Illustrated with a Mapp of the Island, as
also the Principall Trees and Plants there, set forth
in their due Proportions and Shapes, drawne out by
their severall and respective Scales.
Together with the Ingenio that makes the Sugar, with
the Plots of the severall Houses, Roomes, and other places, that
are used in the whole processe of Sugar-making; _viz._ the Grinding-
room, the Boyling-room, the Filling-room, the Curing-house,
Still-house, and Furnaces;
All cut in Copper.
By RICHARD LIGON Gent.
[Illustration: (colophon)]
_LONDON_,
Printed for _Humphrey Moseley_, at the _Prince_’s _Armes_
in St. _Paul_’s _Church-yard_: 1657.
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_To my most Honoured, and highly esteemed Friend_,
D^r BRIAN DUPPA,
L^d B^p _of SALISBURIE_.
_Honour’d Sir_,
The first and last time you gave me the favour to kisse your hands,
since my return from the Southern and Western parts of the World,
you were pleased to make some enquiries of me, concerning the Iland
of _Barbados_, a place you much desired to be satisfied in: But,
by reason my stay was but short, I could give You but a sleight
and scant relation, of the many particulars you were desirous to
be informed in; so that for the present, I rather poynted at, then
gave a home-satisfaction, to what was most fit to be known, of the
Beauties and Riches of that place. Whereupon you were pleased to
impose on me a task, (very unfit for me to undertake, being one
altogether unlettered) to deliver in writing, the sum of all I knew,
concerning that Iland. Though I were sufficiently conscious of mine
own inabilities; yet, my obedience to your commands, led me on, to
give you a private satisfaction, in a thing you so earnestly desired,
which was all I aimed at: But, upon perusall of it, you were pleased
to give me a far greater encouragement, then I expected, with your
allowance for the publishing of it, for the common benefit of those,
who intend to spend their times, and venture their fortunes upon such
undertakings; so that I wanted but means or friends, for the putting
it forth; but, those two being absent, it has layne in the dark
this two years. You were then likewise pleased, to cast your eyes
upon some pieces of Limning, which I had done since my return, (by
my memory only) of the Trees, Plants, and Fruits, which I had seen
growing upon that place; things in themselves of infinite beauty,
but losing much of their life and lustre, by my ill handling; yet,
you were pleased to afford them an approbation, beyond their value,
which gave me an ambition, to do somewhat in that kinde, more like a
Master; and to that purpose, was designing a piece of Landscape, and
one of Story, wherein I meant to expresse the postures of the Negres,
in their severall kinds of Sports and Labours; and with it, the
beauties of the Vegetables, that do adorn that place, in the highest
perfection I could: But presently after, being cast into Prison, I
was deprived both of light and lonelinesse, two main helpers in that
Art; and so being disabled to discern or judge of Colours, I was
compelled to expresse my designes in Black and White: So that now
you will finde exposed to your view, a piece of wild _Grotesco_, or
loose extravagant _Drolorie_, rather than a Regular piece of Story or
Landscape.
Rough drawn, and unproportionably stell’d, though it be, I here
present it; which, though it be but as a Drop to the Ocean, or a
Mite to the treasury of your Knowledge; yet, in obedience to your
commands, which have a powerfull operation on me, I could do no lesse
then give you an account of what I had done, how weak and unperfect
soever. And so begging pardon for the faults committed, both in the
Language, and ill contrivance of my Discourse, I humbly take my
leave, and rest.
_Honoured Sir_,
Your most humble Servant: