massacres committed there by the Savages but the wind proving contrary to their design they were cast on the Coasts of Florida whence they pass'd into the Province of Matica and thence into those of Amana and Bemarin and in the last they setled themselves and have drawn thither a considerable number of Ecclesiasticks and persons of quality who have there laid the foundations of a small Colony Most of those who are retir'd into those places so remote from all commerce in the world undertook that generous design in the midst of the great revolutions which happen'd in England during the late troubles and the main business they propos'd to themselves at that time was only to make their advantage of so seasonable a retreat that they might the more seriously and with less distraction mind the attainment of their own salvation and dilate the limits of Christianity among those poor people if God gave them the means We understand also by the last papers that have been sent us from America that God blessing the endeavours of the first Inhabitants of this small Colony they have within these twelve or thirteen years baptiz'd most of the Officers and the most considerable Heads of Families in the Provinces of Bemarin and Amana That at the present they have a Bishop and many learned and zealous Ecclesiasticks among them who carry on the work of the Lord and the more to advance it they have built Colledges in all those places where there are Churches that the Children of the Apalachites may be instructed in the mysteries of Christian Religion and true piety The same Papers add further that though the King of Apalacha hath received Baptism and seems to have much affection for these Strangers who have procur'd him that happiness yet hath he of late entertain'd some jealousie of them out of an apprehension as it was represented to him by some of his Councel that if he suffer'd them to grow more numerous they might in time become Masters of the Country He thereupon in the first place dispers'd them into several Cities that they might not be able to make any considerable body or foment any factions and afterwards there was an order pass'd that all those who have at the present any setlement in the bosom of his Country might peaceably continue in their habitations and participate of the same priviledges with the Natives provided they held no correspondence with any abroad to the prejudice of the publick tranquillity but that henceforward no other strangers shall be permitted to make any further establishments there Those who are acquainted with the Nature of the Country affirm that the King of the Apalachites hath no just cause to fear that either the English or any other strangers should be guilty of any design against him as to the mastering of his Country For besides the necessity there is of having a very powerful Army ere any such enterprise can be undertaken and that the English who are establish'd there are no more amongst that great Nation than a handful of sand on the Sea-side this Country being so remote from all the rest of the world and destitute of Gold Silver precious Stones and in a manner all rich Commodities whereby Commerce is kept up and continu'd it is most certain that it will never be much sought after or envy'd by any Europaean Nations which send out Colonies only to those places where there is hope of making some considerable advantage by way of Trade Whereto may be added this further consideration that though these Provinces were possess'd of as great Treasures and Rarities as they are destitute thereof yet lying at a great distance from Sea-Ports and having no navigable Rivers falling into it by means whereof there might in time be some correspondence between them and other parts there is no likelihood that there should be many persons either in England or any where else who would be perswaded to cross over so many Seas to go and end their days in a Country which is destitute of all those conveniences and cannot receive those refreshments which are brought out of Europe and contribute much to the comfortable subsistance of all the other Colonies of America and in a word a Country which can give its Inhabitants nothing but clothing and nourishment Some time after the English had establish'd themselves in this Country as we have represented before the Spaniards who as it were keep the keys of one part of Florida by means of the Forts they have built near the most eminent Havens and along the most considerable Rivers brought in there a company of religious men of the Order of the Minimes whom Pope Urban the eighth had sent into the Septentrional America in the quality of Apostolical Missionaries and endow'd with most ample priviledges for their better encouragement in the carrying on of that work They arriv'd in those Provinces in the year One thousand six hundred forty and three and since that time they have taken their progress through most of the Villages that lie about the great Lake and upon the descent of the Mountains which look towards the Country of the Cofachites It is reported that they have baptized with great pomp the Paracoussis of the Province of Achalaca and a great number of his Subjects When these religious men return from their Missions they live in a solitary yet delightful place which lies upon the descent of a high Mountain not above a quarter of a league distant from the great Lake and about as much from the greatest Village of the Province of Achalaca Before a man comes to their habitation he must cross through several fair Gardens in the midst whereof there is a pleasant walk planted with trees on both sides which reaches to the skirt of the Mountain And though they have seated themselves on an eminent place yet they have many springs which falling down from the upper part of the Mountains are receiv'd into great Cisterns and great Ponds where they have abundance of good Fish The Lord of the Country visits them often and hath a great respect for them for the most part he hath some one of them about his person who serves him as a Chaplain In the year One thousand six hundred fifty and three in which Mr. Brigstock that most inquisitive English Gentleman from whom we have receiv'd all the account we have given of the Apalachites arriv'd in that Province of Achalaca the foremention'd Religious men entertain'd him very kindly and did him all the good offices lay in their power From them it was that during his aboad in the Country he learnt all the particulars we are now going to describe and which he hath liberally communicated to us They show'd him an admirable Flower which grows abundantly in the Mountains of those parts The figure of this Flower is much like that of a Bell and there are as many colours observable in it as in the Rain-bow the under leaves which being fully
Governor having seriously taken it into consideration that all the Letters he had sent to those Gentlemen upon that occasion had not obtain'd any favourable answers from them thought it would be his best course ere the Colony were reduc'd to greater extremities to come over to them in person and by a second Voyage undertake the sollicitation of that relief upon which the safety of their first advancements and the subsistence of the French in that Island wholly depended This good design which the zeal he had for the glory of his Nation had inspir'd him withall prov'd as fortunate as he could have wish'd it For being come to Paris he was so prevalent in representing the importance and necessity of that Recruit to the Gentlemen of the Company that they granted him three hundred men and Ships furnish'd with all necessary Provisions for their transportation to S. Christophers This Recruit so impatiently expected by the Colony happily arriv'd about the beginning of August M. DC XXIX and it was receiv'd with so great joy by them who had so long stood in need of it that now they thought nothing should obstruct the execution of their designs But it seems the prosperities of this life are of a short continuance they had hardly solac'd themselves two months in the enjoyments of that happiness ere there comes upon them a powerful Fleet from Spain Dom Frederick de Toledo who had the command of it had receiv'd express order from his Catholick Majesty that before he fell down to the Havanna Carthagena and the other more eminent Ports of America he should touch at S. Christophers and force thence all the English and French who had planted themselves there some years before The first act of hostility committed by this Naval force which consisted of four and twenty great Ships of burthen and fifteen Frigots was the seisure of some English Ships then lying at Anchor neer the Island of Mevis which done it came and cast Anchor in the Road of S. Christophers within Cannon-shot of the Basse-terre where Mons de Rossey had the command in chief The Forts of both the Colonies were not yet in such a condition as to stand out a siege they were unfurnish'd with Provisions and all the Ammunition as to Powder and Shot in the whole Island could not amount to much nay though both the Nations should have joyn'd all their forces together yet could they not have oppos'd so great an Army But their courage in some measure supply'd all those defects for that the Enemy should not brag of his having compass'd his designs without some opposition Desnambuc dispatch'd out of the Cabes-terre where he began to fortifie himself all his most experienc'd Souldiers in order to the relief of the place which was threatned by the Enemy and the English sent thither four of their best Companies These Forces being come to the appointed Rendezvouz were joyntly employ'd with the Inhabitants of that Quarter to intrench themselves along the Sea-coast to make a more vigorous resistance against the Enemy and oppose his landing and no doubt they would have put him to some trouble had they been well commanded and that first earnestness had not receiv'd some remission by the fright which so seiz'd the heart of de Rossey that he would have suffer'd them to land and make their approaches without any resistance if a young Gentleman Nephew to Mons Desnambuc and elder Brother to Mons Parquet the present Governour of Martinico had not get leave to pass over the Works and to engage the first Company of the Enemy that appear'd upon the sands He was seconded by some Volunteers who would needs participate of the glory of that action but he went before them all both as to courage and resolution for he so gallantly engag'd him who had the command of the party that he kill'd him and several others of the most valiant about him who had the confidence to make tryal of his valour But being afterwards forsaken by those who had follow'd him in that encounter he was over-power'd by number knock'd down and carry'd into one of the enemies Ships where after all remedies apply'd in order to his recovery he dy'd to the great regret of both sides as bemoaning the misfortune of such a miracle of generosity and resolution During this encounter which should have been maintain'd with more gallantry by those who were in actual possession of the Island the General of the Spanish Fleet immediately gave order that all the Ships should at the same time send out their Shallops full of Souldiers well arm'd which got a shore in very good order This added not a little to the fright de Rossey was in before inasmuch as being far from entertaining any thoughts of opposition out of a fear of being oppress'd by that multitude he thought it his only way to make an honourable retreat before his people were encompass'd of all sides This resolution tumultuously taken was grumbled at by those who wish'd the Enemy had more dearly bought the desolation of their Colony but such a general consternation was there in that fatal conjuncture that it was carried they should take their way towards the Cabes-terre and that there it should be taken into futher consideration what were best to be done in order to the common safety The Spaniard perceiving that the French had quitted their Fort and their Works without making any great resistance imagin'd there might be some design in that retreat and that it had been made purposely to draw him into some Ambuscado laid for him in the Woods This suspicion kept him from prosecuting his victory and so occasion'd his stay in the Quarter of the Basse-terre till he had a better account brought him of the state of the whole Island and himself had consider'd what was most expedient for him to do in order to a more sudden and punctual execution of his Commission While the Enemy continu'd in this suspence and consider'd with himself how to compass his designs with least danger Desnambuc extreamly surpriz'd at so sudden a change and so unexpected success endeavour'd to comfort his own people and to encourage them to express their constancy in the supporting of that miscarriage He thereupon took occasion to remonstrate to them That the disgrace was not past remedy That it was not to be imagin'd the enemy would stay in the Island so long as to force all the Inhabitants out of it That he had affairs of greater weight which call'd him elsewhere That he would not easily be drawn into the Forests which it was absolutely necessary he should pass through ere he could come into his Quarter That they might put themselves into such a posture of defence as should not only give a check to his progress but also force him to signalize his invasion with his own blood And lastly that there were in his way some places so fortifi'd by Nature that a few men might force him to find his
way back again This advice was very solid and might have prevail'd somewhat with those to whom it was given but the terror wherewith their spirits were prepossess'd and the consternation was so general that it was not weigh'd as it deserv'd The business therefore being taken into deliberation it was concluded that the Island should be deserted and that the Colony should transport it self to some other place which might give less occasion of jealousie to the Spaniard and lye more out of the ordinary course of his Fleets Desnambuc foreseeing that what pretencesoever might be made for the taking of that resolution it would still be chargeable with somewhat of cowardice and baseness such as should blast the opinion conceiv'd of the gallantry of the French and of a sudden smother the great hopes which some had of the advancement of their Colony could not be perswaded to give his approbation thereto However though he were of a contrary sentiment that it might not be said he forsook in so sad a conjuncture those whom he had brought thither through so many Seas and dangers he comply'd with their humor and embarqu'd himself with them in certain Ships which chanc'd to be in the Haven and so to avoid a greater disorder doing his own inclinations a violence he only assur'd them that he should one day reproach them with the little esteem they made of his remonstrances The Quarters where the English had themselves were also in a great disorder they had intelligence brought them that the enemy was become master of all the Basse-terre That he had demolish'd the Fortress of the French after he had remov'd the pieces that were in it That he had already burnt all their Huts and made havock of all the Plantations of the Quarter They were in perpetual expectation when he should come and fall on them with all his forces and in that apprehension some endeavour'd to make their escape by Sea or shelter themselves in the Mountains while others somewhat more courageous were consulting how to send Deputies to Dom Frederic to entreat him to admit of some accommodation But all the Answer they receiv'd was an express command immediately to depart the Island which if they did not they should be treated with all the rigour which the Law of Arms permits to be used towards those who against all right possess themselves of what belongs not to them To facilitate the departure which Dom Frederic had so imperiously commanded he gave order that those Ships which his Fleet had taken away from the English neer the Island of Mevis should be restor'd to them and that they should embarque without any delay and immediately set sail for England But whereas it was impossible those Vessels should contain so great a number of people he permitted the supernumerary to continue in the Island till they had a favourable opportunity for their transportation These things dispatch'd Dom Frederic weigh'd Anchor in order to the continuation of his Voyage but as soon as the Fleet was out of sight the English who had been left behind in the Island began to rally and took a resolution courageously to carry on the setlement of their Colony While these things were in agitation at S. Christophers the French who had left it at the beginning of the distraction had suffer'd so many inconveniences at Sea partly through want of Provisions and partly by reason of contrary Winds that they were forc'd to put in at the Islands of S. Martin and Montserrat after they had by the way touch'd at that of Antego They wish'd themselves so happy as that they might have setled in any of those places but they look'd on them as dreadful Desarts in comparison of that out of which they had been so unhappily forc'd The pleasant Idea of that was still before their eyes it was the continual subject of their regret and the delightful remembrance of that pleasant abode to the recovery whereof they were by Divine Providence re-invited by ways unknown to them rais'd in them a desire to be inform'd what condition the Spaniard had left it in since they were then so neer it To satisfie that commendable curiosity they sent one of their Ships to S. Christophers which returning gave them an account that the Enemies Fleet was gone and that the English who were left behind were courageously employ'd in rebuilding their Hutts planting Provisions and repairing their desolations This unexpected good News reviv'd their decay'd hopes and heightned the courage of those who were most cast down so that there needed not many arguments ro perswade them to a return into that delightful Country which was already possess'd of their hearts and tenderest affections Being arrived there every one resum'd his former place with a resolution to make an absolute setlement but the Famine which press'd hard upon them would no doubt have check'd the progress of all these promising designs and they would have been crush'd by the extraordinary labours which they were at the same time oblig'd to undergo as well in rebuilding their houses as planting things necessary for their subsistence if in those pressing extremities God had not directed thither for their relief some Ships belonging to the United Provinces which finding what a deplorable condition they were in generously supply'd them with provisions cloaths and all things necessary nay to put an absolute obligation upon them they had no other security for their satisfaction then their bare words The French having thus sâ—â—sonably overcome the inconveniences which they had â—â—â—uggled with from the first beginning of their establishment employ'd themselves so earnestly afterwards in their Plantations that through the blessing of God on their lâ—bours the Earch furnish'd them with Provisions and Tobacco in such abundance that they honestly satisfy'd their charitable Creditors and in a short time were better accommâ—dated with all things then they had bâ—â—â— before their dâ—fâ—at by the Spaniards Yet were they still in waâ—â— of Men to carry on their Enterprizes and the Commerce which bâ—â—â—â— to be establish'd among them To remedy that Desnambuc who found his constancy attended with so good success thought it the surest and most likely expedient to perâ—â—t the principal Inhabitants of the â—â—â—â—ny to return into France to make Levies there and to bring over what numbers they should raise on their own charge This prudent advice being accordingly put in execution the Island was in a few years supply'd with abundance of gallant persons who brought it into reputation The English Colony made also a shift in a short time to make up all the bâ—eaches it had receiv'd by the invasion of the Spaniards The Company at London which had undertaken the direction of it sending over continual supplies of Men and refreshments the two Quarters whereof the English were possess'd in the Island of S. Christophers became too narrow to maintain so great a multitude insomuch that besides the Island of Mevis which they had peopled before their defeat
the defeat of the English and imagining that the Spaniards were gone would have reviv'd the pretensions of the Dutch to that Island but the Spaniards having the advantage as being ten to one the Dutch were forc'd to accept of such terms of accommodation as the others were pleas'd to give them The crafty Spaniards had indeed promis'd them good quarter but their design was to transport them to Porto-Rico to their Governour who according to the Spanish humour would not have treated them over-christianly But as good fortune would have it just as the Spaniards were preparing for their return with the Dutch Prisoners who had so unfortunately fallen into their hands two French Ships well mann'd and furnish'd with all sorts of Provisions and Ammunition arriv'd in the Island sent thither by the French General de Poincy to send the Spaniard packing thence and take possession of it for the King of France This relief came in very seasonably for the deliverance of the surpriz'd Dutch for the Spaniards perceiving the French landing cheerfully and in good order and making a considerable Body of gallant men and ready to fight immediately let go their Prisoners and after a short capitulation the French sent them an express order to be gone aboard their Ships with a menace that if they did not they would fall upon them as Enemies and that they were not to expect any Quarter The Spaniards thought it their best course rather to comply then stand to the hazard of an engagement though they much exceeded the French in number The French General taking it into his consideration of what importance the Island in time might be especially in order to the facilitation of other acquests of greater concernment thought it worthy his endeavours to secure what he had so fortunately possess'd himself of and thereupon sent a prudent and experienc'd Governour to command there under him The person he pitch'd on for that Employment was Monsieur Auber Major of the Island of S. Christophers who had exercis'd that Charge with great approbation for many years together but now he was advanc'd to the quality of Governour of that Island He died in the exercise of that Charge to the great regret of all the Inhabitants after he had setled the Island in good order recover'd its ruines and laid the foundations of a Fort which he had design'd himself for the security of such Ships as should afterwards come into the Haven and to defeat the hopes of the Spaniards to make any more incursions there This reduction of the Island under the power of the French as we have describ'd it happen'd in the Year M. DC L. The Dutch had built a very fair Church upon a pleasant ascent of this Island in the form of a Cross which may still be standing if the Spaniards who should have a respect for that sacred Sign which was on the top of the Steeple have not ruin'd it The French are oblig'd for that House of Prayer to the devotion and zeal of a certain Company of Merchants belonging to Flushing who first peopled the Island by a Commission from the States-General The present King of France being inform'd of all the glorious actions done in those parts by Monsieur de Poincy and considering how necessary his continual residence in America was granted him new Letters Patents whereby he confirm'd him in the Charge of Governour and Lieutenant-General in those places and the Queen during her Regency gave him a great commendation for his noble Enterprizes and Fidelity to the Kings service In the Year M. DC LI. the French Governour with the Kings consent treated with the Gentlemen of the Company we mentioned before and having reâ—mburs'd them all the charges they had been aâ— in the establishment of that Colony purchas'd to himself the Seigniory and Fee-simple of the Islands of the Christophers S. Bartholomew S. Martin Santa-cruce and 〈…〉 Islands and that in the name and for the benefit of â—is Order of Malta and it is one of the noblest richest and most honourable Sâ—â—gâ—iories of any that Order enjoys under the Sovereignty of his Majesty of France And since that time the said King hath made an absolute bequest of all those Islands to the Order of Malta reserving to himself the Sovereignty thereof and the homage of a Crown of Gold to be presented at every change of King of the value of a thousand Crowns as it appears by the Letters Patents dated in March M. DC LIII Monsieur du Parquet Governour of Martinico did the like for the Islands of Martinico Granada and Saintaâ—ousia Monsieur d' â—â—well Governour of Garacloupe did the same thing for the Islands of Gardeloupe Marigalanta Desirado and the Saints The two last mentioned are not yet inhabitedâ— but he hath purchas'd the Seigniory of those places by way of advance that others might not without bâ—each of civility possess themselves thereof For it is to be observ'd that the Company which had the direction of the Islands of America but is now dissolv'd had obtain'd of the King all the Islands of the Caribbies as well those then inhabited as those in process of time to be so So that these Gentlemen who have treated with the Company would needs have mentioned in their Grant some Islands which are not yet inhabited yet lye neer and very convenient for them insomuch as when they shall have men enough in their other Islands they will be the more easily transplanted into those unless the English or Dutch chance to be before-hand with them For it is a general Rule That a Country destitute of Inhabitants belongs to him who first possesses himself of it so that neither the King of France's Grant nor yet that of the Company does any thing more then secure those Gentlemen against the pretentions of such of their own Nation as might oppose their designs Thus of all the Islands which the French are possess'd of in America the King of France reserves to himself the Sovereignty and M. M. de Poincy du Parquet and d' Houel have the Seigniory thereof without any acknowledgment of the Company which hath absolutely quitted all its pretentions to the said Gentlemen As for the English Governours of S. Christophers Sir Thomas Warner dying after he had gloriously establish'd his Country-men in the Caribbies and left the Island of S. Christophers inhabited by twelve or thirteen thousand English Mr. Rich who was the principal Captain in the Island was advanc'd to that Charge and this latter also dying Mr. Everard was advanc'd to the Government which he still exercises with general approbation as we had occasion to shew when we treated of the Island of S. Christophers At the first coming of the forreign Nations into the Islands they were lodg'd much after the same manner as the natural Inhabitants of the Country in little cotts and hutts made of the wood they had fell'd upon the place as they clear'd the ground There are still to be seen in several of
and welfare of the Island and his mildness and affability would gain him the affections of all there as they had done at S. Christophers where he had been accounted one of their best Captains His Commission was read and publish'd two Sundays together at the head of all the Companies of the Island The War which had been fomented between the Savages and the French by the ill counsel of some restless spirits and the credulity of the precedent Governour who had harkned thereto together with the differences jealousies and animosities which those boutefeus had rais'd among the principal Inhabitants of the Island had rendred it the most desolate of all the Colonies of America Want of provisions had reduc'd many to so great extremities that life grew wearisom to them and death was the object of their wishes The continual fear they were in of being surpriz'd by the Savages oblig'd them to be always in Arms and to leave their Gardens and Plantations uncultivated and the insupportable treatment they receiv'd from some Officers who abus'd their Authority had brought them to the threshold of inevitable destruction But assoon as M. Auber had assum'd the Government by the unanimous acclamations of all the Inhabitants and brought them the news of an assured peace which he had concluded with the Savages their neighbours and hop'd very suddenly to see confirm'd by all the assurances could be expected from a Nation so unciviliz'd as that of the Caribbians the disturbers of the publick tranquillity were dispers'd and the well-affected found themselves in safety under the prudent conduct of so worthy a Governour who us'd all possible endeavours to bring the Island to a perfect setlement Insomuch that the Colony seem'd to have put on a new face Justice began to flourish the unity and labours of the Inhabitants retriv'd the plenty trading and peace which had been forc'd thence before and the pious example of the Commander in chief had the expected influence over all the members of that Colony Though he had motion'd a Treaty of peace with the Savages yet did he conceive it expedient for fear of a surprize that the Inhabitants should still keep their Guards Accordingly he planted Sentinels in all those places where the Caribbians might most easily land without being discover'd He chang'd the Guards and plac'd them in other more advantagious places and he thought it prudence to keep under those who would have ruin'd the first foundations he had laid of the firm peace and alliance with those reconciled enemies charging the former by express prohibitions to forbear all acts of hostility that they might not by their particular animosities obstruct the general agreement wherein all the Inhabitants were so much concern'd The said Governour taking further into his consideration that the Islands were to subsist by Trading that nothing puts a greater slurre upon them then the bad Commodities vented therein and that Tobacco was the only Commodity at that time of any esteem at Gardeloupe and that several persons put off what was not merchantable which procedure had caus'd the Island to be slighted by Forreigners who upon that account had forborn sending any Ships thither he appointed certain persons who well understood the management of Tobacco and these carefully examin'd the making up of it and had order to cast into the Sea what was decay'd or wanted those qualities it ought to have to be allowable This good order taken as well in order to military affairs as policy brought the Island in a short time into a flourishing condition and the report of its amendment occasion'd the coming thither of many Merchants and invited a great number of considerable families to setle themselves there But to return to the Savages who had visited M. Auber in his Ship at his first arrival and had treated with him about a peace upon the conditions before-mentioned they were no sooner got home into their Country where they were expected with much impatience upon this score that they had continu'd a great while in the Ship but they celebrated all over the Island the noble entertainment they had receiv'd from the Governour newly come from France The considerable Presents he had bestow'd on them was an authentick assurance of his goodness and liberality To this they added that their enemies l' Olive and Sabouilly being ordered to depart Gardeloupe they had made a peace with that brave Companion who had treated them so kindly that he was worthy of their alliance That he might take no further occasion of distrust they urg'd the necessity there was that they should forbear making those incursions into Gardeloupe which they had been wont to make in the time of War And that when certain news came that the new Governour was fully establish'd in his Government they would give him a visit carry him Presents and solemnly confirm that peace which was likely to prove so advantagious for the future The Caribbians who had lost many of their men in the former engagements against the French and grew weary of dealing with such expert enemies were glad to hear what was propos'd to them by the principal Captains in their Country So that they approv'd all that had pass'd between them and the French Governour and behav'd themselves as they should do in order to the confirmation of the peace About the space of five months the Savages punctually observ'd the promise they had made to M. Auber of not giving any further disturbance to the French Imagining that time sufficient to let all the Inhabitants of Gardeloupe know what alliance had been contracted at the road of Dominico they resolv'd to send thither a solemn Deputation to confirm the peace and wish the Governour all prosperity There was a great competition among the Savages who should be honour'd with a Commission of so great importance They resolv'd then to satisfie the most eminent among them who were competitors for that Embassie to pitch upon two of their most ancient and most renowned Captains and to give each of them a considerable Convoy consisting of the choice of their bravest Officers and Souldiers And that there might be no jealousie among the Captains they thought it fit they should depart in two several Piragas each of them with his retinue and in such order as that one should precede the other by one day The chiefest of these Embassadours was call'd Captain Amichon a person very considerable among them and he was accompany'd by thirty of the most active and most expert of Dominico M. Auber was wont to say that he had never seen any Savages so well shap'd and active as they were These Savages therefore relying on the promise he had made them in the Road landed at Gardeloupe where hearing by the Guards that M. Auber was in the Island and in good health they confidently landed and desired to see him having in the mean time left some of the less considerable of their party to look to the Piraga While some went
top of every Plant those only excepted which are reserv'd for seed After all this ordering the Plant is to continue some weeks in the ground ere it comes to maturity during which there is a little cessation of labour and attendance about it But if the laborious Planter be exempted from the great pains he had bestow'd about it he shall not want work for there must be a place prepar'd where it is to be dispos'd as soon as it is ripe Care must be taken that the Grange or Store-house where it ought to be dry'd to a certain mediocrity be well cover'd and close of all sides that it be furnish'd with good store of poles fit for it to be laid upon that provision be made of a certain thin bark taken from a tree called Mahot to fasten every Plant to the poles and that the place design'd for the making of it up into rolls or pricks should have all things requisite for that work While all these preparations are made if the Tobacco-leaves lose ever so little of their first verdure and withal begin to bow down more then ordinary towards the ground and if the scent of them grows stronger it is a sign that the Plant is come to maturity And then taking a very fair day after the dew is fallen off it is to be cut about an inch above ground and left upon the place till the evening turning it once or twice that the Suâ— may take away somewhat of its moisture In the evening it is carry'd by armfuls into the house It is fasten'd by the lower end of the stalk to the poles so that the leaves hang downwards It is also requisite that they should not be laid too close one to the other lest they be corrupted or be not dry enough for want of air This first cutting down of the Tobacco being over they often visit the Plants which are hung up a drying while the rest which had been left growing comes to ripeness and when they find the leaves fit to be made up into rolls that is when they are neither too dry for in that case they would not be able to endure the wheel nor yet too moist for then they would corrupt in a short time they are taken off the poles they are laid in heaps at the end of the Grange and every stalk is stript of its leaves after this manner In the first place they lay aside all the longest and all the broadest leaves and they take away the great stalk which runs through the midst of them the lesser leaves are also laid by themselves to be dispos'd within the roll and the greater serve for coverings and shrowds for them These leaves thus dispos'd are ranked on planks or tables close by him who is to make them up into rolls which he makes bigger or smaller as may be seen by those brought over into these parts There is a certain art in making up the rolls and those who can do it with expedition and dexterity are highly esteem'd and get much more then those who are employ'd about ordering the ground They must have their hands and arms extremely supple and nimble to make the wheel turn with such speed and still to observe the same proportion that so the roll may be equally big in all parts There is a particular artifice in the business of Tobacco to dispose and lay it after the winding so as that it may be the more easily put up on the sticks which are all to be of a certain bigness and length to avoid deceit When the Tobacco is thus made up it is convey'd to the Store-house and cover'd with Bananas or some other leaves that it may not be prejudic'd by taking wind and be of a good fair colour That which cuts somewhat unctuously is blackish and shining and hath a pleasant and strong scent and burns easily in the Pipe is accounted the best We told you that the Tobacco-plant was cut almost even with the ground and not pluck'd up by the roots and it is purposely so cut that it may shoot forth new stalks And indeed it produces a second Plant but such as is neither so strong nor so fair as the former nor is the Tobacco made thereof so much esteem'd nor will keep so well It is call'd by some Shoot-Tobacco or Sucker-Tobacco or Tobacco of the second cutting or growth Nay some will have three shoots from the same stalk and that humour hath brought the Tobacco which comes from some Islands into dis-esteem Now since we have express'd our selves so much at large concerning the manufacture of Tobacco we shall not think it improper to insert in this place what is practis'd by some curious persons whereby it is made more excellent then that which commonly goes under the name of Virinus-Tobacco keeps well and hath a scent which fortifies the brain After they have set aside the Plants of the first cutting and while they are drying on the poles they gather together all the cast leaves the small shoots as also the filaments which are taken out of the midst of the leaves which have been already cleer'd and after they have pounded them in a mortar all is put into a bag which is put into a press to force out the juice which is afterwards boil'd over a soft fire till it be reduc'd to the consistency of a Syrup That done there is put into that decoction a little Copal which is an aromatick gum the virtue whereof is to fortifie the brain This gum distills from a tree of the same name which is common in the Continent of America and in the Islands about the gulf of Hondures After this drug is put into the composition aforesaid it must be well stirr'd that its sweet scent and other qualities may be communicated and diffus'd through the whole decoction Then it must be taken off the fire and when it is cold it is set in a vessel neer the person who makes up the roll of Tobacco and as often as he takes a handful of the leaves to feed the roll he must wet his hand in that liquor and wipe it with the leaves This secret hath an admirable effect to make the Tobacco keep well and derives to it a virtue which extremely heightens its price The Tobacco thus order'd is to be made up into a roll at least as big as a mans thumb and be afterwards divided into little rolls not weighing above ten pound at the most and then sent in little vessels or close baskets made for that purpose to keep it the better Some Inhabitants of the Islands having made tryal of this secret have put off theirs for right Virinus-Tobacco and sold it at the same rate Those who imagine that Tobacco grows without any trouble and that rolls of it are as they say found growing on Trees in America and that there is no more to be done but to shake them down or haply are perswaded that it requires no great trouble to
rate and that in some places the ground would not bring forth that which was good as it had done some time before they apply'd themselves to the culture of Indico whereof they now make a considerable advantage Lastly as concerning Cotton the French make it not much their business to gather it though they have many of the trees that bear it in the hedges of their Plantations But all put together amounts but to little in comparison of what is said of a certain Quarter of the Province of China for a certain Authour named Trigaut in the xvii chap. of the fifth Book of his History affirms that there grows so much Cotton there as finds work enough for two hundred thousand Weavers The English who are the Inhabitants of the Barbouthos drive a great trade in this Commodity as also those who liv'd formerly in the Island of Santa-cruce There is no great trouble in the making of Cotton fit for the market for all to be done is to get out of the half-open'd button that matter which in a manner forces its way out it self And whereas it is full of the seed of the tree that bears it which are like little beans intangled within the Cotton in the midst whereof they had their production there are a sort of little Engines made with such artifice that by the turning of a wheel whereby they are put into motion the Cotton falls on the one side and the seed on the other That done the Cotton is thrust up as close as may be into bags that so it may take up the less room Thus have we given a brief account of the principal Employments which keep up the Commerce of the Islands and the Commodities wherein the Inhabitants do ordinarily trade CHAP. VI. Of the more honourable Employments of the European Inhabitants of the Caribbies their Slaves and their Government THe European Colonies which have planted themselves in the Caribbies do not consist only of a sort of Vagabonds and persons of mean condition as some fondly imagine but there are also among them many of Quality and descended from noble Families So that the Employments we mentioned in the precedent Chapter are design'd only for the most inconsiderable of the Inhabitants and such whose necessities have forc'd them to earn their bread with the labour of their hands and the sweat of their brows But the others who are able to hire people to oversee their Servants and Slaves and to see that they do their work lead pleasant lives and want not those enjoyments thereof which are to be had in other Countries Their employments and divertisements besides the frequent visits they make and receive with extraordinary expressions of civility are Hunting Fishing and other commendable exercises nay they endeavour to outvye one the other in their entertainments wherein they are magnificent there being a sufficient plenty of Beef Mutton Pork wild and tame Fowl of all kinds Fish Pastry and excellent Conserves all in as great abundance as at the best Tables in the European parts of the world And these mutual demonstrations of kindness are deriv'd from the Officers and those of the better rank to the meanest Inhabitants who think it a great want of civility to dismiss any one from their houses before they have presented them with somewhat to eat and drink Wine Beer Brandy and Aqua-vitae and such drinks are seldom wanting in these Islands and if there should chance to be a scarcity of these the Inhabitants have the art of making a delicious drink of that sweet liquor which is got out of the Sugar-canes and that being kept for certain days becomes as strong as any Sack Of the same liquor they also make an excellent kind of Aqua-vitae not much unlike that which is brought thither out of France only this inconvenience it hath that they who drink excessively of it are apt to fall dangerously sick Moreover they make several kinds of Beverage with the juice of Oranges Figs Bananas and Ananas which are all very delicious and pleasant to the taste and may be ranked among Wines They also make a sort of Beer of the Cassava and the roots of Potatoes which is as pleasant nourishing and refreshing as that which is brought out of the Low-Countries As concerning those Employments which are equally honourable and necessary in order to the welfare of the Inhabitants of these Islands it is to be observ'd that all are taught the use of Arms and the Heads of Families seldom walk abroad without their Swords Every Quarter is dispos'd under the command of certain Captains and other Officers who have the oversight thereof They are all well-arm'd and they often muster and are exercis'd even in the times of deepest peace so that they are always in readiness at the first beat of Dâ—um to march to the places where the Captains appoint their Rendezvouz In the Island of S. Christophers besides twelve Companies of Foot there are also some Troops of Horse as we said elsewhere And whereas all persons of Quality whereof there is a considerable number in those Islands have Servants and Slaves who are employ'd about the works before-mentioned and that in most parts of Europe they do not make use of Slaves there being only the Spaniards and the Portuguez who go and buy them up at the places of their birth such as are Angola Cap-vert and Guinny it will be but requisite that we here give a short account of them But we shall in the first place speak of those who are hired Servants and to continue such only for a certain time As for the French who are carried over out of France into America to serve there they commonly deliver obligatory acts to their Masters which is done before publick Notaries by which writings they oblige themselves to serve them during the space of three years conditionally to receive from them so many pounds of Tobacco according to the agreement they have made during that term These French Servants by reason of the three years service they are engag'd to are commonly called the Thirty-six-months-men according to the Language of the Islands There are some so simple as to imagine that if they be not oblig'd to their Masters in writing before their departure out of France they are so much the less oblig'd when they are brought into the Islands but they are extremely mistaken for when they are brought before a Governour to complain that they were carried aboard against their wills or to plead that they are not oblig'd by writing they are condemn'd for the space of three years to serve either him who hath paid for their passage or such other as it shall please the Master to appoint If the Master hath promis'd his Servant no more then the ordinary recompence of the Islands he is oblig'd to give him for his three years service but three hundred weight of Tobacco which is no great matter to find himself in linnen and cloaths for the Master is not
on the ground before them the Husband who stands behind the women says En batoni behold thy drink And the other makes answer to these two complements Yao that is to say very well or I thank you The Cassava unfolded signifies eat thy fill and carry away the rest which they fail not to do When they have dined well without being interrupted by any one they all come to salute them one after another saying to him Halea-tibou that is be welcome But the women are not much concerned in this Ceremony As for the Visitants when they would depart they go and take leave of every one in particular which they express by the word Huichan in their language CHAP. XIX Of what may be accounted Polity amongst the Caribbians THere are in every Island of the Caribbies inhabited by the Caribbians several sorts of Captains 1. The Captain of the Carbet or of a Village whom they name Tiouboutouli hauthe This is when a man hath a numerous Family and retires with it at a certain distance from others and builds Houses or Huts for to lodge it in and a Carbet where all of the Family meet to be merry or to treat of the affairs which concern it in common thence it is that he is named a Captain of a Family or of Houses 2. A Captain of a Piraga that is either he to whom the Vessel belongs or he who hath the command of it when they go to the Wars and these are named Tiouboutouli Canaoa 3. Amongst those who have every one the command of a Vessel in particular they have also an Admiral or General at Sea who commands the whole Fleet Him they call Nhalenè In fine they have the grand Captain or Commander in chief whom they call Ouboutou and in the plural number Ouboutounum This is the same whom the Spaniards call Cacique and we in this History call Cacick as some other Indians and sometimes also our Savages do in imitation of them He is during his life from his first election to that charge the General of their Armies and he is always highly respected among them He appoints the meetings of the Carbet either for merry-making or deliberations in order to a War And he alwaies goes abroad attended by all of his own house and some others who do him the honour to wait on him Those who have the greatest retinue are the most highly honoured If any one gives him not the respect due to him upon the account of his charge it is in his power to strike him Of these there are but two at the most in an Island as at Dominico They are also commonly the Admirals when a Fleet goes out Or haply that charge is bestowed on some young man who is desirous to signalize himself upon that occasion This charge is obtain'd by election and commonly he who is advanced thereto must have killed divers of the Arouagues or at least one of the most considerable persons among them The Sons do not succeed their Fathers in that charge if they be not worthy thereof When the chief Captain speaks all others are silent and when he enters into the Carbet every one makes him way he hath also the first and best part of the entertainment The Lieutenant to this Captain is called in their Language Ouboutou maliarici that is to say properly the Track of the Captain or that which appears after him None of these Chiefs hath any command over the whole Nation nor any superiority over the other Captains But when the Caribbians go to the Wars among all the Captains they make choice of one to be General of the Army who makes the first assault and when the expedition is over he hath no authority but only in his own Island True it is that if he hath behav'd himself gallantly in his enterprises he is ever after highly respected in all the Islands But heretofore before the commerce between the Caribbians and forreign Nations had alter'd the greatest part of their ancient Politie there were many conditions requisite to obtain that degree of honour It was in the first place requisite that he whom they advanc'd to that dignity had been several times in the Wars and that to the knowledge of the whole Island whereof he was to be chosen Captain he had behaved himself couragiously and gallantly Next to this it was necessary that he should be so active and swift in running as to surpass all competitors in that exercise Thirdly he who stood for the Generalship of an Island should excell all others in swimming and diving A fourth condition was that he should carry a burthen of such weight as his fellow-pretenders should not be able to stand under Lastly he was obliged to give great demonstrations of his constancy for they cruelly cut and mangled his shoulders and breasts with the tooth of an Agouty nay his best friends made deep incisions in divers parts of his body And the wretched person who expected that charge was to endure all this without betraying the least sign of resentment and pain nay on the contrary it was requisite that he receiv'd all with a smiling countenance as if he were the most satisfied man in the World We shall not wonder so much that these Barbarians should endure such Torments in order to the acquisition of some Dignity when it shall be considered that the Turks do not shew themselves somtimes less cruel towards themselves upon the account of pure gallantry and as it were by way of divertisements witness what is related by Busbequius in the fourth Book of his Embassies which were too tedious to set down in this place To return to the Caribbians of the Islands This ancient ceremony which they observed in the election of their chief Governours will no doubt be thought strange and savage but there is somthing of the same kind observable in other Nations For in the Kingdom of Chili they chuse for the Sovereign Captain him who is able longest to bear a great Tree upon his shoulders In the Country of Wiapoco towards the great River of the Amazons to be advanc'd to the dignity of Captain he must endure without the least stirring of the Body nine extraordinary strokes with a Holly-wand from every Captain and that three several times but that is not all he must also be put into a Bed of Cotton over a Fire of green Leaves the thick Smoke whereof ascending upwards must needs be very troublesom to the wretch who is so mad as to expose himself thereto and he is oblig'd to continue there till he be in a manner half dead this speaks a strange desire to be Captain Nay heretofore among the Persians those who were desirous to be admitted into the Fraternity of the Sun were requir'd to give proofs of their Constancy in fourscore several sorts of Torments The Brasilians without any other ceremony make choice of him for their General who hath taken and kill'd most Enemies And now also in some
cannot there is no compassion As the Children grow up their portion of meat is hung up higher Sometimes also they cut off a Banana-tree and plant it in the ground as a But to teach their Children to shoot at the Fruit by this means in process of time they come to be expert in that exercise Ancient Histories tell us of other people who not differing much from this Custom of the Caribbians obliged their Children to sling down their meat from the place where they set it They commonly design all their Sons to bear Arms and to revenge them of their Enemies in imitation of their Predecessors But before they are ranked among those who may go to the wars they are to be declared Souldiers in the presence of all their kindred and friends who are invited to be present at so solemn a Ceremony The manner of it is thus The Father who had before got all his Friends together causes his Son to sit on a low stool which is placed in the midst of the Hut or in the Carbet and after he hath represented to him the whole duty of a generous Caribbian Soldier and made him promise that he will never do any thing which may derogate from the glory of his Predecessors and that he will to the utmost of his power revenge the ancient quarrel of his Nation he takes by the feet a certain Bird of prey which they call Mansfennis in their language and which had been prepared long before for that purpose and with that he discharges several blows on his Son till such time as the bird is killed and the head of it crushed to pieces After this rough treatment which puts the young man as it were into a maze he scarifies his whole body with the tooth of an Agouty and to cure the wounds he hath made he puts the dead bird into an infusion of Pyman-seeds and he rubs all the wounded parts therewith which causes an extraordinary pain to the poor Patient but it is requisite he should suffer all this with a cheerful countenance without the least discovery of pain Then they make him eat the heart of the bird and to close the Ceremony he is laid into a kind of Amac where he is to continue stretched out to his full length till his strength be in a manner spent by reason of much fasting That done he is acknowledged by all to be a Souldier he is admitted into the Assemblies of the Carbet and may go along with the rest in all their military Expeditions which they undertake against their Enemies Besides the exercises of war which are common to all the young Caribbians who would live in any esteem among the Bravos of their Nation their Fathers do many times design them to be Boyez that is Magicians and Physitians To that end they send them to some one of the best skill'd in that damnable profession that is one who hath the reputation of invocating the evil Spirits instructing people how to be revenged of their enemies by sorceries and in curing divers diseases whereto those of that Nation are subject But it is requisite that the young man who is presented to the Boyez to be instructed in his Art should be consecrated thereto from his childhood by abstinence from several kinds of meat by rigorous Fasts and that to begin his apprenticeship there is blood drawn from all parts of his body with the tooth of an Agouty after the fame manner as those are to be treated who are received Souldiers The Caribbians do also teach their Children to fish swim make Baskets Clubs Bows Arrows Girdles Beds of Cotton and Pyragas But to have any care of cultivating their minds and instructing them in any thing of civility or vertue is more than could be expected from those poor Savages who have no other light than their own blinded understanding nor follow any other rule in all the actions of their lives than the sad disorder of vicious and corrupt nature CHAP. XXIV Of the ordinary Age of the Caribbians their Diseases the Remedies used by them in order to the Recovery of their Health their Death and Funeral Solemnities THe Caribbians being naturally of a very good temperament and endeavouring all they can to avoid trouble and disquiet and consequently to spend their lives with the greatest enjoyment of mind it is no wonder considering withall their ordinary temperance and sobriety that they should be free from an infinite number of inconveniences and indispositions whereto other Nations are subject and that they should come to their graves later than most other people The good air they live in does also in some measure contribute to their health and long life If therefore they do not die of violent deaths they all of them live to a very great age nay they are so vigorous in the extremities of age that at fourscore and ten they commonly get children There are many among them who being above a hundred years of age have not so much as a grey hair De Lery an Author worthy credit affirms that he seldom saw any grey hairs in the heads of the Tapinambous of the same age Other Historians affirm that the wives of those Savages bear Children till they are fourscore years of age And some French took notice of a Savage in the Country of Canada who had a better sight than any of them and the hair of the head absolutely black though he were above a hundred years of age The Caribbians live ordinarily a hundred and fifty years and sometimes longer For though they cannot number their years yet is the number thereof deduced from the account they give of certain accidents And among others there were not long since living among them some persons who remembred the first arrival of the Spaniards in America Whence it is to be concluded that they must be a hundred and sixty years of age at the least And indeed these are such a people as may pass for the shadow of a body and have nothing but the heart living being continually bed-rid immoveable and reduced to pure skeletons yet are they still observed to be in health And it is sufficiently apparent that their tongues are living as well as their hearts and that their Reason is not expir'd for they do not only speak with much ease but also their memory and judgment are not chargeable with any defect Nor is it much to be admired that the Caribbians should live so long since both ancient and modern Histories furnish us with examples enough to confirm this truth and among others the Dutch who have traded to the Moluccoes affirm that in that Country the Inhabitants live ordinarily a hundred and thirty years Vincent le Blanc affirms that in Sumatra Java and the neighbouring Islands they live to a hundred and forty as they do also among the Canadians and that in the Kingdom of they hold out to a hundred and fifty Pirard and some othe
engag'd to supply him with any thing but food But he who before his departure out of France promises to give three hundred weight of Tobacco to him whom he receives into his service is oblig'd exactly to pay it nay though he had promis'd him a thousand It is therefore the Servants best course to make his bargain sure before he comes out of his Country As concerning the Slaves and such as are to be perpetual Servants who are commonly employ'd in these Islands they are originally Africans and they are brought over thither from the Country about Cap-vert the Kingdom of Angolae and other Sea-ports which are on the Coasts of that part of the world where they are bought and sold after the same manner as Cattle in other places Of these some are reduc'd to a necessity of selling themselves and entring into a perpetual slavery they and their children to avoid starving for in the years of sterility which happen very frequently especially when the Grass-hoppers which like clouds spread themselves over the whole Country have consum'd all the fruits of the earth they are brought to such a remediless extremity that they will submit to the most rigorous conditions in the world provided they may be kept from starving When they are reduc'd to those exigencies the Father makes no difficulty to sell his children for bread and the children forsake Father and Mother without any regret Another sort of them are sold after they have been taken Prisoners in War by some petty neighbouring Prince for it is the custom of the Princes of those Parts to make frequent incursions into the Territories of their Neighbours purposely for the taking of Prisoners whom they afterwards sell to the Portuguez and other Nations with whom they drive that barbarous Trade They receive in exchange for them Iron which is as precious with them as Gold Wine Aqua-vitae Brandy or some poor Clothing They make Slaves of the women as well as the men and they are sold one with another at a higher or lower rate according to their youth age strength or weakness handsomness or deformity of body They who bring them over to the Islands make a second sale of them at fifteen or sixteen hundred weight of Tobacco every head more or less as the parties concern'd can agree If these poor Slaves chance to fall into the hands of a good Master one who will not treat them with too much severity they prefer their present slavery before their former liberty the loss whereof they never afterwards regret And if they are permitted to marry they multiply extremely in those hot Countries They are all Negroes and those who are of the brightest black are accounted the fairest Most of them are flat-nos'd and have thick lips which goes among them for beauty nay there are some affirm that in their Country the Midwives do purposely crush down their noses that they may be flat assoon as they come into the world The hair of their heads is all frizlâ—d so that they can hardly make use of Combs but to prevent the breeding of vermine they rub their heads with the oil of that shrub which is called Palma-Christi They are very strong and hardy but withal so fearful and unwieldy in the handling of Arms that they are easily reduc'd under subjection They are naturally susceptible of all impressions and the first that are deriv'd into them among the Christians after they have renounc'd their Superstitions and Idolatry they pertinaciously adhere unto wherein they differ much from the Indians of America who are as unconstant as Cameleons Among the French Inhabitants of the Caribbies there are some Negroes who punctually observe abstinence all the time of Lent and all the other Fasting-days appointed by the Church without any remission of their ordinary and continual labour They are commonly proud and insolent and whereas the Indians are desirous to be gently treated and are apt to dye out of pure grief if they be put to more then ordinary hardship these on the contrary are to be kept in awe by threats and blows for if a man grow too familiar with them they are presently apt to make their advantages of it and to abuse that familiarity but if they be chastiz'd with moderation when they have done amiss they become better more submissive and more compliant nay will commend and think the better of their Masters But on the other side if they be treated with excessive severity they will run away and get into the Mountains and Forests where they live like so many Beasts then they are call'd Marons that is to say Savages or haply they will grow so desperate as to be their own Executioners It is therefore requisite that in the conduct of them there should be a mean observ'd between extream severity and too much indulgence by those who would keep them in awe and make the best advantage of them They are passionate Lovers one of another and though they are born in different Countries and sometimes when at home Enemies one to another yet when occasion requires they mutually support and assist one another as if they were all Brethren And when their Masters give them the liberty to recreate themselves they reciprocally visit one the other and pass away whole nights in playing dancing and other pastimes and divertisments nay sometimes they have some little Entertainments every one sparing what he can to contribute to the common repast They are great Lovers of Musick and much pleas'd with such Instruments as make a certain delightful noise and a kind of harmony which they accompany with their voices They had heretofore in the Island of S. Christophers a certain Rendezvouz in the midst of the Woods where they met on Sundays and Holidays after Divine Service to give some relaxation to their wearied bodies There they sometimes spent the remainder of that day and the night following in dancing and pleasant discourses without any prejudice to the ordinary labours impos'd upon them by their Masters nay it was commonly observ'd that after they had so diverted themselves they went through their work with greater courage and chearfulness without expressing any weariness and did all things better than if they had rested all night long in their huts But it being found that the better to enjoy themselves in these publick Meetings they many times stole the Poultry and Fruits of their Neighbours and sometimes those of their Masters the French General thought fit to forbid these nocturnal assemblies So that now if they are desirous to divert themselves they are enjoyn'd to do it within their own Neighbourhoods with the permission of their Masters who are willing enough to allow them convenient liberty As to the Advantages accrewing from the labours of these Slaves he who is Master of a dozen of them may be accounted a rich man For besides that these are the People who cultivate the ground in order to its production of all necessary provisions for the
subsistence of their Masters and themselves being well order'd and carefully look'd after they promote the making of several other Commodities as Tobacco Sugar Ginger Indico and others which bring in great profit Add to this that their service being perpetual their number increases from time to time by the Children that are born of them which have no other Inheritance than that of the slavery and subjection of their Parents All the Forreign Inhabitants who have planted themselves in those Islands are govern'd according to the Laws and Customs of their own Countries Among the French Inhabitants of S. Christophers Justice is administred by a Council consisting of the principal Officers who have the oversight of the Militia of the Island of which Council the General is President And though there are certain places appointed for that Administration yet is the Council many times assembled as the General thinks fit and occasion requires under a kind of great Fig-tree which is about the bigness of a large Elm neer the Court of Guard of the Basse-terre not far from the Haven In this Council abating all the Formalities which have been invented to make Suits immortal all differences that happen between the Inhabitants are amicably compos'd and decided most commonly at the first sitting without any charge to the Parties save only that he which is found guilty of the wrong is to make satisfaction according to the Custom whereof part goes to the relief of the Poor and maintenance of the Church and the rest for the satisfaction of the party concern'd This Council doth also pass sentence of death without appeal to any other Power The Governours of the other Islands do also administer Justice every one in his Government So that no man should be guilty of so great a weakness as to imagine that people live in those Countries without any order or rule as many do Nay it is rather to be look'd on as a kind of Miracle that the Inhabitants of those Countries being a confluence of people from so many several Countries and consequently of different humors and constitutions disorders should not creep in and that all are kept in awe and subjection to the Laws established Thus much of the Forreign Inhabitants of the Caribbies we come now to treat of the Natural and Originary CHAP. VII Of the Origine of the Caribbians the natural Inhabitants of the Country THe Method we had propos'd to our selves for the profecution of this History requires that henceforth we treat of the Indians the natural Inhabitants of the Caribbies And here we conceive it not to be our business to bring upon the Stage that great and difficult Question to wit How the race of Men came to spread it self into America and whence they came into that new World There are some eminent Persons have treated of this matter with so much sufficiency exactness and solidity that it were a tedious and superfluous Work at the present to trouble the Reader with any thing concerning it Besides the History of the Originals of our Savage Inhabitants of the Caribbies requires not that we should descend so low to find them The ancient and natural Inhabitants of the Caribbies are those who have been called by some Authors Cannibals Anthropophagi or Eaters of Men but most others who have written of them commonly call them Caribbians or Caribes But their primitive and originary Name and that which is pronounc'd with most gravity is as the French Writers would have it that of Caraïbes Nay if we may credit these last mentioned Authors not only the Caribbians themselves of the Islands do so pronounce their name but also those of their Nation who live in the Continent of America both the Septentrional and Meridional So that that being the most common appellation of them among the French Inhabitants of the Islands we shall also have occasion to use it sometimes in the sequel of this History in regard the present Work is render'd out of that Language Some are of opinion that this word Caraibes or Caribbians is not natural to the savage Inhabitants of the Caribbies but that it was impos'd upon them by the Spaniards as they had given the same denomination to many Savages of the Meridional Continent who are known thereby as also that of Calibis or Calibites to their allies the Inhabitants of the same Continent Those who maintain this opinion affirm that the Spaniards might well give to those People that name of Caraibes in regard they over-ran all the Quarters of the Southerly part of America and that having made the first Maps thereof they set down those Nations under that Name which hath stuck to them ever since To prove this they alledge that they are never call'd Caraibes or Caribbians among themselves but only when they are drunk and that having their heads full of Wine they leap up and down and rejoyce saying in their corrupt Language Moy bonne Caraibe I am an honest Caribbian That otherwise they only make use of that word when they are amongst Strangers and that in their trading and their communication with them to make a certain discovery of themselves as being sensible that the said name is known to them But that when they are among themselves not only they but also those of their Nation Inhabiting the Continent and the Calibites call themselves by the name of Calinago which is the name of the Men and Calliponan which is that of the Women And they further affirm that they are called Oubao-bonon that is Inhabitants of the Islands or Islanders as the call those of the Continent Batoüe-bonon that is Inhabitants of the Firm Land But all this presuppos'd as probable there is but little likelihood that the word Caribbians should have been impos'd upon them by the Spaniards and that our Islands should not have had it before they were known by them The first reason we give of this assertion is that before either the Spaniards or Portuguez had found a passage into Brazil there were in those Parts certain men more subtle and ingenious then the rest whom the Brasilians call'd Caraibes or Caribbians as Johannes de Lery hath observ'd in his History Secondly it is a thing out of all controversie that there are certain Savages who bear the name of Caribbians in some Quarters of the Southerly part of America where the Spaniards never had any Commerce For not only those of the same Nation with our Islanders who inhabit along those Coasts of the Meridional America and are neer Neighbours to the Dutch Colonies of Cayenna and Berbica but those also who live far within that Meridional Continent beyond the sources of the most remarkable Rivers call themselves Caribbians Moreover we shall find in the sequel of this Chapter that there is in the Septentrional Continent a powerful Nation consisting for the most part of certain Families who at this present take a great pride in being called Caribbians and stand upon it that they had receiv'd