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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28392	A Description of the island of Jamaica with the other isles and territories in America, to which the English are related ... : taken from the notes of Sr. Thomas Linch, Knight, governour of Jamaica, and other experienced persons in the said places : illustrated with maps / published by Richard Blome.	Blome, Richard, d. 1705.; Lynch, Thomas, Sir, d. 1684?	1672 (1672)	Wing B3208; ESTC R7437	42,330	208

but of late have much encreased And for the better Satisfying the Reader the Parts throughout the Island where the English have made their Settlements are Marked and distinguished in the Map by Cyphers I cannot certainely affirm the number of the English in this Isle but according to the last survey taken and returned into England some Yeares since by Sr. Thomas Modiford late Governour each Precinct or Parish contained as followeth A general Account of the Precincts or Parishes Families and Inhabitants in Jamaica taken by order of Sir Thomas Modiford then Governour as aforesaid Parishes Families Inhabitants Port-Royal 500 3500 St. Katherines 658 6270 St. Johns 083 996 St. Andrews 194 1552 St. Davids 080 960 St. Thomas 059 590 Clarindon 143 1430   1714 15298 Note that the Four Parishes on the North-side of the Isle to witt St. George's St. Maries St. Annes and St. James as also the Leeward most Parish called St. Elizabeth together with these two not named both adjoyning on St. Elizabeths the one Eastwards and the other Northwards was not as then so particularly surveyed by reason of their distance and new Settlements nevertheless they were found according to Calculation to amount to about 2000 Inhabitants But all these parts as also those seven aforenamed are now exceedingly encreased being supposed to be encreased to double if not treble the number And the great encouragement of gaining Riches with a pleasant life doth invite every year abundance of People to Inhabite here quitting their concerns at Barbadoes and other our American Plantations so that in a short time without doubt it will become the most potent and richest Plantation in the West-Indies And besides the aforesaid number of Inhabitants in the said 14 Precincts or Parishes there are reckoned to belong to the Island of Privateers Hunters Sloop and Boatmen which ply about the Isle at the least 3000 lusty and stout Fighting Men whose courage hath been sufficiently evidenced in their late exploit and attempt made against the Spaniards at Panama Their Lawes Their Lawes are assimulated as near as may be to those of England having their several Courts Magistrates and Officers for the executing of Justice on criminal Offenders and the hearing and determination of Causes or Controversies betwixt party and party Having thus made a short desscription of the Island as to its Scituation Fertility Commodities Harbours Towns and Precincts with an estimate of the number of its Inhabitants In the next place I shall give you the state of the Isle when the Spaniards were possessors thereof and wind up my discourse with some seasonable considerations relating to the English Affairs in America with reasons to justifie the first design in taking it and why his Majesty should keep and support it And of these in order The state of the Spaniards in this Island The Spaniards first setled on the North-west part of the Isle under the Conduct of Columbus and built the Town of Mellila but disliking the Scituation removed to Oristana and finding that also to be ill seated and unhealthful again removed and setled at St. Jago or St. Jago de la vega where with the assistance of the Indians they built a fair Town or City which I have already treated of And in this Town Inhabited all the Spaniards that were in the Isle at the Landing of the English keeping their slaves at their several small Plantations or Stanchas who failed not to bring them store of Fruits Provisions which they luxuriously spent in their houses never intending any thing but to live at ease and plenty For on this large and fertile Island there was no Manufacture or Commodity made except a little Sugar Tabacco and Cocao and those few Ships that came hither traded generally for Hydes Tallow Jamaica Pepper and Cocao but not to any considerable account And the number of Inhabitants did not exceed 3000 of which half if not more were Slaves And the reason why it was so thinly peopled was because the Spaniards generally desire to be in Nova Hispana or Hispaniola but chiefly because this Isle was held in proprietership by the heirs of the Duke of Veragua-Columbus who received the Revenues and placed Governours as absolute Lord of it And at the first it was planted by a kind of Portugals the society of whom the Spaniards abhors Upon the approach of the English-Army after their landing the Inhabitants of St. Jago deserted the Town and betook themselves to the Mountains pretending a Treaty with the English untill such time as they had secured their Women and Goods and then did they make several attempts and upon surprisals murthered many of the English but the Spaniards soon growing weary of that wild and mountainous course of Life perceiving small hopes of expelling the English divers of the Grandees got into Cuba who by the Vice-Roy of Alexico's order were commanded back with a promise of a speedy and considerable supply of men upon which they returned somwhat encouraged and dispersed themselves by Families that they might the better get provisions and avoid the being discovered by the English but this necessitous and unusual course of life killed many of them and discouraged the rest for that in all this time there came to their succour but too Souldiers and those refused to joyn with them as being so few and sickly so that they marched back to the North of the Island and at a place called St. Chereras did fortify themselves every day expecting a new body of Men to joyn with them But the English discovering their quarters marched against them Some few months after about 30 small Companies of the Spanish Forces arrives and immediately very strongly Fortify Rio Nova having Ordnance and great store of Ammunition yet were they speedily and succesfully defeated by the Valour of the English under the Conduct of Leiutenant General Edw. D'oyley And this grand disaster with many petty ill successes caused the Spaniards to dispair of regaining the Island and to ship off most of their Plat●● and Women and the Negroes finding the greatest part of their Masters to be dead killed the Governour and declined all obedience to the Spaniards appointing a Black for their Governour And such was the necessity of the Spaniards that instead of giving them fitting correction they were constrained to Court them for their assistance but all their policy would not prevail upon them for soon after did they submitt to the English Goverment and made discoveries of the Spaniards and Negroes that would not come in with them and did further assist the English in the taking of them in which they have been exceeding succesful In the year following the Spaniards quite deserted the Island except it were about 30 or 40 of their Slaves who betook themselves to the Mountaines but being afraid of a Discovery and to be pursued to Death for some Murthers they had committed built themselves Conoas and in them fled to Cuba and never since

nay hardly to see a Gun or any other weapon and being kept in such a slavery they are fearful of begining such an Insurrection it being present death for any that shall in the least be found to act or contrive such a thing The Management of a Plantation ought to be the Masters care yet few of them except those of the meaner degree are without their Overseers who takes off that trouble from them whose Office is to call them to work by the Ring of a Bell at 6 a clock in the morning to appoint them their sevesal works to give them due Correction upon any Misdemeanour or Idleness he likewise dismisses them at 11 a clock to go to their Dinner and calls them again by One a clock by the said Bell and dischargeth them at 6 at night What I have said in this Treatise of Barbadoes concerning their Servants and Slaves may be said in that of Jamaica for the Servants and Slaves are their greatest stock those they Buy the Servants for a Tearm of years the Negroes for ever their Apparrel which they allow to either being much the same but their Dyet better and for their labour it may be said to be much the same the Island producing the same Commodities The Island of Barbados very strong This Island is very strong as well by Nature as Art being sheltered with Rocks and Shoals and where nature hath not thus defended it it is Fortified by Trenches and Rampiers with Pallisadoes Curtains and Counter-Scarfes besides round about the Isle reguarding the Sea is standing Wood Here are also for its further Defence 3 Forts one for a Magazine for the Ammunition and Powder to lye in and the other two for places of Retreats as occasion serveth They have also for their further security a standing Militia consisting of two Regiments of Horse and five of Foot which are Stout and well-Disciplined men and alwayes to be Ready on beat of Drum The Government of this Isle This Isle is Governed by Lawes assimulated to those of England for all matters either Civil Ecclesiastick Criminal Maritine or Martial yet not without some few Lawes appropriate to themselves which are not repugnant to the Lawes of England For the Execution of these Lawes they have their Courts of Judicature The Law is administred by the Governour or his Deputy and Ten of his Council The Isle is divided into four Circuites in each of which there is an Inferiour Court for civil Causes from which Appeals may be made to the Supream Court Here are also Justices of the Peace Constables Church-wardens and Tything-men And for the Administration of Justice here are yearly 5 Sessions At the Governours pleasure he calleth an Assembly for the making of New Lawes so as not contrary to those of England and for the abolishing of Old which said Assembly is much in the nature of our Parliament and doth consist of the Governour as Supream his Ten Council as so many Peers and two Burgesses chosen by the Commonalty out of each of the Parishes The present Governour is the Right Hon. William Willoughby Baron Willoughby of Parham As concerning the nature of the Sugar-Canes how to Plant them their growth cutting grinding boyling the conveyance of the Skimmings into the Cisterns how to distill it for Spirits how long it stayes in the Cureing-house before it be good Muscovado-Sugar together with the making it into Whites is not my business in this small Treatise to give the Reader instructions therein referring to Mr. Richard Ligons Book of the Description of this Isle A DESCRIPTION OF The ISLAND of St. CHRISTOPHERS ST Christophers so called from Christopher Columbus the first discoverers thereof scituate in the Latitude of 17 degrees and 25 min. in circuite about 75 miles The Land lieth high and mountainous in the midst from which springeth several Rivers which oft-times by reason of the Raines that falleth down the Mountaines are overflown to the detriment of the Inhabitants The Soyl Commodities c. The Soyl is light and sandy and very apt to produce several sorts of Fruits Provisions and Commodities as Sugar Tobacco Cotton Ginger c. This Isle by reason of its several great and steepy Mountains between which are Springs of hot and Sulphurous Water with horrid Precipices and thick Woods renders it very impassable through the midst And the steepy Ascents of the Mountains are divided into several Stages or Stories where are spacious wayes On the Sea-side there is a Salt-pit called Gul-desac and not far from the said Salt-pit there is a small Istmus of land which reacheth within a mile and a half of the Island of Nievis or Mevis This Island is a place exceeding delightful and of a most delectable Prospect to the Eye of the beholder for if the Eye be directed downwards from the top it hath a Prospect of curious Gardens which gently descend to the Sea-side and in reguard of the continual Ascent of the Isle the lower Stage or Story doth not debar the Eye of the pleasant Prospect of that which lyeth at a Remoter distance which is terminated by those high Mountains And that which maketh the Prospect the more delectable in the several Plantations which are bounded with Rows of Trees alwayes in their Verdure are the fair Houses covered with glazed Slate The Division of the Isle and how Possessed The whole Isle is divided into four Quarters or Cantons two of which are possessed by the English and two by the French which parts are not so well watered as those of the English but are better for Tillage and not so Hilly The English are more Populous then the French and have two fortified places one commanding the great Haven and the other a descent not far from Pointe de sable The French have Four strong Forts of which one hath Regular Works like a Cittadel that of most note commands the Haven and is called Basse-Terre Both the English and the French keep constant Guard at their Forts placed at the entrance of the Paths which leads to the several Wards for the better security of each other Here are five Churches in those parts belonging to the English viz. one at Sandy-point one at Palme-Tree another near the great Road and two at the Inlet of Cayoune with many fair Structures The French besides their several Habitations dispersed up and down in their quarters have at Basse-Terre near the Haven where Ships lye at Anchor a Town of a good bigness whose Houses are well built of Brick Freestone and Timber where the Merchants have their Store-houses and is well Inhabited by Tradesmen and are well served with such Commodities both for the Back and Belly together with Utensils for their Houses and Plantations as they have occasion of in exchange of such Commodities which are the product of the Island Here is a fair and large Church as also a publique-Hall for the administration of Justice

c. Commodities Commodities which this Countrey doth or may produce are Hemp Flax Hops Rape-Seed Anniceseed Wood Madder Pot-Ashes Honey Wax Silk if they would make it Mulberry-Trees here growing in such great plenty Saxafras Sarsaparilla several swee● Gums and Balsomes of Sovereign vertues several sorts of Plants Woods c. used by Dyers here are veins of Alomes Iron and Copper sundry sorts of Rich Furrs Elk-skins which maketh excellen● Buffe and other Hides Pitch Tarr Rozen Turpentine Butter Cheese and Salted Flesh and Fish which find vent at the Barbadoes and other Caribbe Isles but above all these their chief Commodity is Tobacco which they are sure to find vent for and is the Standard by which all other Commodities are prized but it were well for the Inhabitants if they would imploy their time about the making of Silk or some other Commodities which in a short time would be found more advantageous unto them then their Tobacco would not be so great a Drug as of late it is insomuch that the Merchant oft-times had rather lose it then to pay the charges and Duties of Freight Custome Excise c. Here groweth a kind of Flax called Silk-grass of which the Indians make Thred and Strings and is good to make Linnen-cloth and Shifts and would make excellent strong Cables Their Trade Here all Trades-men especially Handicrafts finds good encouragement and for those Commodities aforesaid the English who have the sole Trade bring them all sorts of Apparel all manner of Utinsills belonging to Household-stuf or necessary in their Plantations or otherwise also Wine Brandy and other strong Drinks likewise all Silks Stuf and Cloth both Linnen and Wollen which they convert to several uses according to their Fancyes being now supplyed by Taylors Their Trees Here groweth sundry sorts of Trees of the red and white Oak Black Walnut Cedar Pine Cyprus Chesnut Poppler Ash Elm c. many of which are very good for the building of Ships and other uses The Rivers This Country is well watered with several great and strong Rivers which lose themselves in the Gulph or bay of Chesopeak which gives entrance for shipping in this Country as also to Mary-Land next adjoyning which said Bay is very large Capacious and Comodious for Shipping being said to run up into the Countrey northwards near 75 Leagues its breadth in many places being 5 6 or 7 Leagues and sometimes more and 6 or 7 Fathom deep and its opening to the South between Cape-Henry which begineth Virginia and Cape-Charles on the other side opposite being about 10 or 12 Leagues wide The principal of these Rivers begining at Cape-Henry are Pawhatan now called James-River being very large Commodious for ships and found navigable about 50 Leagues Pamaunke now York-River also large and Navigable about 20 Leagues Rapahanock or Toppahanock likewise a good River and Navigable about 40. Leagues which is the last River of Virginia Northwardly that falls into the Bay of Chesopeack Their Townes Upon or near these Rivers for the conveniency of shipping the English are seated which at present do amount unto the number of about 30 or 40000 and have some Townes the chief amongst which is James-Town or rather James City commodiously seated James-River the Town is beautified with many fair and well built Brick Houses and as it is the chief town of the Countrey here is kept the Courts of Judicature and Offices of publique concern not far from which at Green-Spring resideth the Governour Sir William Berkley Next to James-town may be reckoned that of Elizabeth seated at the mouth of the said River a well built Town Also Dales-gift Wicocomoco Bermuda and others The English Government This Countrey is Governed by Laws agreeable with those of England for the deciding of all Causes both Civil and Criminal which said Laws are thus made by the Governour appointed by his Majesty with the consent of the General Assembly which doth consist of his Council and the Burgesses chosen by the Free-holders And for the better Government the Countrey which is possessed by the English is divided into several Counties in each of which are Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and other Officers which are from time to time appoynted by the Governour The names of the Counties are those of Carotuck Charles Glocester Hartford Henrico James New-Kent Lancastar Middlesex Nansemund Lower-Norfolk Northampton Northumberland Rappahanock Surrey Warwick Westmorland Isle of Wight and York and in each of these Counties are held petty Courts every month from which there may be Appeales to the Quarter-Court held at James-Town The Natives or Indians Virginia was and yet is the habitation of divers sorts of Indians which have no dependance upon each other being of particular Tribes and having their peculiar King to Govern them every Indian-Town or rather poor Village being the habitation of a King and these People do rather live at enmity than amity together And as to their Dispositions Manners Religions c. there is found a difference but most of all in their Languages so that those People may not improperly be called so many several Nations They are generally a sort of people well proportionate stout of a swarthy complexion their Hair black and flaggy which they wear long they are of a ready Wit very Subtile and Treacherous not much addicted to labour being too great lovers of their ease they are much given to Hunting and going to Wars with each other their Weapons being the Bow and Arrows at which they are very expert being good marks-men but of late they have got the use of Guns and other Weapons through the folly of the English in shewing them They are very loving and obedient to their Kings in matters of Religion they observe strange Ceremonies and their Priests which are esteemed Conjurers makes Sacrifices for them They believe the Transmigration of the Soul and have strange fancies about the Creation of they World they believe there is a God but think he hath something else to do then to concern himself with things below as too inferiour for him and do therefore not Worship him but the Divel they worship out of a fear least he should destroy them as having the power of them Their Apparel is but mean only contenting themselves with something to cover their Nakedness and for the better defending themselves from the weather they anoynt their Bodyes with certain Oyles mixt with Beares Grease Their Houses are no better then our English Hogsties and are made of Boughs and covered with Bark of Trees and in the midst thereof is placed their Chimney or Fire-place Their Dyet in meaness is answerable to their Houses not endeavouring to please their Pallets with curious Sauces or pompering their Bodies with provokative Meates A DESCRIPTION OF MARYLAND It s Scituation and Bounds THe Province of Maryland lying between the degrees of 37 and 50 minutes or thereabouts and 40 degrees of Northern Latitude

hath a considerable Trade with the Indians for the Skins of Elks Deer Bears c. also for those of Bever Otter and other Furrs and doth likewise enjoy a good Trade with the English The Natives This Countrey is also possessed with sundry sorts of people not much unlike the Indians of Virginia being well proportioned Stout Swarthy Black haired very expert in their Bow and Arrows which are their chief weapons of War They are courteous to the English of a ready Witt and very apt to receive Instructions from them upon the least Offence the man turneth away his wife and marrieth again and the Children begotten by her she taketh with her the man not regarding them Fornication is here permitted They observe several Ceremonies in their Religious Rites and are said to worship the Devil whom they greatly fear Their Priests are no better than Sorcerers who strangly bewitch these silly Creatures When any woman findeth her self quick with Child she keepeth her self chast or untouched by man until her delivery the like she observeth in the time of her giving Suck A strange custom which our European Dames would not well like of They are very obedient and loving to their Kings They believe the Transmigration of the Soul and concerning the Creation of the World have a strange fantastical opinions They are much addicted to Dancing Sports and Recreations observing Festival Times Their Habit is but mean as the rest of the Indians yet do they Paint and besmear their Faces with several Colours by way of Ornament There Dyet and Habitations are also as mean They are much addicted to go to Wars against one another and do seldome give quarter to any but the Women and Children whom they preserve and make use of for the encreasing their strength A DESCRIPTION OF New-ENGLAND It s Situation NEw England is seated North of Maryland which according to the report of Capt. Smith hath 70 miles of Sea Coast where are found divers good Havens some of which are capable to harbour 500 Saile of Shipps from the fury the of Sea and Winds by reason of the interposition of several Isles to the number of about 200 which lie about this Coast And although this Countrey is seated in the midst of the Temperate Zone yet is the Clime more uncertain as to Heat and Cold then those European Kingdomes which lie Parallel with it and as to Virginia this may be compared as Scotland is to England The Aire The Aire is here found very healthful and very agreeable to the English which makes them possess many potent Colonyes Its Inhabitants This Countrey is possessed by divers sorts of People who are Governed by their particular Kings and do much differ in Customes and Manners from one another as those Indians inhabiting in Mary-Land Virginia and other parts of America And do live generally at variance with each other They have their several Townes and settlements and their Riches doth consist in their Furs and Skins which they sell to the English When first inhabited by the English This Countrey became first to be a Colony of the English about the Year 1605 being granted by Patent from King James to certain proprietors under the name of the Plymouth Company but divers years were spun out with great expences and not without sundry casualties befalling on the Adventurers before it became any thing considerable and in a setled condition Their Rivers and Fish This Country is well watered with Rivers the chief amongst which are Agamentico Conectecut Kinebequy Merrimeck Mishuin Mistick Neraganset Pascataway Pemnaquid Tachobacco c. and in these Rivers together with the Sea are taken excellent Fish as Cod Thornback Sturgeon Porpuses Haddock Salmons Herrings Mackeril Oysters Lobsters Crab-Fish Tortoise Cocles Muscles Clams Smelts Eels Lamprons Alewives Basses Hollibuts Sharks Seales Grampus and Whales Their Fowles and Birds Here are great variety of Fowls as Phesants Partridges Heath-Cocks Turkeys Geess Ducks Hernes Cranes Cormorants Swans Widgins Sheldrakes Snipes Doppers Blackbirds the Humbird Loon c. Their Beasts both Tame and Wild. Their Wild Beasts of chief note are Lyons Beares Foxes Rackoons Mooses Musquashs Otters Bevers Deer Hares Coneys c. and for Tame Beasts Cowes Sheep Goates Swine and Horses Amongst the hurtful things in this Countrey the Rattle-Snake is most dangerous Here are also several sorts of Stinging Flyes which are found very troublesome to the Inhabitants Their Trees and Fruits Here are sundry sorts of Trees as the Oak Cyprus Pine Chesnut Caedar Walnut Firr Ash Asp Elm Alder Maple Birch Sasafras Sumach several Fruit-Trees as Apples Pears Plumbs with several others that are growing in Virginia and Mary-land which I have already took notice of Their Commodities and Trade This Countrey affordeth several sorts of rich Furrs Flax Linnen Amber Iron Pitch Tarr Cables Masts and Timber to build Ships also several sorts of Grain c. The Inhabitants drive a considerable Trade to Barbadoes and other our American Plantations in supplying them with Flower Bisket Salt Flesh and Fish c. and in return bring Sugars and other Commodities as well for their own use as to sell again They also drive a considerable Trade with England for wearing Apparrel Stuffs Silks Cloth several Utensils for their Houses Iron Brass and such like things that are useful to man and not found amongst them As to the Coyns Weights and Measures of New-England and the rest of the American Plantations belonging to his Majesty they are the same with those of London but as to Coyns they are not much made use of in Trade their way being bartering of one Commodity for another but at Jamaica they have plenty of Spanish Coins and at Barbadoes those of England The English now Inhabiting in New-England are very numerous and powerful having a great many Towns many of which are considerable The English Government The Inhabitants are Governed by Laws of their own making and have their several Courts and places of Judicature and assemble together at their set times and places as well for the making of New Lawes abolishing of Old Hearing and Determining of Causes as for the Election of a Governour Deputy-Governour Assistants Burgesses and other Magistrates every Town having two Burgesses each County Annually Electing such like Officers for the looking after the like Affairs in the said Colony And in matters that concern Religion and Church-Government they are very strict and make a great shew being much of the stamp of the Ridgid Presbyterians The Towns Here are several Towns as Boston the Metropolis of New-England Commodiously seated for Traffique on the Sea-Shore It is at present a very large and spacious Town or rather City composed of several well-ordered Streets and graced with fair and beautiful Houses which are well Inhabited by Merchants and Trades-men who drive a considerable Trade for such Commodities as the Countrey afforeth to Barbadoes and the other Caribbee Isles as also to England and