A DESCRIPTION OF The ISLES of BERMƲDES, OR, The Summer-ISLES.
EAst of Virginia,* and Caroli∣na, which is a part of Flo∣rida, lyeth the Isles of Ber∣mudes; so called, from John Bermudes a Spaniard, by Page 120 whom they were first discovered. They are also called the Summer-Isles, from the Shipwrack that one George Summers (an English-man) there suffered.
These Isles lye distant from En∣gland, about 15 or 1600 Leagues, from Madera, 1000, or 1200; from Hispaniola, 400; and from Carolina, which is the neerest part of Land, about 300 Leagues.
Their Extent.
Of these Isles,* the greatest cal∣led St. Georges, is 5 or 6 Leagues long, and almost thorowout, not above a quarter, a third, or half a League broad, the others are much less.
Their Form, &c.
All these Isles together, form a Page 121 body like a Cressent, and inclose very good Ports,* the chief among which, are those of the Great-Sound, Herringtons Inlet, South∣hampton, and Pagets; which, with their Forts of Dover, and Warwick, take their names from the several Noble men that were concerned as undertakers.
The Fertility, Commodities, Fruits, &c.
The Earth is exceeding Fertile,* yeilding two Crops yearly; their Maize they gather in July, and December.
They have excellent Fruits,* as, Oranges, Dates, Mulberries both White and Red; where breed a∣bundance of Silk-worms which spin Silk.
Their chief Commodities are, O∣Oranges, Page 122 Couchaneil,* and Tobacco, with some Pearl, and Amber∣greece, and with these they drive some small Trade.
They have plenty of Tortoises, which is their ordinary food, whose Flesh is very delicious.
Their Hoggs,* which the Spani∣ards formerly carried thither, are greatly encreased.
They have many Fowles,* and Birds, amongst which, a great ma∣ny Cranes, with a Sea-Fowl that breeds in holes like Rabbets.
They have no Fresh-Water for their occasions,* but that of Wells, and Pits, which Ebbs and Flowes with the Sea, there being neither Fountain nor Stream in these Isles.
No Venemous Beast.
In these Isles are no Venemous Page 123 beast,* their Spiders are not poy∣sonous, but are of sundry and va∣rious Colours; and in the hot wea∣ther, they make their Webs so strong, that oft-times the small Birds are entangled and catched in them.
Caedar Trees.
Here are Caedar Trees, which differs from all others in several re∣spects, but the wood is very sweet.
The Air and Healthfulness.
The Skie is almost always Se∣rene,* and when darkned with clouds, it commonly Thunders, and Lightneth: And the Air is very Temperate, and so exceeding healthful, that it is rare to hear that any one dyeth of any Distem∣per, Page 124 but only Old age; insomuch that many have removed from En¦gland hither, only for the enjoy¦ment of a long, and healthful life▪ And those that have made any long continuance here, are fearful o• removing out of so pure an Air.
The Inhabitants.
The English first setled them∣selves on these Isles about the year 1612.* and have now established a powerful Colony, there being at present, about four or five Thou∣sand Inhabitants, who have strong∣ly Fortified the Approaches, which with the Rocks in the Sea, renders them Impregnable.
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