Cap. XI. The Caribby-lflands. z6y 



But it raifes a particular aftonifhment in them when 

 they fee how much we efteem Gold, confidering we are 

 fo well furnifh'd withGlafs and Chryftal, which in their judg- 

 ment are more beautiful, and confequently ought to be more 

 highly prized : To this purpofe, Benzoni a Milanese Hiftorian, 

 relates a ftrange ftory of the New-world, how that the Indi- 

 ans detefting the infatiable avarice of the Spaniards, whofub- 

 du'd them, took a piece of Gold in their hand*, and faid, " Be™ 

 " hold the God of the Chriftians 5 for this they come from Ca- 

 "Jieel into our Country } for this they have made us flaves, ba- 

 ec nifrYd us out of our habitations, and committed horrid things 

 " againft us 3 for this they are engag'd in wars amongft them- 

 " felves^ for this they kill one the othe^for this they are al waies 

 " in difquiet, they quarrel, rob, curfe and blafpheme : In fine a 

 • " there is no villany, no mifchief but they will commit for this. 



In like manner, our Caribbians, when they fee the Chriftians 

 fad and perplext at any thing, are wont to give them this gen- 

 tle reprehenfion : " Compere (a word they have learnt of the 

 Frenc A,and commonly ufe to exprefi their affection, as the wo- 

 men do alfo call our Europeans Commeres, as a mark of their 

 friendfhip} both words fignifying in EngUfh Goffip, or familiar 

 friend) " how miferable art thou, thus toexpofe thy perfon to 

 "fuch tedious and dangerous Voyages, and to fufTer thy felt to 

 * 6 be oreprefs'd with cares and fears ! The inordinate defoe of 

 " acquiring wealth puts thee to all this troublej and all thefe 

 <c inconveniences } and yet thou art in nolefs difquiet for the 

 " Goods thou haft already gotten, than for thofe thou art defi- 

 " rous to get : Thou art in continual fear left fome body fhould 

 " rob thee either in thy own Country or upon the Seas, or that 

 " thy Commodities fhould be loft by fhipwrack, and devour 'd 

 " by the waters : Thus thou groweft old in a fhort time, thy 

 " hair turns gray, thy forehead is wrinkled, a thoufand incon- 

 " veniences attend thy body, a thoufand afflictions furround 

 ec thy heart, and thou makeft all the hafte thou canft to the 

 " grave : Why art thou not content with what thy own Coun- 

 " try produces ? Why doft not thou contemn riches as we do? 

 And to this purpofe, the great Traveller Vincent k Blanc hath t P art '3< c **& 

 a remarkable difcourfe of fome Brazilians : ee That wealth which 

 "you Chriftimspurfuewithfo much earneftnefs, do they any 

 * " way promote your advancement in the grace of God ? Do 

 "they prevent your dying? Do you carry them along with 

 " you to the grave ? To the fame purpofe was their difcourfe 

 to jf.de Lery, as he relates in his Hiftory. 13. 



The Cartbbians have this further reproach to make to the 

 Europ£ani 0 to wit, that of their ufurpation of their Country, 

 and they ftick not to do it as a manifeft injuftice : " Thou 

 " haft driven me, fays this poor people, out of St. Chrifiophers, 

 <e Mevis 9 Montfirrat, St. Martins, Antego, Gardelonpe^ Barbotf- 



M m 2 "tkosi 



