they Sail round them yearly.
[Sidenote: _English_ landing upon them.]
In the time of the Rebellion one Captain _Sail_ and others, obtain’d a
Patent, making thither on the Coast of an Island, which was call’d
_Illutheria_; his Ship was wrackt, but the People recover’d the Shore
with a few Necessaries.
The Coasts of most of them are dangerous, and bad to make, and that Ship
that shall be near or amongst them, must keep the Lead always going; but
with a wary Pilot, and care in giving the Islands a fair Birth, they are
easily recover’d.
The _Spaniards_ know this Place well, and have a yearly Trade thither
for the aforesaid Commodities, and amongst the Islands are Wracks of
divers of their Ships.
[Illustration]
CHAP. XVIII.
The Caribby Islands.
[Sidenote: Situation and Names of the _Caribbee_ Islands.]
The _Caribbee Islands_, as they are generally call’d, are a Row or
Ridge, as it were, of lesser Islands, which extend themselves almost in
fashion of a Bowe, from the Coast of _Paria_ as far as _St. John de
Porto Rico_; they are otherwise call’d _The-Caraibes_, sometimes _The
Camercanes_, and by some _The Islands of Cannibals_, or _Man-eaters_,
(though this Appellation cannot in reality be more appropriated to these
Islands, than to many other, either Islands, or Parts of the Continent
of _America_;) lastly, whereas all the Islands between _Florida_ and
_New Spain_, and _Southern America_, are by some comprehended all under
the Name of _The Antilles_; yet the _Caribbees_ and the _Antilles_ are
most generally, and, we conceive, most properly accounted the same; and
they are so call’d, either as lying like a Bar before the greater
Islands, or _Quasi Ant-Isles_, i. e. _Opposites Isles_; they lie all
under the _Torrid Zone_, between the eleventh and nineteenth Degrees of
Northern Latitude, and are twenty eight in number; but before we come to
treat of each of them in particular, we shall take notice of the most
observable of those things which are common to them all in general.
[Sidenote: Temperature of the Air.]
The Air of all these Islands is of a good temperature and healthy, and
the Heat not so excessive in them at any time of the year, as might be
conjectur’d from their Situation under the _Torrid Zone_, by reason of a
gentle East Wind, which rising in the Morning, continues most commonly
till towards the Evening, allaying the scorching heat of the Sun, and
refreshing the Air; but the Nights are commonly very cold; and it is
observable, that by how much the hotter any Day hath been, so much the
colder the Night following happens to be; whereof this reason is given,
That the Vapors rais’d in the Day-time by the Sun, and falling down
condens’d at Night, do very much cool the Air; but it is never so cold
as to Freeze.
For half a year together Day and Night are equal in these Parts, and the
rest of the Year the Day fourteen hours long, and the Night ten.
From _April_ to _December_ there commonly fall here great Rains, and all
that Season is accounted Winter, and the Drought and Heat of the other
Moneths is taken for Summer; but the Woods of these Parts looking ever
green, make as it were continual Summer.
[Sidenote: Nature of the Soil.]
The Soil is generally as fertile as in most places of _Europe_, and each
Island furnish’d with fair Rivers, Brooks, Lakes, Springs, Wells, and
other Sources of fresh Water, besides in many places Mineral Waters,
which are us’d with good success in the cure of several Diseases; also
out of some Mountains store of Brimstone is digg’d, and it is
conjectur’d that there are not wanting Mines of Gold and Silver, if they
were well look’d after; and there hath been often found Crystal upon the
Sands by Rivers sides.
[Sidenote: Vines growing naturally in the _Caribbees_.]
The Vine, though wild, and naturally growing in the Woods, yet yields a
very large fair Grape; and those which are cultivated in their Gardens
or Vineyards, bear excellent Grapes twice a year, but very little Wine
is made of them, in regard they find it will keep but very few days.
[Sidenote: Wheat not apt to grow there.]
Wheat in the _Caribbees_ grows up no farther than the Blade, and the
reason is judg’d to be, because through the rankness of the Soil, and
for want of Winter, this Grain springs up fast, and hath not substance
enough left in the Root to supply it up to maturity; but no doubt but
Barley, Rye, and those other Grains, to the ripening of which more Heat
is requir’d, would thrive there very well.
Besides Lemmon-Trees, Orange-Trees, Citrons, and Pomegranates, and other
Fruit-Trees growing in _Europe_, there are very many sorts of Trees,
Herbs, Pulse, and other Plants, of a different kind from those amongst
us, and peculiar for the most part to these Islands.
[Sidenote: Fruit-Trees.]
Of Fruit-Trees, the most observable are the _Goyavier_, somewhat
resembling the Laurel, onely having a softer Leaf, and of a brighter
Green; its Fruit about the bigness of a Pearmain, but full of little
Kernels like a Pomegranate.
The _Papayer_, which is of two kinds, one generally growing in all the
Islands, the other proper to _Santa Crux_; the first hath a Leaf not
much unlike that of the Fig-Tree, and the other bears a Fruit about the
bigness of a Melon, which by the _Portuguese_ is call’d _Mamao_, from
its resemblance of a Womans Breast: the Tree is hollow and spungy
within, and grows up sometimes to the heighth of twenty Foot.
The _Monick_, call’d by the Islanders _Corsot_, from the Name of an
Island from whence the Seeds were first brought by the _Dutch_, and
bearing a Fruit like a small Cucumber not perfectly ripe.
The _Junipa_, or _Jenipa_, by the _Portuguese_ call’d _Jenipapo_; and by
the _Brasilians_, _Jenipaba_; having Leaves like those of the
Walnut-Tree, Flowers like the _Narcissus_, and a Fruit like a bak’d
Apple, which when it falls from the Tree makes a noise like the Report
of a Gun discharg’d, which is said to proceed from the bursting forth of
the Seed out of the thin Skin enclosing it, and breaking with a
violence; the Juice of it Dyes of a Violet-colour, and the Swine and
Birds that feed upon it, are said to have their Flesh and Fat of the
same colour.
A sort of Vine commonly call’d _The Raisin-Tree_ and by the
_Caribbeeans_, _Ouliem_; whose Fruit being like a large Violet-colour’d
Grape, hath in stead of the several small Grain-stones which are
inclos’d in the Husks of common Grapes, one hard Stone, like that of a
Plumb.
The _Acajou_, bearing for Fruit a kind of Chesnut, in form of a Hares
Kidney, which serves for a Crest to a very fair Apple that by degrees
grows under it, of which the Islanders make a Drink, very much in esteem
amongst them, being of an excellent taste.
The _Icaco_, a kind of small Plumb-Tree, so much coveted, and held for a
Delicacy by some People that live near the Gulf of _Hondures_, that they
are from thence call’d _Icacos_.
The _Monbain_, which Fruit being a kind of yellowish Plumb, is chiefly
made use of to mix in the Drinks of _Ouicon_ and _Maby_, to make them
taste the better.
The _Courbury_ is by some reckon’d to be but a species of the _Monbain_,
onely more full of Leaves, and growing higher and bigger; but the Fruit
of the _Courbury_ is sufficiently different from that of the _Monbain_.
The _Indian_ Fig-Tree, differing in Leaf from the common Fig-Tree, but
whose Fruit both in figure and taste is not much unlike the Fig growing
in these Parts: This Tree is commonly of such a vast Bulk, that the
Branches of some of them have been seen to afford shelter to two hundred
Men.
A kind of Service-Tree, differing from ours, by its exceeding heighth,
fair Leaves, and pleasant Fruit.
The Prickly or Thorny Palm, so call’d from its being arm’d all over with
Prickles, both Trunk and Leaves; by incision into its Branches a sort of
Wine is made, and it is conjectur’d to be the same Tree which the
_Brasilians_ call _Ayry_.
The _Franc_-Palm, an exceeding high and streight Tree, bearing on the
top of its Trunk a whitish marrowy substance, by the _French_ call’d
_Choude Palmiste_, or _Palm-Cabbage_; for being boyl’d with the thin
Leaves that incircle it, and well season’d, it is reckon’d amongst the
Delicacies of the _Caribbees_.
_Latanier_, another kind of _Palm_; and _Cocoa_, which is also reckon’d
amongst the several sorts of Palms; this last is a Fruit-Tree famous all
over _America_, and hath been at large describ’d elsewhere.
There are also many other Trees fit for Dying, Joyners Work, and
Building, (besides the _Acajou_ before mention’d, of the single Trunks
whereof are made those long Shallops call’d _Pyrages_, which are able to
carry fifty Men) as
The _Acomas_, of the same bulk and heighth with the _Acajon_, and
equally esteem’d by Joyners and Carpenters, and of the Fruit whereof the
Woodquists grow fat at a certain time of the year.
The Rose-wood, to be rank’d amongst the chiefest of those Trees that are
made use of by Work-men.
_Indian_ Wood, a very precious and useful Tree for several sorts of
Materials, and of a very fine scent.
The _Iron-Wood_, so call’d from its hardness, weight and solidity, above
all that have hitherto been spoken of, and beyond either Cypress or
Cedar for incorruptibility.
_Brasile-Wood_, so call’d as growing most plentifully in _Brasile_.
_Yellow-Wood_, denominated from its Colour, and much esteem’d for its
usefulness in Dying green Ebony, easily taking the lustre of the true
Ebony, and being very useful for the making of Cabinets and other
curious Pieces of Work; It also Dyes of a very fair Grass-green.
The _Roncon_, by the _Brasilians_ call’d _Urnex_, in the Husks,
succeeding the Flowers whereof, which grow in little Bushes at the end
of the Branches, is enclos’d a most rich Vermilion Dye, of a very soft
and viscous Matter.
Here are also many other Trees, either useful in Medicine, or other ways
advantageous, as the _Cassia_-Tree, of the bigness and figure of a
Peach-Tree; the long Pipes or Cods whereof, containing the Medicinal
Fruit, are well known amongst us by the Name of _Cassia-Fistula_, and to
be had at every Apothecaries.
Medicinal Nuts, each Nut containing three or four Stones in so many
Cells, every one of which is inclos’d within a thin white Pellicle,
pleasant enough to the taste, and out of which is extracted an Oyl, us’d
by the _Portuguese_ in several both Culinarie and Physical occasions.
The Cinamon-Tree, so noted for its aromatick Bark; also _Sandal-Wood_,
_Guaiacum_, and _Sassafras_.
Cotton-Tree and Soap-Tree, whose Uses the very Names imply, and which
Trees have been touch’d upon elsewhere.
The arch’d _Indian_ Fig-Tree, the Bodies of which Trees have been
antiently the sculking Holes and Retreats of the Inhabitants from their
Enemies; the Bark is useful for Tanners.
The _Gourd_-Tree, of the bigness and heighth of a great Apple-Tree, and
of which are made most of the Houshold Vessels and Utensils, which are
in common use at present amongst the Inhabitants.
The _Mahot_-Tree, of the Bark of which are made Laces and Points.
The _Manyoc_, or _Mandioque_, of whose Root the _Cassava_ Bread is made,
and which growing in several places of _America_, hath been already
taken notice of; as likewise the _Banana_-Tree, and that call’d _The
Apple-Tree of Paradice_, otherwise _Adam’s Fig-Tree_, the Fruit being
reported to be of a very delicious taste.
Other Trees not known in _Europe_, are the _Maposu_, divers kinds of
Thorny Wood, the Milky Tree, being of a venomous quality, the
_Mancenilier_, and that whose Root beaten to Powder, and thrown into
Rivers, intoxicates the Fish, with several others of less note.
Innumerable sorts of Shrubs might here in like manner be reckon’d up,
but the chiefest are, That remarkable Plant, anciently known by the Name
of _Ricinus_, and commended for its Vertues by _Galen_ and
_Dioscorides_.
Coral-Wood, so call’d from its little Seeds, which being as red as any
Coral, are us’d for Bracelets.
The _Jasmin_, bearing a Flower of an admirable sweet scent.
The _Candle-Wood_, so call’d from its combustibleness, by reason of an
aromatick Gum which is within.
The Herbs, Flowers, Roots, and Pulse which grow here, are some of them
common in all parts of _Europe_, as Cabbages, Onions, Chibols, Melons,
all sorts of Millets, Cucumbers, Citruls, Parsnips, _&c._
Others, if not peculiar to this Island, yet growing chiefly there, and
in some few parts of _America_ besides, as the _Raquettes_, so call’d
from the resemblance its Leaves have with a Racket, a thorny-spreading
Bush, whose Fruit being of a Vermilion colour, makes the Urine of those
that eat of it as red as Blood. Some liken this Plant to the _Tunas_,
already describ’d, which yields that rich Scarlet Dye call’d
_Cochinele_.
The _Torch_, so call’d by the _European_ Inhabitants; by the Native
Islanders, _Akoulerou_; a great Thistle, or thorny Bush, putting forth
from the middle of it long streight Stalks like Torches, and bearing
Fruit like a great Fig, not unpleasing to the taste.
The _Lienes_, creeping upon the Earth, and spreading up and down like
Ropes, and bearing brown Husks of a Foot long, wherein are enclos’d a
Fruit call’d _Sea-Chestnuts_, of which are made Boxes to keep Snush,
Tobacco, or the like.
A sort of _Sempervivum_, which runs twisting upon Rocks, Trunks of old
Trees, like Misseltoe, and sometimes on the Ground.
A sort of sensitive Plant, call’d by the Inhabitants _Haestiel_, or _The
Living Herb_; of which kind of Plant something hath been already touch’d
upon, and which being transplanted, is kept in several Gardens of the
_Curiosi_ as a Rarity.
The _Sweet-Rush_, whose small Root dry’d, and reduc’d to Powder, helps
Women in Travail.
The _Balisier_, whose Leaf apply’d, mollifies and cools inflammations of
Wounds.
The _Dart-Herb_, whose Root bruis’d and apply’d, draws away the Venom of
empoyson’d Darts; besides _Scolopendria_, a sort of Aloes, several kinds
of Maidenhair, and other medicinal Herbs.
The _Granadilla_, or _Passion-Flower_, growing in several other parts of
_America_, and describ’d elsewhere.
There is also a sort of Pease in some of these Islands, differing from
ours, and call’d _The Pease of Angola_, as first brought from thence.
Likewise a sort of Beans call’d _The Seven-years Beans_, by reason the
same Stalk bears seven years one after another.
The Herb call’d _The Musk-Herb_, from the dusky colour of its Flower,
and the sweet scent of the Seed, grows also in these Parts very
frequent.
The _Pyman_, or _American Pepper_, is the same with that before
describ’d under the Name of _Axi_.
Their _Potatoe_ is a Root not unlike the _Topinambous_, or
_Jerusalem-Artichokes_, otherwise call’d _Saligots_, growing plentifully
in our Gardens, but more wholsome, and of a better taste.
The _Anana_’s, or _Pine-Apple_, accounted a most delicious Fruit, of an
admirable sweet scent, and very pleasant to behold, grow not onely
plentifully in these Islands, but in most places of _America_; besides
the Sugar-Canes here, and in many other places, but not so generally.
The Plant from which is got the Dying Material call’d _Indico_, is very
different from that which grows in _Madagascar_, which bears small
odoriferous Flowers, of a white and purple Colour mix’d together.
Of these Trees, Herbs, and other Plants, which are produc’d in these
_Caribbee Islands_, some are more peculiarly of the Growth of one
Island, some of another; so that we shall have occasion to speak more
largely of some of them, when we come to speak of each Island in
particular.
The four-footed Beasts found in these Islands, are chiefly the
_Opassum_, the _Javaris_, the _Tatan_, the _Agouty_, and the _Musk-Rat_,
which being all of them no less known in other Parts of the _New World_,
have been already taken notice of, and of which we may have also
occasion to treat more at large in the particular Islands, we shall
therefore onely name the other Animals, whether Birds, Reptiles,
Insects, or Fishes, as partly having been heretofore treated of, and
partly to be describ’d hereafter.
The Birds are, the _Fregates_, _Fauves_, _Craw-fowl_, or
_Grandgawsiers_, _Flammans_, _Swallows of America_, _Arras_, _Canides_,
_Parrots_, _Parroquito_’s, _Tremblo_’s, _Sparrows of America_, _Eagles
of Orinoca_, _Manstenys_, _Colibrys_, besides what are common amongst
us, as _Herons_, _Coots_, or _Moor-hens_, _Black-birds_, _Feldivars_,
_Thrushes_, _Turtles_, _Woodquists_, _Pintado_’s, &c.
[Sidenote: Reptiles.]
The Reptiles are, _Anotis_, _Zoquets_, and _Maboujats_ (of which farther
mention will occur in the Isle of _St. Christopher) Globe-mouches_,
nam’d by the _Caribbeeans_, Oulleouma, _Scorpions_, and several sorts of
_Lizards_, call’d by the _Caribbeeans_, Ouamayaca; by the _Brasilians_,
Senembi; and by other _Indians_, Jaquanas.
[Sidenote: Insects.]
The Insects are, besides these common with us, as _Glow-worms_,
_Palmer-worms_, _Spiders_, _Bees_, &c. the _Cucuyos_, mention’d in
_Hispaniola_, and the _Flying Tyger_.
[Sidenote: Fishes.]
The Fishes are, _Sea-Parrots_, the _Dorada_, by some call’d _The
Sea-Bream_, by others, _The Amber-fish_; the _Bonite_, the
_Needle-fish_, the _Epadon_, or _Sword-fish_, the _Marsovin_, the
_Requiem_, the _Remora_, the _Lamantin_, the _Becune_, the _Sea-Urchin_,
the _Sea-Woodcock_, besides _Whales_, and a certan Fish call’d, for its
hideous shape, _The Sea-Devil_, and lastly, the _Sea-Unicorn_, with a
particular Description of which we shall conclude, as having it from
Monsieur _du Montel_, who was an Eye-witness thereof.
[Sidenote: Description of the Sea-Unicorn.]
“This _Unicorn_ (saith he) was pursuing a _Carangue_, or some other
lesser Fish, with such earnestness and impetuosity, that not considering
that it needed a greater depth of Water than the other, it stuck with
half the Body dry on a Sand-bank, whence it could not recover the deeper
Waters ere it was destroy’d by the Inhabitants: It was about eighteen
Foot in length, being at the largest part of its Body about the bigness
of a Barrel: It had six great Fins like the ends of Galley-Oars, whereof
two were plac’d near the Gills, and the other four on the sides of the
Belly at equal distances; they were of a Vermilion red colour: All the
upper part of the Body was cover’d with great Scales, about the bigness
of a Crown-Piece, which were of a blue colour, intermix’d with several
Spangles of Silver; near the Neck the Scales were closer, and of a dark
colour, seeming as it were a Collar; the Scales under the Belly were
yellow, the Tail forked, the Head somewhat bigger than that of a Horse,
and near the same figure: It was cover’d with a hard and dark-colour’d
Skin; and as the Land-_Unicorn_ hath one Horn in his Fore-head, so this
Sea-_Unicorn_ had a very fair one issuing out of the fore-part of his
Head, about nine Foot and a half in length; it was as streight as could
be, and from the place whence it came out it grew smaller and smaller to
the very Point, which was so sharp, that being thrust hard, it would
enter into Wood or Stone, or some more solid Substance; it was at the
place where it came out of the Head, about sixteen Inches about, and
from thence to two thirds of the length it was like a Screw, or, to say
better, made waving like a wreath’d Pillar, save that the Channels grew
smaller and smaller, till they gently ended in a Point, which was two
Inches beyond the fourth Foot: All the lower part had over it an
Ash-colour’d Skin, which was all over cover’d with a small soft Hair,
short as Plush, and of the colour of a wither’d Leaf, but under that it
was as white as Ivory: As to the other part, which seem’d naked, it was
naturally polish’d, of a shining Black, mark’d with certain small white
and yellow Strokes, and of such solidity, that a sharp File could hardly
get a little small Powder from it: It had no Ears standing up, but two
spacious Gills, as the other Fishes; the Eyes were about the bigness of
a Hens Egg; the Ball, which was of a Skye-colour Enamell’d with Yellow,
was encompass’d with a certain Vermilion, which had beyond it another as
clear as Crystal: The Mouth was wide enough, and furnish’d with several
Teeth, whereof those before were extreamly sharp, and those towards the
Throat in both Jaws were broad, and a little knobbed: The Tongue was of
a length and thickness proportionable, and cover’d with a rough Skin of
a Vermilion colour. What was further remarkable, is, that this Fish had
upon the Head a kind of Crown, rising above the Skin about two Inches,
and made oval-wise, the Extremities whereof ended in a Point. Above
three hundred Persons of that Island did eat of the Meat of it, and that
plentifully, and thought it extreamly delicate; It was interlarded with
Fat, and being boyl’d it came up in flakes like fresh Cod, but it had a
much more excellent taste.
“Those who had seen this rare Fish alive, and had with great Levers
broken the Back of it, affirm’d, That he had made prodigious Attempts to
thrust them with his Horn, which he turn’d with an inexpressible
dexterity and nimbleness, and that if he had had as much Water under him
as would have born him up, he would have been too hard for them all.
When the Entrails were taken out, it was found that he liv’d by Prey;
for there were within him the Scales of several kinds of Fish.
“What could be preserv’d of this miraculous Animal, especially the Head,
and the precious Horn fastned in it, hung up near two years at the
Guard-house of the Island, till Monsieur _Le Vasseur_, the Governor of
it, presented one Monsieur _Des Trancarts_ (a Gentleman of _Xaintonge_,
who had given him a Visit) with the Horn. Not long after, coming over in
the same Ship with the Gentleman, who had that precious Rarity put up in
a long Chest, our Ship was cast away near the Island of _Payala_, one of
the _Assores_, and all the Goods were lost, but nothing so much
regretted as the loss of that Chest.”
[Sidenote: The Natives how call’d.]
The Natives call themselves _Cubao-bonon_, that is, _Inhabitants of the
Islands_, and _Caribbeeans_; which last Denomination was not onely
receiv’d amongst the _American_ Isles, but also on the Main Continent of
the _Northern_ and _Southern America_, long before the _Spaniards_
coming thither.
[Sidenote: Their Original.]
[Sidenote: The _Cofachites_ come to Terms of Agreement with the
_Apalachites_.]