

 places appointed for that Adminiftration , yet is the Council 

 many times aflembled as the General thinks fit, and occafion 

 requires, under a kind of great Fig-tree, which is about the 

 bignefs of a large Elm, neer the Court of Guard of the Bafie- 

 terre, not far from the Haven. 



In this Council, abating all the Formalities which. have been 

 invented to make Suits immortal, all differences that happen 

 between the Inhabitants are amicably compos'd, and decided 

 moft commonly at thefirft fitting, without any charge to the 

 Parties, faveonly that he which is found guilty of the wrong 

 is to make fatisfaction according to the Cuftom, whereof part 

 goes to the relief of the Poor, and maintenance of the Church, 

 and the reft for the fatisfa&ion of the party concern'd. This 

 Council doth alfo pafs fentence of death, without appeal to 

 any other Power. 



TheGovernours of the other Iflands do alfo adminifter Ju- 

 ftice every one in his Government: So that no man (hould be 

 guilty of fo great a weakneis as to imagine that people live in 

 thofe Countries without any order or rule, as many do .• Nay, 

 it is rather to be look'd on as a kind of Miracle, that (the Inha- 

 bitants of thofe Countries being a confluence of people from fo 

 many feveral Countries, and confequently of different hu- 

 mors and conftitutionsj diforders (hould not creep in, and that 

 all are kept in awe and fubjedion to the Laws eftabliftied. 



Thus much of the Forreign Inhabitants of the Carihbm 3 we 

 come now to treat of the Natural and Originary. 



4 



Dd 2 



CHAP. 



