A paradox Prooving that the inhabitants of the isle called Madagascar, or St. Laurence, (in temporall things) are the happiest people in the world. Whereunto is prefixed, a briefe and true description of that island: the nature of the climate, and condition of the inhabitants, and their speciall affection to the English above other nations. With most probable arguments of a hopefull and fit plantation of a colony there, in respect of the fruitfulnesse of the soyle, the benignity of the ayre, and the relieving of our English ships, both to and from the East-Indies. By Wa: Hamond.

Their DIET.

AS for their food, it may be objected, that it is but course and simple: for defence whereof, I might answer, that it is therefore the more healthfull, and agreeable to Nature, who is best pleased with meats of simple qualities. But it is further objected, that it is sluttishly drest, transeous and loathsome. How know we that? Because we love it not, is it there∣fore unwholesome? One man loveth no Fish, an other no Cheese, another no Flesh; which are not onely hurtfull, but poison to their constitutions. Should we therfore infer, that Fish, Cheese or Flesh, are poyson? such judges are we of their food, which best agreeth with their constitutions, and preserveth them in health, strength and vigour; for they eate not, but for Necessity, knowing no other sauce than the Lacedemonian sauce, Hunger; eating rather for preservation of life, than delight or luxury: whilst we in our Diet are so voluptuous, that we even dig our graves with our teeth, (as the French proverb hath it) the whole world being scarse sufficient to make a Bacchanalian sacrifice for that Deity, the Belly: France, Spain, Italy, the Indies, yea and the Molluqes must be ransackt, to make sauce for our meat; whilst we impoverish the land, air and wa∣ter, to in rich a privat Table. Thus we live, as if we were born to no other end, but by Gluttony and surfetting to oppose Nature, dull the spirits, sub∣vert the animall faculties, and heap upon our selves an innumerable company of diseases, it being a maxime amongst our Europaean Physicians, that

Gluttony hath killed more than the sword. Where∣as to the contrary, such is the Temperance of these people, that I can scarse see one sick or diseased a∣mong them.

Now for Wine, the cherisher of the heart, the expeller of cares and sorrows, the reviver of the spirits, and the infuser of valour and courage, these* 1.1 people know it not: and heerein I esteem them (what ever our Epicures think) most happy. For when I consider the dangerous effects thereof, as namely, how it confoundeth our Reason, disturbeth our Sences, dulleth our Vnderstanding, consumeth our Memory, depraveth our Iudgement, and finally transformeth us from men to beasts. I know not whether I should bewail our own miserable condi∣tion, or applaud theit happy estate.

Heretofore in our country of England, all for∣raign Wines were sold in Apothecaries shops, for the relief of the sick, weak and aged; then Physici∣ans walked on foot, for the service of Gods people: but when it once came to be sold publikely in Ta∣verns, then they rode on horsback like Princes; the excesse of Wine being a main upholder of theirs: thence proceed Fevers, Convulsions, Epilepsies, Vertigo's, Lethargies, Gowts, and all Exotique dis∣eases, unknown to our Ancestors.

Besides, what horrible and execrable actions hath it not perpetrated? what sacrileges? what rapes? what murthers have not been committed by the excesse of Wine? The examples of this kinde are* 1.2 infinite, and the consideration thereof moved some Kings and Princes to prohibit, and lay great mulcts and penalties upon them which used it, though with moderation; knowing that it transporteth

men into all unjust actions, and transformeth them into beasts.

Where to the contrary, water produceth no evill effects; for it asswageth thirst, refresheth the spirits, abateth choller, quickneth the sences, and temperatly doth humect and moisten the inward parts of the body. And had not the distemperature of our parents, our evill education, and our natu∣rall corruptions prevailed against us, we might have enjoyed the like happinesse which these peo∣ple possesse.

And may not their ignorance in the Art of Navi∣gation, be deservedly accounted an happinesse. Cer∣tainly by this means they are not contaminated with the vices and evill customes of strangers: when we have derived to our selves, with our commerce with forraign Nations, with their wares and com∣modities, their vices and evill conditions; as our drunkennesse and rudenesse from the Germans; our fashions and factions from the French; our insolence from the Spaniards; our Machivillianisme from the Italians; our levity and inconstancie from the Greeks; our usury and extortion from the Iews; our Atheisme and impiety from the Turks and* 1.3 Moors; and our voluptuous luxury from the Per∣sians and Indians; which perhaps might have pas∣sed without censure by naturall men, had not we been infected by this means with some diseases of the body, as well as corruption of the soul. Besides, to ballance the account, what are our ships fraught* 1.4 withall, but with toys and vanities, which we might well be without, and serve but as fomenta luxu∣riosa, stirrers up of Pride, luxury and wantonnesse; for which cause onely, some Nations are forbidden

to have any commerce or traffick with strangers, left they should be infected with their vices and evill customes.

Besides, those happy people have no need of any forraign commodity, Nature having sufficiently supplied their necessities, wherewith they remain contented. But it is we that are in want, and are compelled like famisht Wolves, to range the world about for our living, to the hazard both of our souls and bodies; the one by the corruption of the Air, the other by the corruption of Religion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Discommodi∣ties of Wine.
• * 1.2

  As the Tur∣kish Emperor, and all the Ea∣stern Princes.
• * 1.3

  As the Pocks, brought into England by the first disco∣very of Ame∣rica.
• * 1.4

  As the Chine∣ses, who will suffer no stran∣ger to come into their country.