_The first Planting of the_ Barbadoes.
The _Barbados_ lies South-West and by South, an hundred Leagues from St.
_Christophers,_ threescore Leagues West and South from _Trinidado,_ and
some fourscore Leagues from _Cape de Salinos,_ the next part of the main.
The first Planters brought thither by Captain _Henry Powel,_ were forty
_English,_ with seven or eight _Negros;_ then he went to _Disacuba_ in the
main, where he got thirty _Indians,_ Men, Women and Children of the
_Arawacos,_ Enemies both to the _Caribbes_ and the _Spaniards._ {MN} The
Isle is most like a Triangle, each side forty or fifty Miles square, some
exceeding great Rocks, but the most part exceeding good Ground; abounding
with an infinite number of Swine, some Turtles, and many sorts of
excellent Fish; many great Ponds wherein is Duck and Mallard; excellent
Clay for Pots, Wood and Stone for Building, and a Spring near the midst of
the Isle of _Bitume,_ which is a liquid mixture like Tarr, that by the
great Rains falls from the Tops of the Mountains, it floats upon the Water
in such abundance, that drying up, it remains like great Rocks of Pitch,
and as good as Pitch for any use.
* * * * *
{MN} _A Description of the Isle._
{MN} The Mancinel Apple, is of a most pleasant sweet smell, of the bigness
of a Crab, but rank Poyson, yet the Swine and Birds have wit to shun it;
great store of exceeding great Locus-trees, two or three Fathom about, of
a great height, that beareth a Cod full of Meal, will make Bread in time
of necessity. A Tree like a Pine beareth a Fruit so great as a Musk Melon,
which hath always ripe Fruit Flowers, or Green Fruit, which will refresh
two or three Men, and very comfortable; Plumb-trees many, the Fruit great
and Yellow, which but strained into Water in four and twenty hours, will
be very good drink; wild Figg-trees there are many; all those Fruits do
fat the Hoggs, yet at sometimes of the Year they are so lean as Carrion;
Guane-trees bear a Fruit so big as a Pear, good and wholsom; Palmetaes of
three several sorts; Pappaws, Prickle Pears, good to eat or make drink;
Cedar Trees very tall and great; Fustick Trees are very great, and the
wood yellow, good for dying; Soap Berries, the kernel so big as a sloe,
and good to eat; Pumpeons in abundance; Goads so great as will make good
great Bottles, and cut in two pieces, good Dishes and Platters; many small
Brooks of very good Water; _Guinea_ Wheat, Cassado, Pines and Plantains;
all things we there Plant, do grow exceedingly, so well as Tobacco; the
Corn, Pease, and Beans, cut but away the Stalk, young sprigs will grow,
and so bear Fruit for many Years together, without any more Planting; the
Isle is overgrown with Wood or great Reeds, those Woods which are soft are
exceeding light and full of Pitch, and those that are hard and great, they
are as hard to cut as Stone.
* * * * *
{MN} _Fruits and Trees._
{MN} Mr. _John Powel_ came thither the 40th of _August_ 1627. with forty
five Men, where we stayed three Weeks, and then returning, left behind us
about an Hundred People, and his Son _John Powel_ for his Deputy, as
Governour; but there have been so many Factions amongst them, I cannot
from so many variable Relations, give you any certainty for their orderly
Government: for all those Plenties, much misery they have endured, in
regard of their weakness at their Landing, and long stay without supplies;
therefore those that go thither, it were good they carry good Provision
with them; but the Isle is most healthful, and all things Planted do
increase abundantly; and by this time there is, and now a going, about the
number of fifteen or sixteen Hundred People.
* * * * *
{MN} _Their numbers._
Sir _William Curtine,_ and Captain _John Powel,_ were the first and chief
Adventurers to the Planting this fortunate Isle; which had been oft
frequented by Men of War to refresh themselves, and set up their
Shallopes; being so far remote from the rest of the Isles, they never were
troubled with any of the _Indies._ Harbours they have none, but exceeding
good Rodes, which with a small Charge, might be very well Fortified; it
doth Ebb and Flow four or five foot, and they cannot perceive that there
hath ever been any Hericano in that Isle.
From the Relations of Captain
_John White,_ and
Captain _Wolverstone._
* * * * *