Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

1. THE CARIBES.

THE CARIBES or Cannibal Ilands, are in number many; 27 of them known by their proper names; the rest, of less note (though some of these of little enough) not yet so distinguished. Called thus in general, because inhabited by Cannibals and Man-eating People (at their first Discovery) as the word Caribes doth import. They lie extended like a Bow from the Coast of Paria unto the Isle of Porto Rico: of different temper, as must needs be in such variety; and therefore not within the compass of a general Character. Some of the principal we shall consider more distinctly; and for the rest it will be trouble enough to name them, or else pass them by.

1. GRANADA the neerest of this crew to the Main-land of Cumana, is situate in the Latitude of 12 Degrees and 15 Minutes; in form like a Crescent or half Moon, the two horns not a mile asunder, the whole length but six. Shaded all over with thick Woods, but notwithstanding of a rich and fruit∣full soil. A Haven in it of good use; but no Town of note. The People of the same ill condition with the other Savages, but more wit to hide it; most mischievously intended when they seem most kinde; and then the more to be avoided.

2. S. VINCENT 18 miles on the North of Granada, is of so blessed a soil, that it brings forth abundance of Sugar-Canes without charge to the Husbandman, Watered with many pleasant Rivers, and full of safe and convenient Bayes for the use of Marriners. In figue Circular, the Diameter being six miles over; the Circle by consequence eighteen. The People but of mean stature, slothfull, and studious only for their Belly: their love to which makes them to adventure in their small Boats, hewn out of the body of a Tree, to pass into the Continent, and return again, without help of the Compass; though distant from it at the neerest, above 30 miles.

3. BARBADOS on the North-east of S. Vincent, in the Latitude of 13 Degrees, and 20 Minutes. Of an Oval form, 17 or 18 miles in compass. The soil in shew like that of England, but far more fruitfull: on the East side thrusting out it self with Points and Angles, which yield some Bayes, but full of Quick Sands, and unsafe for shipping, on the South furnished with a large and commodious Har∣bour. Not very well provided of for Fruits or Cattel, till made a Colony of the English; who have brought thither from their own Country, Swine and Kine; Oranges, and the like from others. The chief Commodity made hitherto of this Plantation, comes by the planting of Tobacco; and by a kinde of course Sugar called Barbados Sugar, which must be quickly spent or will melt to nothing. Were they in stock, and not forced to make a quick return of their Commodities, they might make here as good Sugars as in other places. Yet this Plantation said to be worth all the rest which are made by the English; who (as I take it) are the sole Colony in it: The Iland but at the courtesie of the Spaniard; without whose leave and liking not of force to hold it.

4. MATININO on the North-west of the Barbados, by the Salvages called Madaninam, with little difference. Everywhere swelled with Hills, of which three most eminent for height: one of them, which way soever a man looks upon it, carrying the resemblance of an Hat. Inhabited in the time of Peter Martyr the Historian, with none but Women: afterwards, with a more fierce and barbarous Peo∣ple then the rest of these Ilands: but neither Men or Women to be seen of late: whether destroyed, or removed further from the shores for fear of their destruction, is a thing uncertain.

5. DOMINICA, seated on the North of Matinino, twelve Leagues in length; exceeding fruit∣full of Tobacco, which they sell unto the Europaeans for Hatchets, Knives, and other Instruments of Iron. Famed for two Fountains of Hot-water, and a commodious Haven at the West side of it, into which falleth a River 20 paces broad. The People as barbarous as ever Cannibals or Man eaters to this very day: At deadly enmity with the Spaniards, and to no man trusty, but where they cannot hurt or dare not. Both Sexes wear their hair long, and colour their bodies over with Oaker. Yet bloody and barbarous though they be, they are ruled by a King of their own, distinguished from the rest in his dress or habit, whom they most readily obey.

6. DESSEADA, or the Land of Desire, on the North east of Dominica, Discovered by Colum∣bus in his second Voyage; naked of Trees, and at the first sight afar off, not unlike a Galley. Of great use to the Spaniards, who always take it in their way from the Canaries to the parts of America, and back again at their return.

The like use do they make of 7. The Isle of GVADALVPE, parallel to this, but directly West∣ward: at which the Fleets which come from Spain use to take fresh water, and there disperse them∣selves to their several Ports. Eight miles in length, and of good Anchorage in most parts of the Sea adjoyning. North-cast from hence lieth

8. S. Maria del Antigna, commonly called ANTIGNA onely, and by some mistakingly ANTEGO. Seven leagues in length, and as much in breadth; difficult of access, and destitute of fresh water, but well replenished of woods, and provided of Fens. Of late times made a Colonie of the English, who do still possess it.

9. S. CHRISTOPHER, on the North-west of Guadalupe, in the Latitude of 17 Degrees & 20 Minutes. The length six miles, the breadth in many places four, and in some but two: much swelled with hils, and towards the East provided of several Salt-wiches. The French and English had sometimes in it their several Colonies: by whom the Natives were destroyed, or otherwise compelled to forsake their dwellings; convict, as was pretended, of some manifest treacheries. But the two Colonies did not long enjoy the sole possession; ejected by Frederick de Toledo, as he passed this way with his Navie; t••ough suffered to return to their former dwellings, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 profitable then dangerous to the Crown of Spain. Their chief employment and commoditie lies in their Tobacco, by some much commended. Joyning hereto, or but a League from it at the most, is

10. The Isle of NIEVES, affirmed to be five leagues in compass; well wooded and as pleasantly watered; insomuch as the Inhabitants of the Isle of Dominica used to come hither for their pleasures, but for hunting chiefly. Now famed for some Bathes or Hot Waters, found out by the English, who in the year 1528. placed a Colonie in it. But whether subsisting of it self, or a part of their Plantation in S. Christophers, I am yet to learn.

11. SANCTA CRVX, by the Inhabitants called Ayay, on the North-west of S Christophers, and the South-east of Porto Rico, from which last distant 15 leagues. Woody and mountainous; not well provided of fresh waters; but on the West-side furnished with a safe and commodious Road, under the covert of the mountains. Amongst their fruits some that resemble a green Apple; which tasted, so i•• flames the tongue, that for 24 houres it swelleth in so great extremity, as makes it altogether useless, but after that by little and little it abates again. The like hapneth also to the face, if washed before sun∣••ising with their Fen-waters, which are very frequent in this Iland; after the rising of the sun, without any harm at all. In this there is a Colonie of the English also, but of later standing then those of S. Christophers and Barbados.

Some of the principal of the rest, 1 Anguilla, 2 Barbada, 3 S. Bartholmews, 4 S Lucies, 5 S. Mar∣tins, 6 Montferrat, 7 Rotunda, 8 Saba, 9 Virgo Gorda, & 10 Sumbrero; of which we have little but the names: the rest, though known by several names, are not worth the naming. Onely we are to adde concerning the whole Nation of Caribes, once here inhabiting, that they did usually hunt for Men, as Men for Beasts, roving as far as Porto Rico to seek after their prey; and what they caught, was sure to go to the pot, in the worst sense too. Columbus, when he was at the Isle of Guadalupe, found 30 Captive Children which were reserved to be eaten, and in their houses divers vessels filled with Mans flesh, and some upon the spit ready to be roasted. Nor had they laid aside this diet, till after the year 1564. but how long I know not: For at that time, a Spanish ship coming to water at the Isle of Dominica, they cut her Cables in the night, haled her to the land, and devoured all that were in her. But the Ilands have been of late times well cleared of these Monsters; some of them brought unto better order, but the most destroyed as the common Enemies of mankind; the Ilands where they dwelt being either totally desert∣ed, or taken up by the Europaeans and their several Colonies.