Chap. m. of and CHILI. 165 
lar<^cft and molt valuable Illandsj 'viz^ Cubci-^ Part of 
Hifpaniola, and Porto Rtco. 
It is an Opinion commonly received amongft us, that 
the Spanijh U^eft Indies are very unwholfome, but, like 
many other general Propofitions, this may be faid to be 
true and falfe at the fame time ; a very confiderable Part 
oi Mexico and Pm/ are in the Torrid Zone, and yet, where 
they have the Advantage of a favourable Situation, are 
both healthy and pleafant j but befides thefe there are 
many fair Provinces in both the temperate Zones: Neither 
can the habitable World boaft of more delightful Regions 
than there are in the Kingdom of New Mexico in the 
North, and about Buenos Ayres in the South, as the 
Reader will be told . more particularly hereafter ; the 
Truth is, that the Country 2ho\\t Porto Bello is extremely 
aguiih and unwholfome, and fo is part of the Sea Coaft 
of Chilis by Reafon of the great Rains which fall 
there, and the want of Inhabitants. And from hence 
we form an Idea of the reft, though very unjuftly. Per- 
haps too, the Luxury of the Spaniards^ and the Inacti- 
vity of their Lives may contribute to Ihorten ^their 'Days, 
and thereby difcredit the Places they inhabit ; but as it is 
certain thzttho. Indians y before their Arrival, lived to a 
good old Age, and many who are temperate do fo ftill, 
I fay, all this confidered, we may conclude, that if 
any a£live and induftrious People were to fettle in thefe 
Countries, they would not be very much incommoded 
by the Climate. 
As to the Soil of the Countries in general, it is won- 
derfully rich and fruitful, producing Corn in abundance, 
and fuchPaftures as are no where elfe tobefeen jTrees for 
Fruit, Beauty, and Ufe ; Shrubs odoriferous, and of 
phyftcal Virtues ; Herbs and Roots, in plenty ; and, in 
Ihort, every Thing that can be fought for, either grows 
naturally or may with very little Pains be produced here. 
In the Bofom of the Earth all Sorts of Metals are found, 
efpecially thofe which Men value moft. Silver and Gold ; 
Springs and Rivulets are every where to be feen : And 
then, for the Conveniency of Navigation, there are the 
nobleft Rivers which the World can boaft; fuch as the 
River of PlatCy the Amazons River, and many others. 
If xBe. Spanijh Councils were turned for the Encourage- 
ment of Trade, there are in thefe Countries fuch a vaft 
Variety of valuable Commodities as might furnifh the 
People poffeffed of them with inexhauftible Treafures ; 
for befides Gold and Silver, of which prodigious Quan- 
tities are annually exported, both from Mexico and PerUy 
here are Emeralds, Pearls, and various other forts of 
Stones ; not to fpeak of Copper and other bafer Metals ; 
Rich Drugs of all Kinds, Logwood, Santal, Red- 
wood, and many other forts of Materials for dying : 
Tobacco, Ginger, Sweet-meats of all Kinds, with a vaft 
Variety of luxurious Articles : And then, as to Things 
of more neceffary Ufe, Vigonia Wool, the Hides from 
P//e;?(7j-y^m,Tortoife-fhell, Indigo, and many more, might 
be enumerated. Neither is the Country deficient in Sea- 
ports, efpecially in the North-Seas y where there are feveral 
fafe and fpacious Harbours, befides goodRoads, Bays, and 
Creeks. Yet South-Seas are, in a great meafure, 
wanting, Spaniards y not without Reafon, efteemit 
an Advantage, becaufe it makes it the eafier for them to 
defend the Coaft againft Strangers ; and in Refpe6t of 
one part of the Country trading with the other, this is no 
great Hinderance ; becaufe they have a good Port for the 
carrying on oi there Eaft- India 11 rdidiQy which is what they 
chiefly value on this fide. And if ever they fliould in- 
creafe their Shipping fo as to make new Ports requifite. 
Engineers would foon put them in a Way to improve 
the imperfe6l Efforts of Nature : But while they continue 
to adt on the Maxims which they have hitherto purfued, 
they are not likely to think their Havens on the 
too few. We ought now to fpeak of the Number of Inhabi- 
tants, becaufe therein con fifts the trueWealthand Strength 
of a Government : But we muft ingehuoufly confefs, 
that with any tolerable Accuracy it is not eafy to fettle it. 
The Spanijh Writers are remarkably filent on this Head, 
and as to what others report on this Subjedt, it deferves 
lefs Credit than any other Part of their Relations, be- 
caufe it is impofllble that what they afierC fiiould confift 
with their own Knowledge. 
This however is certain, that the Spanijh America is 
but thinly peopled if we confideir its Extent ; and, on the 
other hand, it feems to be as certain, that it is much 
better peopled than we commonly imagine, of which I 
will give feveral apparent Proofs : Sir Francis Drake 
made his firft Expedition in 1578, and with a very fiender 
Force ; acquired, immenfe Riches, and did prodigious 
to the Spaniards. In 1587, Candijh Eid tht \i\iOy 
in aVeffel of One hundred and twenty Tons, though 
he had not in her above thirty Men ; landing in feveral 
Places, and bringing away as much Riches as he could 
carry. Thefe Succeffes eftablilhed an Opinion, that the 
Spaniards were very weak in thefe Parts, yet all the fol- 
lowing Expeditions, which were undertaken with much 
greater Force, miferably mifearried ; which induced that 
wife Princefs, QuttnElizabethy to reftrain her Subjedls 
from fuch Attempts. This, however, did not difeourage 
the Dutchy who in 1623, fitted out a grand Fleet for the 
South-Seas ; it confifted of fifteen ftout Ships, and there 
were three thoufand picked Men on board. They came 
happily into thefe Parts of the World, and made feve- 
ral Deftents, but to noPurpofe, being conftantly repulfed, 
fo that they returned with great Lofs and Shame. Our 
Countryman, GagCy perfuaded Cromwelly and indeed the 
Englijh Nation, that the Conqueft of the Weji-Indies 
was a very prafticable Defign, but it did not prove fb 
in the Event ; for though we made ourfelves Mafters of 
Jamaicay yet whoever confiders the mighty Force that 
Penn and Venables had, will rather wonder that much 
more was not done, than admire what they did ; fo that 
it feems to be a Thing out of difpute, that it is not fo 
much the Weaknefs of the Spaniards as the Weaknefs 
of their Councils, which has occafioned their LoITes in 
thofe Parts. And, to fay the Truth, we can fcarce doubt 
of this, if werefie6t that they have found a Way to make 
their American Colonies contribute to the Deftrudion of 
their Power at Sea. Though the fame Caufe is the great 
Source of ours, and is the only one that can create a naval 
Force to France. 
But to return to the Point ; viz. the Number of Peo- 
ple in the Spanijh Settlements : A certain Author has 
gueffed, that there may be in the whole three Millions of 
Spaniardsy Mulattoes, and Negroes; befides which, there 
are certainly a much larger Number of for though 
it may be, and without doubt it is true, that thpfpaniards 
pradtifed intolerable Cruelties when they firft arrived in 
thefe Parts, yet we are alfured that this was done con- 
trary to the exprefs Direction of their Catholic Majefties, 
and that they have long fince altered their Policy in this 
Relpedl, though many Indian Nations are ftill their im- 
placable Enemies, and fo are likely to continue. When 
thefe Countries were firft reduced, the fettling many 
Ecclefiaftics might be a very proper Meafure, fince it is 
certain they were, in thofe Days, very zealous not only 
in converting, but in protedling the Indians ; inter- 
pofing on all Occafions in their Favour ; but as Times are 
altered fince, they and their Meafures Ihould have altered 
accordingly. Monafteries and Nunneries, if they are not 
contrary to the Spirit of Chriftianity, are at leaft incom- 
patible with that of fettling Colonies, and fo they have 
been found : Priefts, generally fpeaking, proceed upon 
narrow and felfilh Views, and fo do all religious Orders, 
particularly the JefuitSy who therefore are the leaft qua- 
lified for Miffionaries, though deficient in no other Re- 
fpedl, as fully appears from their Condudf in Paraguay y 
where the Fathers have eftablilhed a much more regular 
Government than fubfifts any where elfe in Americay and 
are able to raife a greater Number of regular Troops in a 
Week, than could be alfembled by the Viceroy at Peru 
in a Year. 
The Corruption and Tyranny which reigns among all 
the Officers who derive their Authority from the Crown, 
fenfibly affefts the State, fince it not only ruins the Re- 
venue, but difeourages Induftry and extirpates Public 
Spirit. An unaccountable Fondnefs for Gold and Silver 
is another Prejudice to the Spanijh Settlements; has pre- 
vented 
