75 



have occupied It nearly two centuries, hav- 

 ing taken pofleffion of it in the reign of 

 James I. At the time of being fettled by our 

 countrymen, it was covered with wood, and 

 had no appearance of having been, before, oc- 

 cupied by man ; but it now appears under a 

 very different afpe£t, — the deftru£tive axe 

 having converted its deep and heavy forefts 

 into even chara&eriftic nakednefs. 



Weft Indians regard it as of low and level 

 furface : but this can be only comparatively 

 fpeaking, and in reference to the neighbouring 

 iflands whofe bold fumrnits pierce the fkies : 

 for Barbadoes has all the pleafant variety af- 

 forded by hills and broken land, and, in fome 

 parts, is even mountainous, though lefs fo 

 than Grenada, St. Vincent, or St. Lucie. 



It is confidered as an old ifland, and, from 

 having been long in cultivation, is faid to be 

 much exhaufted, and wearing to decay. Thofe 

 concerned in the culture of more recent, and 

 now more prolific colonies, feem to com- 

 panionate Barbadoes as the venerable and 

 decrepit parent of the race ; while its in- 

 habitants pride themfelves upon its antiquity, 



