The present state of His Majesties isles and territories in America ... with new maps of every place : together with astronomical tables, which will serve as a constant diary or calendar, for the use of the English inhabitants in those islands, from the year 1686 to 1700 : also a table by which ... you may know what hour it is in any of those parts, and how to make sun-dials fitting for all those places.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE Islands of BERMƲDAS, OR THE SUMMER-ISLANDS.

EAst of Virginia and Carolina, which is a part of Florida, lies the Isles of Bermudas, so called from John Bermudas, by whom they were first discovered, or the Summer-Islands, as they are likewise sometimes called, from the Shipwreck which Sir George Summers, an English-man, suffered upon that Coast; they are a great multitude of Isles, being no less than 400 in number, as some affirm, that lie distant 1600 Leagues from England, from Madera 1000, from Hispaniola 400, and from Carolina, which is the nearest part of land, about 300 Leagues.

[illustration] map of Bermuda

AESTIVARUM INSULAE •• BARMUDAS

Lat. 32^D 25^m 3300 miles from London 500 from Roanoke in Virginia

by R. Morden

A. Sands Fort

B. Warwick Fort

C. Davers Fort

D. Cavandish F.

E. Pagets Fort

F. Smiths Fort

G. Pembrak F.

H. Kings Castle

I. Charles F.

K. Tuckers Tom.

L Smiths I.

Circasoltitium aestirum Anno 16••6 solvere ex his Insulis quinque viri in Schapha superne aperta trium doliorum majorum capacitatis, et post septem hebdomadarum navigationū omnes incolumes in Hiberniam appule∣runt, quale ab hominum memoria vix accidiss creditur.

The biggest of these Isles is called St. Georges,* 1.1 and is about five or six Leagues long, and in the broadest place not a League broad, all the rest being much less. The whole cluster do together form a body much like a Crescent, and inclose se∣veral very good Ports, the chief whereof are those of the Great Sound, Harrington's Inlet, South∣hampton, and Pagets, which, with their Forts of Dover and Warwick, take their names from the se∣veral Noblemen that have been concerned as Ad∣venturers.

The Earth in those Isles is exceeding fertile, yielding two Crops every Year,* 1.2 which they generally gather in about the Months July and December.

They have several sorts of excellent Fruits,* 1.3 as Oranges, Dates, Mulberries both white and red, (in the Trees whereof breed abundance of Silk-worms, which produce great plenty of that Commodity) and Tobacco: there has been found some Pearl and Am∣ber-grease. They have likewise there plenty of Tortoise, their flesh being counted there very deli∣cious: they have good store of Hogs, and great variety of Fowls and Birds, amongst which are Cranes, and a sort of Sea-Fowl, which breeds in holes, like our Rabits; and such is the fruitfulness and the delightful verdure wherein these Isles al∣ways appear, that Summers seemed to take plea∣sure in his Shipwreck, and, neglecting his return for England, endeavoured, with the assistance of Sir Thomas Gates, to settle a Plantation there. At their first coming ashore they found themselves sup∣plied by a vast variety of Fowl, which were taken without difficulty, no less than one thousand of

one kind, somewhat bigger than a Pigeon, being caught by them in two or three hours space: this sort of Fowl lay speckled Eggs, as large as Hens, on the Sand, and this they do every day, without being frighted, though Men sit down by them. The greatest inconveniency that attends the place, is their want of fresh Water; there is none for their occasions, but what is to be found in Wells Pits, there being neither Fountain nor Stream in all these Isles.

The Sky is almost continually serene and clear, and the Air* 1.4 so exceeding temperate and healthy, that it is rare to hear of a Man's dying of any other distemper than that of Old Age, which has occasioned many to remove from England thither, barely for the en∣joyment of a long and healthful Life, and when they have continued there for any considerable time, they are exceeding fearful of removing out of so good an Air, lest it should hasten their re∣moval to the grave: However, when the Sky is at any time darkened with Clouds, it Thunders and Lighten, and the Weather proves exceeding stormy and tempestuous, the Wind sometimes rather thundering than blowing from every quar∣ter, for forty eight hours together. The North and North-West Winds cause Winter in Decem∣ber, January, and February, which is however so very moderate, that young Birds and Fruits, and other Concomitants of the Spring are seen there in those Months. The Isle of St. Georges, which is the biggest and of more fame than all the rest, and to which the name of Bermudas is more gene∣rally given, is situated in thirty two Degrees and thirty Minutes of North-Latitude.

No venomous Beasts* 1.5 are to be found in this Island, neither will they live, if brought thither; their Spiders are no way poysonous, but are of sundry and various co∣lours, and in hot weather make their Webs so exceeding strong that the small Birds are some∣times entangled and caught therein.

There grows in this Island a sort of Ceder-trees,* 1.6 which differ from all other in the World, in several respects, the Wood whereof is very sweet and well sented.

The English, who settled themselves upon this Isle in the Year 1612, are the only Proprietors* 1.7 thereof, having now established a powerful Colony there, wherein are about five thousand Inhabitants. The Island is exceeding strong, and defended as it were with a kind of natural Fortification, being so fenced about with Rocks, that without know∣ledge of the Passages, a Boat of ten Tun cannot be brought into the Haven, although, by the as∣sistance of a skilful Pilot, there is entrance for Ships of the greatest burden. And, besides the natural strength of those Islands, the English have, since their settling there, added such artificial helps, and so strongly fortified the approaches, by Block∣houses and Forts, as renders it impregnable.

In the Year 1616, which is four Years after the first settling there, Captain Tucker is sent over with a new Supply, whereupon they applied themselves the more earnestly to the planting of Corn, To∣bacco, and other Commodities, so that, in about three Years, those Isles began to gain so much re∣pute in England, that the improving them became a publick business, many great Lords and Persons of Quality interesting themselves therein, as Ad∣venturers,

whereupon Captain Buttler, was di∣spatched thither with a new Supply of 500 Men, about which time the Isle was divided into Tribes or Counties, and the whole reduced to a settled Go∣vernment, both in Church and State; after which, things succeeded so well, that it has been ever since growing to greater perfection.

Notes

• * 1.1

  St. Georges.
• * 1.2

  Fertility.
• * 1.3

  Fruits.
• * 1.4

  Air.
• * 1.5

  Beasts.
• * 1.6

  Trees.
• * 1.7

  Proprie∣tors.