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L L o M o n: PRINtSb FOR JOHN STOCKDALB. PXCCAOILLY. i8oi. Si'tfP ■ "If II' \ij 'I 0/1 254532 r^v^ ^D.!WT w»»««y »'»;;'•*". A O >i ^ I .'. ;| i •? Printed by Luke Hanfard, Great Tutaftile, Lincoln's-Inn FieUt. A5ir«: Bryan Ebwatrbs esq. Fuil^d S^, 2S, tfoc ly /chn Sttrc/cdale. Ficeadiify . ^ Prcctti DX id a •vtrn iflam nitn, Firfi mp4i 1670 Jiituti £o>ver) Jirmati Situation.- vantage tiHcultii Riven GraiH.- Tadh, Ttpographi Ciurche der in ci und laiM Militia.' --Trade Trade in —Origi. flay of . Jiatement. Vol. I. VOLUMB THB FIRST. xvu iltilliUMIlUii yallo'vayycui/'t CHAP. III. Preceulingt of tht EngUjh in Jamaica afier itt tapturt^-^ol, D*OyJtj ditlared preJidtHt.'^lh/ionteHts and mortality among tbi armj^m^VigoroutixertioHS of the Prett£lor,—CoU Brayne appoint- ti temmandtr in chitfj-^Hii Jtath.^mD*Oyley riajfumts thi go- *iHrnmtut,im^Defeatt tit SpaniJ^ ferctj, tviidt had invadtd tkt. iflandfrom Cuha.^-JHi wi/i and Jleady admniftration.—Bnca* niirt.'— Conciliating condmQ of Charltt II. on hit rejioratiom.'f Firfi iflablijhmtnt ^ o rtgular goanrnrntnt in Jamaica . Lord Windfir^s appoiMtnun/.-—RojfaI proclamation.^ American treaty i» 1670.— Change ofmea/nres en the part of the crown.-^Ns-v/ can- Jlitution devifed for Jamaica.-^-Earl of Carlijle appointed chief governor for the purpofe of enforcing the new JyJlem.-^Succe/sful eippi C. !' i ■ t t ® I' T the in ftcc, t tellige the ge niOiin^ licy, ai the CG He hi text of develoi the pi interr iheet EDWi fered to the I of dif of his [ V 1 PREFATORY ADVERTISEMENT*. t'l i!Y]7/ TO this enlarged and corre6|ed Edition of the Hiftory of the Weft Indies, it was the intention of the Author to prefix a Pre^- face, touching every fource of additional in- telligence, every rectification of error, and the general completion of his views, in fur- niihing every docunnent of comn)erce, of po- licy, and of natural hiftory, as conneftcd with the countries and the people he defcribes, He had carefully revifed and corre6led the text of his Book, preparatory to fuch eflay, developing the fcheme of its conftru6tion, and the philofbphy of its contents. But death interrupted the defign;— and ere the laft iheet was revifed from the preis — Bryan Edwards was no more ! He had long fuf- fered from the diforder which brought him to the grave, and ieemed to foreiee the hour of diftblution haftening on; as the Sketch of his Life, written by himfelf, clearly de- it 3 notes, • fiy Sir H^Mam Youfig^ Bart, '•ii ■ « A VI PREFATORY ADVERTISEMENT. notes. Rendered incapable, by wcaknefs and difeafe, of completing his greater defign of a Prefatory Difcourfe ; yet, with a fond anxiety for honeft fame, he roufed the embers of his genius, — ^to claim a fair reputation with pof- terity for induftry, integrity, and candid expo- fition of the talents and acquirements which introduced him to publtck notice. The firm- nefs of his mind, and the cheerfulnefs of his temper, which throughout a long and chec- quered life, gave confidence to his friendfliips, and delight in his fociety, forfook him not, as he apprehended its laft (hort hour before him: this he clearly fhews, when, turning from the awful coniideration of futurity, to look back on his paft life, himfelf brings the retro- {pe6t to our view, and defcribes the fcenc in fo pure and lively colours, with no gloom from difcontent, and no ihade from remorfe, * that we readily infer the nature of the light which fo beamed on this his laft work, and' to his laft hour; — and pronounce its emana- tion to be from the pure confcience of a be- nevolent and upright man. Under fuch im- preftioii, the Editor has peculiar fatisfadion in fulfilling the injundlion of his departed friend, and prefixing to this Edition "The Life of THE PRETATORY ADVERTISEMENT. Vll and of a Kiety f his pof- ;xpo- I'hich rirtn- Df his chec- lihips, ot, as ! him: m the back' retro- fcenc gloom morfe, ' light t, and mana- a be- ch im- ■lion in friend> IFE OF THE THE Author, written by Himself."— The time at which it was compofed, and the compolition itfelf, imprefs the Editor with every feeling of dear regard and of duty ; and, (as a part of that duty) with the propriety of iubmitting fome further remark on this iaft literary eiFort of his excellent Friend. Thofe who knew and were intimate with Mr. Bryan Edwards, will recognize, in this (hort ac- count of himielf, the energy of mind, the in- duftry, and the truth, which chara6lerized his converfations and his life ; but all mud allow, and fome muft object,, that much therein is omitted, which has ufual and proper place in biography, and which the Editor might be prefumed, or be called upon, to fupply. Some account might be required, of his literary efTays and legiflative ads, fo efficient in the canfe of humanity towards the negroes, whilft a member of the aflembly in Jamaica : — Some account might be demanded, of this good and independent man, whilft a meml^er of the Britifli parliament; and, efpecially in the pofthumous life of a literary man, fome accu- rate detail of his literary purfuits and writings jiiight be expected. — Of Bryan Edwards, -^of his Correfpondence,— of his ElTays, and A 4 of f.J b I. V I ill VIU PREFATORY ADVERTISEMENT. of his conduct in the judicious compilation and elegant recital of the Travels of Mungoe Park, — and fpecially, of the origin and pro- grefs of the great Work herewith fubmitted to the Publick — to thefe, and other points, the recolledion of the reader is thus awakened. The Editor prefumes no further. He cannot venture to alter, or add to, the facred depofit committed to his charge, — and now gives it to the Publick, as its Author left, and wil/ej it, to be given. i!f ''P.iti%l^ U i."i«i -^iijU iwx: ■AMi-HAi^ ii'-iw- .1^ A *^i).l"l<.. [ i« ] SKETCH OF THfi LIFE OP THE AUTHOR, •WRITTEN BY HIMSELF A SHORT TIME BEFORE HIS DEATH. V^o^' I WAS born the 21ft of May 1743, in the decayed town of Weftbury, in the county of Wilts. My father inherited a fmall pater- nal eftate, in the neighbourhood, of about ^.100 per annum; which proving but a Scanty maintenance for a large family, he undertook, without any knowledge of the bufinefs, as 1 have been informed, to deal in corn and malt, but with very little fuccefs. He died in 1756, leaving my excellent mo- ther, and fix children, in diftreffed circum- ftances. — Luckily for my mother, fhe had two opulent brothers in the Weft Indies, one of them a wife and worthy man, of a liberal mind, and princely fortune. This was Zackary Bayly, of the Ifland of Jamaica, who, on the death of my father, took my mother and her family under his prote6lion. . ;-sT fi ■i: !.;i !.;'! ... a... I • ■■V f.'' L I P E OF r'll f r ' 1 ;^lil and as I was the eldeft fon, dlrcded that I ihould be well educated. I had been placed by my father at the fchool of a diflenting mbiifter in Biiftol, whole name was William Foot, of whom I remember enough, to be- lieve that he was both a learned and good man, but by a ftrange abfurdity, he was for- bidden to teach me Latin and Greek, and diredled to confine my ftudies to writing, arithmctick, and the Englilh grammar. I fhould therefore have had little to do, but that the Ibhoolmafler had an excellent me- diod of making the boys write letters to him on different fubje6ts, fuch as, the beauty and dignity of truth, the obligation of a religious life, the benefits of good education, the mif- chief of idlenefs, &c. &c. previoufly ftating to them the chief arguments to be urged; and infifting on corrednefs in orthography and grammar. In this employment, I had Ibmetimcs the good fortune to excel the other* hoys; and when this happened, my maftei never failed to praife me very liberally before them all; and he would frequently tranfmit my letters to my father and mother. — This excited in my mind a l])irit of emulation, ^nd, I believe^ gave me the firft tafte for hi. J, corre6i my lif^ in eve '1 th ^■ij THE AUTHOR. It I iced ting liam ) bc- good 5 for- , and •iting, ar. I 0, but \i me- to him ity and jligious le mif- ftating urged; Jgraphy I had other' maftei y before tranfmit .—This nulation, tafte for correal le correal and elegant connpofition, I acquired, however, all this time, but very little learn- ing ; and when my uncle (on my father's death) took me under his prote6lion, his agent in Briftol confidered me as neglected by Mr. Foot, and immediately removed me to a French boarding fchool in the fame city, where I foon obtained the French language, and having accefs to a circulating library, I acquired a paffion for books, which has fincc become the folace of my life. In 1759, a younger and the only brother of my great and good uncle, came to Eng- land, and fettling in London, took me to re- fide with him, in a high and elegant ftyle of life. He was a reprefentative in Parliament for Abingdon, and afterwards for his native town. — Further, I cannot fpeak of him fo fa- vourably as I could wifh; for I remember that at the period I allude to, his condu6t towards me, was fuch, as not to infpire me with much re- fpec*^ : he perceived it ; and foon after, in the latter end of the fame year, fent me to Jamaica. —This proved a happy and fortunate change in my life, for I found my eldeft uncle the reverfe, in every pofTible circumftance, of his brother. To the moft enlarged and enlightened mind, he t k i'l * ! I fl U >Vi! m li'. M^i^' XM LIFE O F ♦* ^ ' li ■!if he added the fweeteft temper, and the moft generous dii'pofition. His tcntlcrnels towards me was exceflive, and I regarded him with more than filial affe61ion and veneration. Obferving my paiTion for books, and thinking favourably of my capacity, he engaged a cler- gyman (my loved and ever to be lamented friend Ifaac Tcale) to rcfidc in his family, chiefly to fupply by his inftru6tions my de- ficiency in the learned languages. Mr. Teale had been mafter of a free grammar fchool, and befides being a moft accompliftied fcholar, pofTefTed an exquifitc tafte for poetry, of which the reader will be convinced by re- ferring to the Gentleman's Magazine, for Auguft 1 771, the beautiful copy of verfes, there fuft publifhed, called " The Compli- ment of the Day,'* being of his compofition. I dare not fay, however, that I made any great progrefs in the languages under his tuition ; 1 acquired " frna/I Latin, and left " Greek ;** even now, I find it difficult to read the Roman poets in their own language. The cafe was, that not having been grounded in the Latin grammar at an earlier period of life, 1 found the ftudy of it infupportably dif- gufting, after that I had acquired a tafte for sH 5 the the chi myi Pop tax; tres. over iocal timej Vett negle tome quent: an ode firianc times Ha iick bi am in anecdo tend t( my lii to thii may fi therefo Vi , THt AUTHOR* Xlil by re- le, for verfcs, !ompli- )ofition. ide any ider bi3 and lefs icult to mguage. rrounded :)eriod of :ably dif- tafte for the the beauties of fine writing. Poetry Wa£ out chief amufcmeir ; for my friend, as well as myfelf, preferred the charms of Dry^tin and Pope, to the dull drudgery of poring over fyn- tax and prolbdy *. We preferred Belles Let- tres.— Wc laughed away many a happy hour over the plays of Moliere, and wrote verfes on local and temporary fubjedb, which we fome- times published in the Colonial newlj)apers. Yet the Latin clafTicks were not altogether negle6ted ; my friend delighted to point out to me the beauties of Horace, and would fre- quently impofc on me the talk of tranflating an ode into Engliih vcrfe, which with his al-. liftance, in conftruing the words, I fome- times accompliihed. ^^ Having made myfelf known to the pub- lick by my writings, it is probable that after I am in the grave, that fome collector of anecdotes, or biographical compiler, may pre- tend to furnifli Ibme particulars cone ntng my life and manners. It is not pl-afanf to thiiik that mifreprefentation or malice may faften on my memory ; and I have therefore made it the amusement of an idltf Vide Armftrong. if! / i \v ■ ft V' n -^ , ■>' -sis i ; Pf i /. '->•> hour, 1 !' i M ^IV LIF^ OF THE AUTHOA. hour, to compile a ihort account of myfelf* My perfonal hiftory, however, is of little im- portance to the world. It will furnifli no diverfified fcenes of fortune, nor relate many circumftances of myfelf, worth remembering. Yet I feel the fond ambition of an Author, and am willing to hope, that thofe who have read my Book with approbation, will be glad to know fomething further concerning me : m For who, to dumb forgetfulnefs a prey, &c. For the fatisfadion then of fuch kind readers (if fuch there are) and the information of tny pofterity, 1 have drawn up this paper, which I deiire my Bookfeller to prefix to the next Edition of my Hiftory of the Weft Indies. " :.- .^ j%-i,uM'. .: , *-■* ^ f-^ - • f'* 1 & •i.r.:-n H Of 'be N\ CONTENTS t t XV j / ♦: CONTENTS < .« it OF THE FIRST VOLUME. :r ne : readers tion of paper, i to the e Weft i.A 1* : .% y^''' TENTS BOO K I. A GENERAL VIEW OF THEIR ANCIENT STATE AND INHABITANTS. CHAP. I. QEOGRAPIilCAL Arrangement. —-Climate. — Sea-ireeze, and Land-iuinii.'^Beauty and Jtngularity of the vegetablt and animal creation,^— Magnificence and fublimity of the mountains : reflexions concerning the origin of the Wcjl Indian IJlands, l^c. Page I. CHAP. ir. Of the Charaihes, tr ancient Inhabitants of the Windnuard IJlands, "—Origin,— ^Difficulties attending an accurate invejiigation of their tharailer.-Sach particulars related as are leaji difputed concern' ing their manners and difpojitions, perjons arid dcmefiick habitSy education of their children, arts, manufidures, and government, religious rites, funeral ceremonies, iSc.-^Some riJleL'ions drawn from the ivhole --~-..-jj CHAP. III. of the Natives of Hifpaniola, Cuba, Jamaica, and Porte-Rico.-^ Their Origin. — Numbers,— Perfons .--Genius and Dijpojitions.— Government and Religion.— Mi/cellaneous Qbfervatinns rcfpcBing their Arts, Manufa£lures and Agriculture, Cruelty of the Spani- ards, l^c. ---.-.. ^o ' 1/' S » 'Ml ''1 hi m 'l!ll m ' . 1. ! ■* xn C O N T E N T S' T O I CH AI». IV. ""^ '"" I ■ ■ ' f* ■' ' Land animals ufed as food. — Fijhes and nuild foiuL'—Indian methtJ offjhing and/o'wlin^. — Efcuknt 'veget ablest i^c.-^Conclufion. Ill APPENDIX to Book I. coniaitiing fome additional obfervations (onttruingtheougiont/theChasfaibet, - - - 13 1 BOOK IL V) u IS. ,. Jamaica./ r-r r' ..A C H A P. I. tiifcovery ofjamaica hy Columbus. '^His return in i^O'^.-^^Spit'iteJ proceedings of his Jon Diego, after Columbus's Death.^—Taies f of', /efjion ofjamaica in l^og, -^Humane conduSl of Juan de Efqui- •vel, the Jirji Governor.'— EJlahliJhment and defertion of the teiun ofSevilla Nueva.—Dejiruflion of the Indians. — 5/. J ago de la Vega founded .—-Gi and Col. Jackfon in 163B. ....... 151 CHAP. 11. ' Cromt ^ \ N \. • <\ s. N v\ .^ N. v\ ^. > ■ \ > "N. 1 ^ \ >> ^ > ^« N N N. \ .V ^ ClIAT. in. v^( ^. % >§v. ^ k 5\ \? ^ \ ^N ^ ^ :^ f1 59 11^ ^ ^ © "41 5^ H ^. ,1^. \ x> Si ' k 5>.- ;i ^ i ^ ,\ >'^, i\ ^ in »: !ii , 'I t vi'-i' ■'1 ■■■ 1 ■ ■I , \ / "-I ^ 11 .m count o| made inlands }] To internal I tained '- Vol. ail* 'at' ii t » I PREFACE ^ : TO THE FIRST EDITION. k ^ s ^1 I TH E difcovery of a new Hemifphere by Cris* TOPHER Columbus, and the ptogrefs of the Spaniards in the conqueft of it, have been de- fervedly the theme of a long feries of hiftories in the feveral languages of Europe ; and the fubjedt has been recently refumed and illuftrated by a ce- lebrated Writer among ourfelves.-^It is not there- fore my intention to tread again in fo beaten a track, by the recital of occurrences of which few can be ignorant, if the nobleft exertions of the hu- man mind, producing events the moft lingular and important in the hiftory of the world, are cir- cumftances deferving admiration and enquiry. ^ > •. My attempt, which I feel to be fufficiently ar- duous, is. To prefent the Reader with an hiftorical ac- count of the origin *nd progrefs of the fettlenients made by our own nation in the Weft Indian iflandsj— - - ' *v^" -;:fri l?u..^nj&n';>. To explain their conftitutional eftablifhments, internal governments, and the political fyftem main- tained by Great Britain towards them ; — **"**'* Vol. I. b . « - To m w I 1!" II PnEFACR TO THR To Hefcrihc the m.inncrs and difpofitions of tlie prefcnt inhabitants, mi in/lucnced by climate, fitua- tion, and other K)cal caufcs; comprehending in this part of my book an account of the African flavc-trade j fomc obfcrvatioiw on the nrgro clia- raAcr ahd genius, and rcflciHons on tlio fyllem of flavcry eftablillicil in our colonies; — To fiirnifh a more comprehenfive account than has hitherto a|>|)eared of the agriculture of the Sugar Iflands in general, and of their rich and va- luable (lapie commodities, fugar^ iiidigo, coflee, and cotton, in particular; — finally, To di(*play the various and widely extended branches of their conunerce ; i)ointing out the re- lations of each towards the other, and towards the Tevcral great interefts, the manufadurcs, naviga- tion, revenues, and lands of Great Britain :•— Thess, together with feveraJ collateral difquifi- tions, are the topicks on which 1 have endeavoured to colled, and convey to the publick, ufeful and acceptable information. Their im])ottance will not be tlifputcd, and I have only to lament that my abilities arc not more equal to the taik I have undertaken. But, before I proceed to inveftigations merely political and commercial, I have ventured on a re- trofpective furvcy of the fkate {^nd condition of the Weft Indian iflaiids wlien firft difcovered by Co- lumbus ; and I have endeavoured to delineate the moft prominent features in the Charader and gc* nius of Uk ancient inhabitants. I was led to a refearch of this ^urc, not w»erely fpr die purpofe * of ofgivi ing ref write, i tcr (juii Atul (it I tellers writers, underta clufions an autli and pel duftry c the mift ignorant fubmits, thofe wh is liable i who have himliflf, t the fame deduced, confident (ulpedts, i it*v- . FIRST BDITION. Ill of givinri; uniformity to my work, but hccaufe, hav- ing n-iiilcil many years in tlic countries of which I write, 1 |> olumc to think that I am foinewhat bet- ter c|Uiilitie(J to judge of the influence of chmatc ami situation, on tiie ilifpofition, temper, and in- tclle(^b of their inhabitants, than many of thofe writers, who, without the fame advantage, have undertaken to compile fyllems, and cdabhlh con- clufions, on this fubjed. I conceive that, unlefs an author has had the benefit of adlual experience and perfonal obfcrvation, neitlier genius nor in- dudry can at all times enable him to guard againfl the midakes and mifreprefentations of prejudiced, ignorant, or interedcd men -, to whofe authority he fubmits, merely from the want of advantages which thofe who have poiTelfed them have perverted. He is liable even to be mifled by preceding authors, who have undertaken, on no better foundation than himfelf, to compile hiftories and form fyftems on the fame fubjed : for when plaufible theories are deduced, with ingenuity and eloquence, from fadt* confidently aflerted ; he fufpcds not, or, if he fui'pedts, is cautious of aflerting, that the foundation itfelf (as it frequently happens) is without fupport j that no fuch fads adually exift, or, if exifting, are accidental and local peculiarities only, — not pre- mifes of fufficient extent and importance whereon to ground general conclufions and fyftematical combination. I HAVE been induced to make this remark from peruling the fpeculations of Monf. Buftbn and Ibme other French thcorifts, on .the condition and ,. ! ..-^jU'A :.. 1)2. '-' '•■ charadt.gr i# h PREFACE TO THR character of the American nations. WlicthcT from a defire to leflen the flrong abhorrence of all mankind at the cruelties exercifed by the Spaniards in the conqueft of the New World, or from a ftrange affedation of paradox and fingularity, falfely clai^Tling the honours of philofophy, thofe writers have ventured to aflert, that the air and climate, or other phyfical phenomena, retard the growth of animated nature in the New Hemifphere, and prevent the natives from attaining to that per- fedion at which mankind arrive in the other quar- ters of the globe. Notwithftanding the variety of foil, climate, and feafoiis, which prevail in the feve- ral great provinces of North and South Ameri- ca j — notwithftanding that the aboriginal inhabi- tants were divided into a great many different tribes, and diftinguiflied alfo by many different languages; it is pretended that all thofe various tribes were uniformly inferior, in the faculties of the mind and the capacity of improvement, to the reft of the human fpecies; that they were crea^ tares of no confideration in die book of Natuie ; — denied the refined invigorating fentiment of love, — and not poffelTing even any very powerful degree of animal defire towards multiplying their fpecies. The author of a fyftem entitled * Recherches Philo' JopUques fur les Americnins' declares, with unex- ampled arrogance, that there never has been found, throughout the whole extent of the New World, a fingle individual of fuperior fagacity to the reft'. And the fcope of his treatife is to demonftrate, that the poor favages \\ere aduated, not by reafon, but by a fort of animal inftindj tliat Nature, havmg beftowed befto' gree ( tain, ] furthe {prope and fu •Ali much I tent, t read wi deny, tJ ill the g Americj tives of tions on and rep Jonging 1 be paint this bias author and cont America! t\\Q firft and, ;■;/ women v we find {<^ the New mired, th dent, an {^) Dr.] (l-J Hiftc 1! FIRSTEDITION. f beftowcd on the whole fpecies a certain fmall de- gree of intelled:, to which tliey all individually at- tain, placed an infurmountable barrier againft their further progrels : — of courfe, that they are not {properly fpeaking) men, but beings of a fecondary and fubordinate rank in the fcale of creation. Although our own learned Hiflorian (a) is much too enlightened to adopt, in their fulleft ex- tent, thefe opinions ; — which cannot, indeed, be read without indignation ; — yet it is impoflibic to deny, that they have had fome degree of influence iji tiie general ei^imate which he has framed of the American charader : for he afcrtbcs to all the na- tives of the New World many of thofe imperfec- tions on which the fyftem in queftion is founded ; and repeatedly afierts, that *' the qualities be- longing to the people of all ihz different tribes may be painted with the fame features (b)^ With this bias on his pen, it is not wonderful that this author is fometimes chargeable with repugnancy and contradiftion. Thus we are told that " the Americans are, in an amazing degree, ft rangers to the firft inilinA of nature (a paflion for the fex), and, in every part of the New IVorld^ treat their women with coldnefs and indifference C^ J." Yet we find foon afterwards, that, " in fome countries of the New IVorld, the women are valued and ad- mired, the animal paflion of the fexcs becomes ar- dent, and the diflblution of their manners is ex- (a) Dr. Robert fon. (c) P. 292. (bj Hiflory of America, Vol. I. p, 2io and 283. ceflive.'* I I ' I- m :^¥ ■■■^w .1 ; 'i; ; £ um II Vi P R E r A C E T O T H E ceflive C^)" It is elfewhere obferved, that " thd Americans were not only averfe to toil, but inca- pable of it, and funk under tafks which the people of the other continent would have performed with cafe i and it is added, that ** this feeblenefs of con- ftitution was univerfal, and may be conftdered Qf cha- ra^eriftick of the /pedes (e).'' It appears, however, in a fubfequent page, that " wherever the Ameri* cans have been gradually accuftomed to hard la- bour, their conftitutions become robuft enough to equal any effort of the natives either of Africa or Europe f/J." Perfonal debility, therefore, could not have been the peculiar charafterillick of the American fpecies j for the human frame, in every part of the globe, acquires ftrength by gradual employment, and is comparatively feeble with-, out it. Again : Among the qualities wliich the Hifto- rian confiders as univerlally predominant in the Americans, he afcribes to them, in a remarkable degree, a hardnefs of heart and a brutal infenfibility to the fufferings of their fellow-creatures (g). ** So little (he obferves) is the bread of a favage fufceptible of thofe fentiments which prompt men to that feeling attention which mitigates diftrefs, in fome provinces of America the Spaniards have found it neceffary to enforce tlie common duties of humanity by pofitive lawsT/O*** Neither is this account of their inflexibility confined to the fero- {'i) Hiftory of America, Vol. I. p. 196. (e) P. 290. (/) P. 294. (z) P. 405. (hj P. 406. they their with this put to direfti ever cious I' people d with dF con- as cha' owever, Ameri* »ard la- ough to Africa OT ;, could c of the in every gradual le with^ be Hifto- it in the iniarkablc fenfibility ures (g). a favage mpt men diftrefs, rds have 1 duties of her is this the fero- ■m :s (e) p. ago- (h) P. 406. FIRST EDITION. ' tHf clous barbarian of the northern provinces, or to the mifcrable outcaft of Terra del Fuego. The author extends his deicripti'on to all the uncivilized inha- bitants of the Ne^ Heraifphere. It conftitutes a ftriking feature in his general eftiraatc; for he eftabliflies it as a fixed principle, that *' in every part of the deportment of man in his lavage ftate, whether towards his equals of the human fpecies, or towards the animals '^elow him, we recognize the fame charafter, and trace the operations of a mind intent on its own gratifications, and regulated by its own caprice, without much attention or fen- fibility to the fentiiuents and feelings of the beings around him (i)J* Certainly the learned Author, while employed in this reprefentation, had wholly forgotten the ac» count which he had before given of the firft inter- view between the Spaniards and the natives of Hifpaniola, when a (hip of Columbus was wrecked on that iiland. " As foon (fays the Hiftorian) as they heard of the difafler, they crouded to the (hore, with their prince Guacanahari at their head. In- Head of taking advantage of the diftrefs in which they beheld the Spaniards, to attempt any thing to their detriment, they lamented their misfortune ivith tears of fmcere condolence. Not fatisfied with this unavailing exprefiion of their fympathy, they put to fea a vaft number of canoes, and, under the direftion of the Spaniards, affifted in faving what- ever could be got out of the wreck j and by the (i) Hiftory of America, Vol. I. p. 407. b4 united' 'I- it ;::;^i ,1 I I i( |:( li; II TW ^ PREFACE TO THE united labour of fo many hands, almoft every thing of value was carried afliore. Guacanahari in per- fon took charge of the goods, and prevented the multitude not only from embezzling, but even from inipedting too curioufly what belonged to their guclls. Next morning this prince vifited Columbus, and endeavoured to confole him for his lojs by offering all that he poffejfed to repair it^ Thus exceptions prefent themfelves to every ge- neral conclufion, until we are burthened with their variety: — And at laft we end juft where we began ; for the wonderful uniformity which is faid to have difiinguifhed the American Indians, cannot be fup- ported by analogy, becaufe it is not founded on nature. Of the other branches of my work, great part, I prefume to think, will be new to many of my readers. I have not met with any book that even pretends to furnilh a comprehenfive and fatisfadtory account of the origin and progrefs of our national fettlements in the tropical parts of America. The fyftem of agriculture pradifed in the Wefl Indies, is almoft as much unknown to the people of Great Britain as that of Japan. They know, indeed, that fugar, and indigo, and coffee, and cotton, are raifed and produced there ; but they are very generally, and to a furprifing degree, uninformed concerning the method by which thofe and other valuable commodities are cultivated and brought to per-f feftion. So remarkable indeed is the want of in- formation in this rcfped, even among perfons of the moft extenfive general knowledge, that in a -^ law law qi Sugar earl w ceflary and mt concern ills aud was the the cane by boilii On tl mitantc by other but little ever, tha Situation lonies, dif tions that riety of p^ by many fore the judge bet) the refultJ who have I of the rJ Great Brl What I h[ this advai are founds W I give man who wa T 1 R S T E D I T I O N. kt iaw queftion which came by appeal from one of the Sugar Iflands a few years ago, the noble and learned earl who prefided at the hearing, thinking it ne- ceflary to give fome account of the nature of rum and melafles (much being ftated in the pleadings concerning the value of thofe commodities) aflured his auditors with great folemnity, that " melafles was the raw and unconcofted juice extradled from the cane, and from which fugar was afterwards made by boiling I'Y'^^' On the fubjedt of the flave-trade, and its conco- mitant circumftances, fo much has been faid of late by others, that it may be fuppofed there remains but little to be added by me. It is certain, how- ever, that my account, both of the trade and the fituation of the enflaved negroes in the Britilh co- lonies, differs very eflentially from the reprefenta- tions that have been given, not only in a great va- riety of pamphlets and other publications, but alfo by many of the witnefles that were examined be- fore the houfe of commons. The publick mufl judge between us, and I (hould be in no pain about the refult, if the charaders of fome of thofe perfons who have ftood forth on this occafion as accufers of the refident planters, were as well known in Great Britain, as they are in the Weft Indies. What I have written on thefe fubjedls has at leaft this advantage, that great part of my oblervations are founded on perfonal knowledge and aftual ex- /i A . J'- i 'ill ■i; n >l "', C^J I give this anecdote on the authority of a Jamaica gentle- inan who was prefcnt; a perfon of undoubted veracity. perience: us If ri I ;l X PREFACITOTME pcricnce : and with regard to the m,!\nners and dif- pofitions of the native Africans, as diftinguilhed by national habits, and charaderiftick features, I ven* ture to think, that my remarks will be found both new and interefling. After all, my firft objed has been truth, not novelty. I have endeavoured to colled^ ufeful knowledge wherefocver it .lay, and when I found books that fupplied what I fought, I have fome- times been content to adopt, without alteration, what was thus furnifhed to my hands. Thus, extrafts and paffages from former writers occupy fome of my pages; and not having always been careful to note the authorities to which I reforted, I find it now too late to afcertain the full extent of my obligations of th.s kind. They may be traced rnoft frequently, I believe, in the firft and laft parts of my work: In the firft, becaufe,when I began my ta(k, I had lefs confidence in my own lefourccs than I found afterwards, when praftice had rendered writing familiar to me ; and in the laft, becaufe, when my labours grew near to a con- clufion, I became weary, and was glad to get af- fiftance wherefocver it offered. From Iruin^ rather than from written informa- tion, however, have I generally fought affiftance, when my own refources have proved deficient ; and it is my good fortune to boaft an acquaintance I with men, to whom, for local and commercial knowledge, our ftatefmen and fenators might re- fort, with credit to themfelves and advantage to the publick. On this occafion, neither the grati- tude I •Hi PtRST IDITION. XI th, not ufeful i found e fome- ;eration, Thus» occupy lys been reforted, ill extent may be firft and ufe, when I my own informa- affiftance, ' cient ; and 1 quaintance l :ommercial | might re- 1 vantage to| r the grati- tude! tude which I owe fpr favours bellowed, nor the pride which I feel from the honour of his friendihip, will allow me to conceal the name of Edward Liong, Efquire, the author of the Jamaica Hiilory, to whom I am iirft and principally indebted ; and who, with the liberality which always accompanies true genius, has been as careful to corrcft my er- rors, and affiduous to fupply my defeds, as if hb own well-earned reputation had depended on the ilTue. For great part of the materials which compofe the Hiftory of Grenada, I am under obligations to Thomas Campbell, Efquire, formerly fpeaker of the alTembly of that ifland, who, throiigh means of a friend, furnidied fuch anfwers to queries that I fent him, as encourage me to prefent that portion of my work to the publick with a confidence which I dare not aifume in my account of fome other of the iflands. Yet, even with regard to mofl of thefe, I have no caufe to complain that afiiftance has been oftentimes denied me. Concerning Bar- badoes and Saint Chriilopher's in particular, I have been favoured with n^uch accurate and acceptable information, by John Braithwaite and Alexander Douglas, Efquires, gentlemen who are intimately acquainted with the concerns of thofe colonies ; and the polite and cheerful readinefs with which they fatisfied my enquiries, entitle them to this publick teilimony of my thanks. The fame tribute is mod juftly due to Benjamin Vaughan and George Hibbert, Efquires, merchants of London, for many excellent and important re- marksy r.i it ii.^ Wm Xll PREFACE TO T If 1 ffl marks, and much valuable matter ; which, at length, have enabled me to look back on the com- mercial difquifitions in the laft book, with a de- gree of fatisfadlion that at one period I defpaired of obtaining ; being well apprized that thi& part of my work will, on many accounts, be moft ob^ noxious to criticifm. That it is now rendered free from miftakes, 1 do not indeed pretend. In all refearches of a political and commercial nature, the bcfl authorities are fometimes fallible ; and there is frequently much difterence both in general opinion and particular computation between thofo who are equally folicitous for the difcovery of truth. Tlie fadts, however, that I have collided cannot fail to be of ufe, whether the copclufions I have drawn from them, be well founded or not. 1 MIGHT here clofe this introdu<^ory difcourfe, and leave my book to the candour of my readers ; but having made my acknowledgments to thole gentlemen who have given me their kind afliftance in the compilation of it ; and feeling, in common with all the inhabitants of the Britilh Weft Indies, a jufl fenfe of indignation at the rnalignant and unmerited afperfions which are daily and hourly thrown upon tlie planters, for fuppofed improper and inhuman treatment of their African labourers i I fhould ill acquit myfelf, as the hiftorian of thofe colonies, if I omitted this opportunity of giving my teftimony to the fulnefs ol their gratitude, their honeft pride and lively fenfibility, at behold- ing, in a Son of their beloved Sovereign, the gene- rous aflcrtor of their rights, and the ilrcnuous and able ■;ii; able fuite( interj cafion piante Tonal ( of the patron filcnt i ofthoi; of the rage, tJ ouihefs guided ter men terefts oi now frai oufly ow] and igno toa/k educatio affbrdin the envic geftions true, and LONDC / mr: w FIRST EDITION. XiU able defender of their injured charafters, and in- fuited honour ! The condefcending and unfolicited interpofition of the DuV A Clarence on this oc- cafion, is 4 he more valuable, as, happily for the planters, it is founded on his Royal Highnefs's per- fonal obfervation of their manners, and knowledge of their difpofitions, acquired on the fpot. Thus patronized and protedlcd, while they treat with filent fcorn and deferved contempt the bafe efforts of thofe perfons who, without the Icaft knowledge of the fubjpor}sr|0 .f.i?ii©n*>.l,jfli -.■■hvjWoi LONDON, I793VJ;, ^,,. ,i:hiiU.Mj>4«ii; Q:.,^ I [ xiv J II Itil; n .■' I i PREFACE TO T H B ■ i\V SECOND EDITION. TH E fale of a large imprcflion of this Work, in little more than twelve months, having induced the Bookfeller to publiih a fecond edition, I have availed myfclf of the opportunity of cor- redting feveral errors vtrhich have crept into the diR. ; but I have not found it neceflary fo enlarge my Book with any new matter of my own, worthy of menilon. The only additions of importance are a few notes and illuftrations, with which the kind- nefs of friends has enabled me to fupply feme of my deficiences. I hj^ve thought it proper, however, in that part of the Sixth Book which treats of the commercial fyftem, to infert a copy of the provi- fipnal bill prefented to the Houfe of Commons in March 1782, by the Right Hon. William Pitt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the purpofe of reviving the beneficial intercourfe that exifted be- fore the late American war, between the 'United States and the Britifti Sugar Iflands. Th'is bill, through the influence of popular prejudice and other caufes, was unfortunately loft. Had it pafl^ed into a law, it would probably have faved from the horrors of famine fifteen thouland unoffending Negroesji Negroe ftom til which j therefore Alinifter proves t founded n'ltyi to of fhewin prefled oi authority. This U nor (like moved la governmer come forw ftratior in iibcral poh'i fiWy exceej by Great ^rom havit tercourfe vvl own terms, f grecs of latil ^he purpofJ Sugar Colo] country abt occafion foJ «ire;-.all d ^^rally Icadf our I/lands w .1 i i I P R E F'. tus Eajlcnfts annexed to the Tiiird Volume of this \ /ork, but the particulars did not come to my hands ill • Exfraft of a letter to Sir Joseph Banki, from the Bo- tanick gardener in Jamaica ; dated Dcwcmber 1 793. *' All the trees under mv charge nre thriving wiih thegreateft luxuriance. Some of the Bread Fruit arc upwards 0/ eleven feet high, with leaves thirty-fix inches long ; and my fuccefs in cul- tivating them has exceedtd my molt fanguine expei^ations. The Cinnamon Tree is become very common, and Mangoes are in Inch plenty as to be plaiited in the negro-grounds. There are alio feveral bearing trees of the Jaack or baitard bread fruit, which is cxadily the fame as the Nanku of Timor. We have one Nutnifg Plant, which is rather fickly, &;c. &c." f On the death of Hinton T ast, Efq. the founder of the botanick garden, it became the property of his nephew, Edward Hydr East, Efq, barrifler at law, and menber of pariiami ,it for Great Ecdwin, who with great generofity offered it to the Af- fcmbly of Jamaica, for the ufc of the pubiick, at their own prii^e. Vol. 1, ] J? 11' ™^*' ■ 11 ' ^ 'M ■|i fi^ kJ ItVlil P R i: F A C E TO THE ill time. However, tliiit the lovers of natural hif^ tory may not be wholly didippointed, I fliall fub- join to this Preface a Catalogue of the more rare and valuable exoticks which now flourifli in Jamaica. The prefent improved flate of botany in that illand will thus be Ceen at one view. In contemplating this difplay of induftry and fcience, and ofrering the tribute of grateful venera- tion to that SovEREJGN under whofe royal patronage and bounty fo many valuable produAions have been conveyed in a growing ftate from one extremity of the world to the other, It is impoffible that the in- habitants of the Britilh Weft Indies can forget how much alfo is due to Sir Joseph Banks, the Pre- iident of the Royal Society j by whofe warm and , unwearied exertions the fecond voyage to the South i Seas was determined on, after the firft had proved, abortive. Among all the labours of life, if there is one purfuit more replete than any other with bene- volence, more likely to add comforts to exiftingl people, and even to augment their numbers by aug- menting their means of fubfiftence, it is certainly! that of fpreading abroad the bounties of creation,| by tranfplanting from one part of the globe to ano- ther fuch natural produ6lions as are likely to provcj beneficial to the interefts of humanity. In this ge- nerous eflfort, Sir Joseph Banks has employed aj confiderable part of his time, attention, and fortune j| and the fuccefs which in many cafes, has crowned! his endeavours, will be felt in the enjoyments, andj rewarded by the bleffings, of pofterity. On the whole, the introduftion of the Bread] ^ruit and other plants from the South Sea Iflands- the uftry and il venera- patronage have been tremity of 0?, lat the in- brget how the Pre- warm and the South had proved I , if there is with bene- to exifting| Dcrsbyaug-| is certainly of creation,! ,lobe to ano- ely to provcj In this ge- employed a and fortune; has crowned )yments, and r. of the Bread Sea Illands- thc SECOND EDITION. XJX the munificence diiplaycd by His Majesty in caufing the voyage to be undertaken by which it was finally accompliflied — the liberality and judg- ment of thoCe who advifed it — and the care and at- tention manifcflcd by thole who were more imnic- diately entruftcd with the condud of it, are circum- ftances that claim a diflinguiflied place, and cou- ftitute an important era, in the Hiflory of the Bri- tiQi Weft Indies ! Having faid thus much in honoiirof my country- men, it is but juflice to obferve, that the French na- tion (whilft a government exifted among thcni) be- gan to manifeft a noble fpirit of emulation in the fame liberal purfuit. It is to the induftry of the French that Jamaica (as will be feen in the Hiflory of thatlfland) owes the Cinnamon, the Mango, and fome other delicious Spices and Fruits. Among other branches of the vegetable kingdom, introdu- ced by them into their Weft Indian pofleflions, they reckoned three diflfcrcnt fpecies of the Sugar Cane, all of which were previouily unknown to the plan- ters and inhabitant?. I have, in the Second volume of this edition, obferved, that Sir Joseph Banks had I'atisficd me that fuch varieties didexift ; but I was not then apprized that their cultivation had been fuccclsfully attempted in any of our own iflands. By the kindnefs of Admiral Sir John Laforey, Baronet, I atn now enabled to gratify my readers v,'ith fuch full and authentick information on this llibjcft, as cannot fail to be highly acceptable to every inhabitant of the Weft Indies. ,QZ TllESli 'f-'i 'il :viff, 1, ''^ i i :(!i ■ H: 'I: v.f iitt iilU i ,,' XX * PREFACETOTHE These Canes were originally introduced into Mar- tinico J and it was a fortunate circumftance that the diftinguiflied officer whom I have named command- ed about that time on the naval ftation at Antigua. It was equally fortunate thati with a love of natural knowledge, he pofTefled plantations in the llland laft-mentionedi for it is extremely probable, from the difturbances and diftraftions which have pre- vailed ever fince in everyone of the French Colonies, that there would not at this time have been found a trace of thefe plants in any part of the Weft Indies, if Sir John Laforey had not pcrfonally attended to their prefervation. With the account which his politenefs has enabled me to prefent to the Publick, I ihall conclude this Introtluilory Difcourfe. Remarks on the East India aw J o///^r CANES imported into the French Charaibean Ijlnnds^ and lately introduced into the Ifland of V\nti- gua, by Sir John Laforey, Bart. " One fort was brought from the Ifland of Bour- bon, reported by tlie French to be the growth of the coafl of Malabar. f " Anot!ier fort from the ifland of Otaheitc. *' Another fort from Batavla. " The two forager arc much alike* both in their appearance and growth, but thatof Otaheitc is faid to make the findl; fugar. They are much larger than thofe of our Iilands,.the joints of fomc mea- furing eight or nine inches long, and fix in circum- ference. *' Their SECOND EDITION. XXI " Their colour, and that of their leaves alfo, dif- fers from ours, being of a pale green j their leaves broader, their points falling towards the ground as they grow out, inftead of being ere6t like thofe of our lilands. Their juice alfo, when exprefled, differs from that of our Canes ; being of a very pale, inftead of a deep green colour. I caufed one of the largeft of thefe Canes to be cut, at what I deemed its full growth, and likewife one of the largeft of the Ifland Canes that could be found upon each of three other plantations. When they were properly trimmed for grinding, I had them weighed : the Malabar Canes weighed upwards of feven pounds ; neither of the other three exceeded four pounds and a quarter. " They are ripe enough to grind at the age of i nonths i a few cut for a trial by my manager, ..L^ve twelve months old, were judged to have loft part of their juices, by ftanding too long. " They appear to ftand the dry weather better than ours j I oliierved, that after adrought of along continuance, when the leaves of our own Canes began to turn brown at their points, thefe continued their colour throughout. ** A GENTLEMAN of Montfcrrat had fome plants given to him by Monfieur Pinnel, one of the moft confidcrable planters of Guadaloupe,whotold himhe had, inthcprccedingycar(i792,)inwhich an exceed- ing great drought had prevailed, planted amongft a large lieldofthelfland Canes half anacre of thefe; that the want of rain, and the borer, had damaged the for- mer fo m uch , that lie could not make fugar from diem, but the latter had produced him three hoglheads. " In ' 11 ! ■; ill \ fj j^xll PREF ACE TO THE " In the fpiing of this year (1794) a trial was made of the Malabar Canes, on one of my planta- tions} 160 bunches from holes of five feet fquare were cut, they produced upwards of 350 lbs. of very good fugar ; the juice came into fugar in the teache, in much Icfs time than is ufually required for that of the other Canes, and threw up very little fcum. The produce was in the proportion of 3,500 lbs. to an acre ; the weather had then been fo very dry, and the hrer fo deftru6live, that I am fure no one part of that plantation would have yielded above half that quantity from the other Canes, in the fame fpace of ground. We had not then the benefit of the new-invented clarifiers, which, though imported, had not been fixed up for want of time. " The French complain that thefe Canes do not yield a fufiicient quantity of field trafh, to boil the juice into fugar; to this, and to their never throw- ing up an arrow, I think, their fuperior fize may in good meafure be attributed. This inconvenience may be obviated, by the fubftitution of coals ; and the increafed quantity of the cane-trafii, which their magnitude will furnifli (and which we reckon the richeft manure we have, when properly prepared) will well indemnify the expcnce of firing. " The Batavia Canes are a deep purple on the outfide; they grow fliort-jointed, and fmall in cir- cumference, but bunch oiceedingly, and vegetate, io quick, that they fprmg up from the plant in one- third the time thofe of our Ifland do; the joints, foon I after they form, all burll longitudinally. They have the appearance of being very hardy, and bear dry K?1 wcath'ji' il was lanta- fquarc bs. of in the ired for ■y little 'f3>Soo fo very fure no ;d above :be fan:ie enefit of 11 ported, es do not ) boil the er throw- 7.e may in nvenience :oals i and rhich their •eckon the prepared) pie on tlic nail in cir- id vegetate | lant in one- joints, ibon I Xhcyhavc ik1 bear dry weathif] SECOND EDITION. XXUl weather welli a few bunches were cut and made in- to fugar at the fame time the experiment was made with the white Canes. The report made to me of them was, that they yielded a great deal of juice, which feemed richer than that of the others, but the lugar was ftrongly tinged with the colour of the rind ; and it was obferved, that upon the expreffion of them at the mill, the juice was of a bright purple ; but by the time it had reached through the fpout to the clarifier (a very fliort diftance) it became of a dingy iron colour. I am told the Batavia fugar im- ported into Amfterdam is very fair ; fo that if thofc Canes fliould otherwife anfwer well, means may doubtlefs be obtained to difcharge the purple tinge from their juice." LoNBON, 1794. II?, .Iff .1' t.i.- ■' I m h.mmm t: ) '1 The A GE m W m i-: l( ■^ - - ''*i^.f. ■ -^*^" : .r -\ Geograph Sea-br larity Magni fle5iion\ ^c. GEO( tior of Ameril South; tl| Barien fei ther, and] croachmei Vol. iJ THE HISTORY, CIFIL AND COMMERCIAL, O F The Brit:.. Coj 'es in the Weft \-[:..s. B O O K I. A GENERAL VIEW OF THEIR 'ANCIENT STATE . AND INHABITANTS. CHAP. I. Geographical arrangement. — Name. — Climate.—' Sea-breeze^ and Land-wind. — Beauty andjingu- larity of the vegetable and animal creation.-— Magnificence and fublimity of the mountains : re- fleSiions concerning the origin of thefe iflands^ &c. GEOGRAPHERS, following the diftrlbu- chap. tion of Nature, divide the vaft Continent i. of America into two great parts. North and ^[JJJJ^ South; the narrow. but mountainous Ifthmus of mem. Darien fervlng as a link to connedt them toge- ' , .' ther, and forming a rampart againft the en- '.\ ' croachments of the Atlantick on the one fide. Vol. I. B • and iiM;i a^L fl'' ", ■^1 m Hp!:-!' ill M' \vW ■iT H',' u ' •'it ■i 'i iil Name. HISTORY OF THE and of the Pacifick Ocean on the other. Thefe great Oceans were anciently diilingulflied alfo, from their relative fituation, by the names of the North and South Seas (n). To that prodigious chain of Illands which extend in a curve from the Florida Shore on the Northern Pcninfula, to the Gulph of Vene- zuela in the Southern, is given the denomination of JVeJl Indies, from the name of India originally affigned to them by Columbus. This illuftrious Navigator planned his expedition, not, as Ray- nal and others have fuppofed, under the idea of introducing a New World to the knowledge of the Old ; but, principally, in the view of finding a route to India by a Weftern navigation; which he was led to think would prove lefs tedious than by the Coaft of Africa : and this conclufion would have been juft, if the geography of the Ancients, on which it was founded, had been accurate ^^^. Indeed, fo firmly perfuaded was .Columbus (a) The appellation of Northy applied to that part of the Atlantick. which flows into the Gulph of Darien, feems now to be entirely difufed ; but the Pacifick. is ftill commonly j called the South Sea. It was difcovered in 151 J. (b) " The fpherical figure of the earth was known to I the ancient geographers. They invented the method ftilif in ufe, of computing the longitude and latitude of different j pl.':es. According to their doftrine, the equator con- tained j6o degrees; thefe they divided into twenty-font I parts, I WESTINDIES. ) Columbus of its truth and certainty, that he chap. continued to aflc" his belief of it after the dif- ^• covery of Cuba and Hifpaniola j not doubting that thofe iflands conftituted fome part of the Eaftern extremity of Afia : and the nations of Euroj^e, fatisfied with fuch authority, concurred in the fame idea. Even when the difcovery of the Pacifick Ocean had demonftrated his mif- take, all the countries which Columbus had vifited ftill retained the name of the Indies; and in contradiflinftion to thofe at which the Portuguefe, after paffing the Cape of Good Hope, had at length arrived by an Eaftern # parts, or hours, each equal to fifteen degrees. The coun- try of the Seres 'or Sina being the fortheft part of India known to the Ancients, was fuppofed, by Marinus Tyrius, the moft eminent of the ancient geographers before Pto- lemy, to be fifteen hours, or 215 degrees to the eaft of the firft meridian, paiCng through the Fortunate Iflands. If this fuppofition was well founded, the country of the Seres, or China, was only nine hours, or 135 degrees weft from the Fortunate or Canary Iflands ; and the navigation in that direction was nnHch fliortcr than by the courfe which the Portuguefe were purfiiing." From this account, for which the reader is indebted to the learned Dr. Robertfon, it is evident tliat the fcheme of Columbus was founded on rational fyflematical principles, according to the light which his age afforded ; whereas if he had propofed, without any fuch fupport, to difcover a new hemifphere by failing weft- ward; he wpuld have been juftly confidered as an arro- gant and chimerical projecflor, and fuccefs itfelf would not have reconciled his temerity to the fober dilates of reafon. B z • . courfe, \ I I LM HISTORY OF THE courfe, they were now denominated the Indies of theJVeJi(c). Among the Geographers of thoie days, how- ever, there were fome, who, envying the glory of Columbus, or giving more credit to ancient fable than to the achievements of their cotcm- poraries, perfifted in afligning to the newly-dif- covcred Iflands tlie appellation of Antilia or An- tiles : the name (according to Charlevoix) of an imaginary country, placed in ancient charts about two himdred leagues to the Weftward of the Azores j and it is a name flill very generally ufed by foreign Navigators, although the ety- mology of the word is as uncertain as the appli- cation of it is unjuft. To the Britifli nation the name beftowed by Columbus is abundantly more familiar : and thus the whole of the New Hemifphere is, with us, commonly comprifed under three great divifions; North America, South America, and the Weft Indies (d). fe) Columbus failed on his firft voyage the 3d of Auguft, 1492. In 1494 Bartholemiis Dias difcovered the Cape of Good Hope ; but it was not doubled till the year 1497, when Vafquez de Gama fucceeded (for the firfl time in mo- dern navigation) in this, as it was then fuppofed, formidable attempt. CJJ The term Jrrtiles is applied by Hoffman to the Wind ward or Charaibenn Iflands only, and is by him thus ac- counted for: " Dicuntur Antilas Americse quafi ante Infulas America, nempe ante majores Infulas Sinus Mexkani." (H«ff' I. WESTINDIE8. ■ j But, fubordinatc to thb comprehenfive and chap. fimple arrangement, neceflity Jr convenience has introduced more minute and local diftindions. That portion of the Atlantick, which is fepa- rated from the main Ocean to the North and to the Eaft, by the Iflands I have mentioned, although commonly known by the general ap- pellation of the Mexican Gulph, is itfelf pro- perly fubdivided into three diftind: Bafins : the Gulph of Mexico, the Bay of Honduras, and the Charaibean Sea (e). The latter takes its ii >i an to the Wind by him thus ac- luafi ante InCxila* lexicani." (Hof' Ttiaii i man Lexic. Univ.) Rochfort and Dii Tertre explain the word nearly in the fame ma-mcr, while Monf. D'Anvillc applies the name to thofe iflands only, which arc more im- mediately opptfed to, or (ituated againji, the Continent : thus he terms Cuba, Hifpaniola, Jamaica, and Porto Rico, the Great AntUes, and the fmall Iflands of Aruba, Curaqoa, Bonair, Magaritta, and foine others near the coaft of Caraccas on the Southern Peninfula, the Left ; excluding the Charaibean Iflands altogether. A recurrence to the early Spanifh Hifto- rians would have demonftrated to all thefe writers, that ttie word Antilta was applied to Hifpaniola and Cuba, before the difcovery either of the Windward Iflands, or any pari of the American Continent. This appears Irom the following paffage ik the Firft Book of the Firft Decad of Peter Mar- tyr, which bears date from the Court of Spain, November 1493, eight months only after Columbus's return from his firft expedition ; " Ophiram Infulani fefe reperifle refert : fed Cofmographorum tra£tu diligenter confiderato, Aniilia Infiilae funt ills et adjacentes alias : hanc Hifpaniolam ap> pellavit, &c." (e) Vide Introduftion to the Weft Indian Atlas, by I Jefteries. s. .1 . . ' ' • ;; ' B 3 name i ( : n , .r- f ( ill I J !,. iii HISTORY OF THE name from that clafs of Iflands which bound this part of the Ocean to the Eafl. Moft of thcfc were anciently poffeffed by a nation of Cannibals, the fcourgc and terror of the mild and inoffen- five natives of Hifpaniola, who frequently ex- preffed to Columbus their dread of thofe fierce and warlike invaders, (tiling them Charaibes or Caribbees (f). And it was in confcquence of this information, that the Iflands to which thefe favages belonged, when difcovered afterwards by Columbus, were by him denominated generally the Charaibcan Iflands, Of this clafs, however, a group nearly, adjoin- ing to the Eaftern fide of St. John de Porto Rico, is likewife called the Virgin Ifles i a dif- tindlion of which the origin will be explained in its place (g), ' C/J Hcrrera, lib, i, Fer. Columbus, chap, xxxiii. (gj It may be proper to obferve, that the old Spanifli Navigators, in fpeaking of the Weft Inr.ian Iflands in ge- neral, frequently diftinguifli them alfo into two clatre«, by the terms Bmrlovento and Sotavtnto, from whence our IVinJ- viard and Lteioard Iflands ; the Charaibean conftitiiting in ftrift propriety the former clafs (and as fuch I fhail fpeak of them in the courfe of this work), and the four large Iflands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hifpaniola, and Porto Rico, the latter. But our Engliih mariners appropriate both terms to the Cha- raibean Iflands only, fubdividing thern according to theif fituation in the courfe of the trade wind ; the Windward Iflands by their arrangement terminating, I believe, with Martinico, and the Leeward commencing at Dominica, and extending to Porto Rico, Neither il WEST INDIES. Neither mud it pafs unobfcrved, that the chap. name of Baliama is commonly ai)pHed by the '• £ngli(h to tliat clufter of fmall iflantls, rocks, ' and reefs of fand, which ftretch in a north- wefterly diredion for the fpace of near three hundred leagues, from the Northern coaft of Hifpaniola to the Bahama Strait, oppofite the Florida Shore. Whether this appellation is of Indian origin, as commonly fuppofed, is a quef- tion I cannot anfwer j neither does it merit very anxious invcftigation : yet thcfc little Hands have defervedly a claim to particular notice j for it was one of them (h) that had the Iio- nour of firft receiving Columbus, after a voyage the moft bold and magnificent in defign, and the mod important in its confcquences, of any that the mind of man has conceived, or national adventure undertaken, from the beginning of the world to the prefent hour. Most of the countries of which I propofc ciimatt. to treat being fituated beneath the tropick of Cancer, the circumftances of climate, as well in regard to general heat, as to the periodical rains and confequent variation of feafons, are nearly {he fame throughout the whole. T'^c tempe- (h) Called by the Indians Guanahani, by the Spaniards St. Salvadore, and is known to Englifh Teamen by the name of Cat Ifland, The whole group is called &y the Spaniards Lucayos. : • ^ ^ ^ • . i , , B 4 Tature l! ',' t IF I: ;.' t HISTORY OF THE rature of the air varies indeed confiderably ac- cording to the elevation of the land ; but, with this exception, the medium degree of heat is much the fame in all the countries of this part of , the globe. A TROPICAL year feems properly to com- prehend but two diftind feafons ; the wet and the dry ; but as the rains in thefe climates con- ftitute two great periods, I fliall defcribe it, like the European year, under four divifions. The vernal feafon, or Spring, may be faid to commence with the month of May, when the foliage of the trees evidently becomes more vivid, and the parched favannas begin to change their ruflet hue, even previous to the firft periodical Tains, which are now daily expedted, and gene- rally fet in about the middle of the month. Thefe, compared with the Autumnal rains, may be faid to be gentle fhowers. They come from .:i* rtO the South, and commonly fall every day about noon, and break up with thunder-ftorms j creat- ing a bright and beautiful verdure, and a rapid and luxuriant vegetation. The thermometer at this feafon varies confiderably j commonly fall- ing fix or eight degrees immediately after the diurnal rains: its medium height may be ftated at 75". After thefe rains have continued about a fortnight, the weather becomes dry, fettled, and falutaryj ■ ;j % ;<■ 1 1 ■ jf> ■ / fuilj/Kid Fctf y. i7gg h IS. i 7\'i .^; k i,ttat\fnri'it/ ^. 'Ur^ / QSClAlabnlior S'liviili-iire Od^l^CMialifliii '»'( at 1. ^1t^ f ^t^ IxiiiiM Kf .If Urn I h'v _,,^» ., , of the WEST INDIES /}vof f/ff hf/h . iirj/IffA'/r/E v. ^.i. .«»»l,t,«>*.>«"»>' #»'»''-«»«^''''~ •iuJa I.- J ^» Of/\>itigua OiimLiloii|i rFulaiile iTiaHi Poiiiiiiica -^ F'H. _ ' Mart tiro ly C.Ua-ai R B n E A y s /: A C \>v«ra., ( VfU t(.,lr /Ituntiin ^^CrAllla ^ Itannt T' C.F,a '^r (iraiiadii JSnptttrwn % | S! Vincent* ^ Grimadinc LMaronrila /•A.in«^' L''L"''fad <■>;.„ (it'i.r or CARTAttKNAJ U\4RTA Sax T.I Martha l>.,VA/l'/ ' I.. ^/. ('AJL4CAS «r«ra\'\><' r/Tiv/.i T^fVtttfti Stt/**M ClWfAXA /.A THIXIDAO .^^ O^" >t<' ,f OUARAVXOS *y.f'i:LA OVAYANAS 1 M K R I ( I J I,! 1 J \i felutar)' glory. fky blaz hours, c morning or trade the foul until lat( portable of this I and the very tole now varl hours : i ftated at it higher 75" at fv The 1 beautiful. heavens, tranquilli to harmo * Mr. L( that " it is I climate u 11 vv to (compaia tranfitions f North Amei mercury in ; iceiid from Iflaiids are h J' 1 WEST INDIES. l^lutar)' ; and the tropical Summer reigns in full glory. Not a cloud is to be perceived ; and the Iky blazes with irrefiftible ficrcenefs. For fome hours, commonly between feven and ten in the morning, before the fetting in of the fea-brecze or trade-wind, which at this feafon blows from the fouth-eaft with great force and regularity until late in the evening, the heat is fcarcely fup-^ portable ; but, no fooner is the influence felt of this refrelhing wind, than all Nature revives, and the climate, in the fliade, becomes not only very tolerable, but pleafant. The thermometer now varies but little in the whole twenty-four hours : its medium, near the coaft, may be ftated at about 80°. I have feldom obferved it higher than 85° at noon, nor much below 75" at fun-ri^^ *. „ > . The nights at this feafon are tranfcendently beautiful. The clearnefs and brilliancy of the heavens, the ferenity of the air, and the foft tranquillity in which Nature repofes, contribute to harmonize the mind, and produce the moft * Mr. l-on^, in his hiftory of Jamaica, juf'y obferves, that " it is not merely a high degree of heat which renders a climate uiuvholefome, hut the fudden change from great heat to (comparatively) great coolnefs, and vice vef/d." Such tranfitions frequently occur in the fouthern provinces of North America. In Virginia, Mr, Jetferfon relates, that the mercury in Farenheit's thermometer has been known to de- icend from Qa" to 47" in thirteen hours. The Welt India Iflaiids are happily exempt from thofe noxioys variations. calm % I'i /■( ^ Hi' '■'. i: m vk w > I ■• '1 ■ 1 K '^1 ;t!'' , ' 1 ! ' 'r;i „ ' ; h k '% I lO HISTORY OF THE m u '^ I :? i U ^ BOOK calm and delightful icnfations. The moon too ^' in thefe climates difplays far greater radiance than in Europe. The fmalleft print is legible by her light, and in the moon's abfence her function is not ill fuppliedbythebrightnefs of the milky-way, and by that glorious planet Venus, which appears here like a little moon, and glitters with fo re- fulgent a beam as to caft a fliadc from trees, buildings, and other objefts, making full amends for the fhort flay and abrupt departure of the crepufculum or twilight ^z^. This ftate of the weather commonly conti- nues, with little variation, from the beginning of June until the middle of Auguft, when the diurnal breeze begins to intermit, and the at- mofphere becomes fultry, incommodious and fuffocating. In the latter end of this month, and moft part of September, we look about in vain for coolnefs and comfort. The thermo- meter occafionally exceeds 90°, and inflead of a fteady and refrefliing wind from the fea, there ft) In the niounlninoiis and inttrlor parts of the larger iflamis, innumerable ^/r-^/Vi abound at night, which have a furprifing appearance to a ftranger They confift of different fpecies, fome of which emit a lighf, refembling a ipark of fire, from a globular prominence near each eye; and others from their fides in the aft of refpiration. They are far more lumi- nous than the glow-worm, and fill the air on all fuies, like fo many living ftars, tothe great nllonifiiment and admiration of a traveller unaccuftomed to the country .^-In the day-time they tlltappear. arc WEST INDIES. are ufually faint breezes and calms alternately. Thefe are preludes to the fecond periodical, or Autumnal, feafon. Large towering clouds, flee- cy and of a reddifli hue, are now feen, in the morning, in the quarters of the fouth and fouth- eaft J the tops of the mountains at the fame time appear clear of clouds, and the objeds upon them wear a blueilh caft, and feem much nearer to the fpedator than ufual. When thefe vaft accumulations of .pour have rifen to a confiderable height in the atmofphere, they commonly move horizontally towards the moun- tains, proclaiming their progrcfs in deep and rolling thunder, which, reverberated from peak to peak, and anfwered by the diftant roaring of the fea, heightens the majefly of the fcene, and irrefiftibly lifts up the mind of the fpeftator to the great Author of all fublimity *. ' '• The waters, however, with which thefe con* gregated vapours load the atmofphere, feldom fall with great and general force until the be- ginning of Odober, It is then that the heavens pour down catarads. An Euro];ean who has * Tlie thunder generally ceafes towards the evening, but, as the night fets in, the eye is irrefiftibly attracted towards the mountains by the diftant lightening, which ilTues from the clouds in ten thoufand brilliant corufcations,and plays harm - lefsly along the fummits of the mountains in various fantaf- tick fliapes. It is faid that the Amtra Borealis n never feen in the Weft Jndips ; but I have beheld lunar rainbows fre- quently. not mm 11 '<■%, ■U'i ! 'v ')ll •! i ;ii m Ji It 1^1 ^ 1 n HISTORY OF THE not vifited thefe climates, can form no juft con- ception of the quantity of water which deluges the earth at this feafon : by an exa II > ' Ml 1 .i ^;: il'^ I ■ ,,';. . 1 l^■^ .11 I : Winds. I HISTORY OF THE Thk account whicli I have thus given is, how- ever, to be received not as uniformly exadl and minutely particular; but as a general reprefenta- tion only, fubjcft to many variations and excep- tions. In the large iflands of Cuba, Hifpaniola, and Jamaica, whofe lofty mountains are clothed with foreflis perhaps as old as the deluge, the rains are much more frequent and violent than in the fmall iflands to windward ; fome of which are witliout mountains, and others without wood j both powerful agents on the atmofphere. In the interior and elevated diilriAs of the three fornier iflands, I believe there are fnowersin every month of the year; and on the northern coafhs of thofe iflands, confiderable rains are expected in Decem- ber or January, foon after the fetting in of the north winds. -•/•('■, Concerning the trade-wind, or diurnal fea- breeze, which blows in thefe climates from the eaft, and its collateral points, with little inter- milFion or variation nine months in the year, the caufcs of it having been traced and dif- played by numerous writers, it is unnec^flTary for me to treat ; but the peculiarity of the land- wind by night (than which nothing can be more grateful and rcfrefliing) has been lefs generally noticed. This is arf advantage, among others, which the larger iflands of the Well Indies derive from the great inequality of their furfacc ; for as I foon //\K more ncrally others, derive for as foon I. W E S T I N D I E S. 9§ foon as the fea-hrccze dies away, the hot air of chap. the plains being rarefied, afcends towards the tops of the n:iountains, and is tlierc condcnfed bj' the cold ; which making it fpecifically heavier than it was before, it dclcends back to the plains on both fides of the ridge. Hence a night-wind is felt in all the mountainous count ^s under the torrid zone, blowing on all fides from the land towards the fliorc, lb that on a north fhorc the wind fliall come from the fouth, and on the fouth fliore from the north. Agreeably to this hypothefis, it is obfervable that in the iflands to windward, where they have no mountains, they have no land-breeze fkj . Of the general appearance of a diftant country, General and t!ie fcenerv with which it is clothed, it is ^PP^'*''- difficult, by mere verbal defcription, to convey an idea. To the firft difcovcrers, the profpeft of thefe iflands mufl; have been interefting beyond all that imagination can at prefent conceive. Even at this day, when the mind Is prepared (kj The account thus given of the land-wind, is chiefly in the words of Dr. Franklin, whofe (Uicription is fo precife and accurate as to admit of no iniprovemt-nt. h\ Barba. does, and moft of the fmall iflands to wii.dwaid, tlie fja- breeze blows as well by night as by ilay. It is fometimes the cafe in Jamaica in the mouths of June and July, the land at that time being heated lo fuch a degree, tint the cold air of the mountains is not i'ufficiently denfe to check the cur- rent which flows fron] the Tea. and ance. / « , ■i . -y HISTORY OF -. HL and expcdlation awakened by antecedent ac- counts, they are beheld by the voyager for the tirft time, with ftrong emotions of admiration and plcafure ; arifing not only from the novelty of the fccne, but alfo from the beauty of the fmaller iflandy, and the fublimity of the larger, whofe lofty mountains form a ftupendous and awful pidurcj the fubjcd both of wonder and contemplation {/J. , ' , / *, Nor (IJ To the firfl voyagers to the Weft Indies, many muft have been tlie objc(5ts of aftonifliment, and in fonic refpefls of terror, even before the appearance of land ; fuch as the \'ariation of the compafs, the regularity of the winds, the watcr-fpout, and other pha'noniena; of theexiftcnceof which they were previoufly iinapprized. It is in fuch cafes that terror exerts its power over the nnind with uncontronlable afcendancy ; for reafon and rcfleftion can furnifti no ar- gument to opyofe to its progrtCs. Columbus in truth found himftlf amidft a new creation. What, for inftance, could have more ftron^ly exci»^ed ciiriofity than the firft fight of that wonderful little animal thefying fijii f Who would have believed that the natives of the deep had power to quit their watery element, and fly aloft with the birds of the air ! It Mas an era of miracles, and confuiering the propenfity of mankind to magnify whnt truly is ftrant.e, the modefty difplayed by Columbus in fpeaking of his entei prifes and difcovcries, and the ftri(5l adherence to truth which he ap- pears on all occnfions to have manifefted, form a very dif- tinguifliing feature in his characfter. In general the travel- lers of thofe days not only reported wonderful things which never exifted, but fometimes even really believed what they reported. In 151a John Ponce de Leon, a Spaniard of diftindion (as we are informed by Herrera) actually took a voyage " \% a '* Kinj « difcl " nami " navij " and f " fo lim *• the be " beJIifl] ** gives a " birds a " tifuJ. J had a " here tli ft « «( i{ WEST INDIES. i^OR did thcfe promifing territories difappoiiit expciflation on a nearer fearch and more accurate infiMidion. Columbus, wliofc veracity has never been fufpcdcd, fpcaks of their beauty and ferti- lity in terms of tlic higheft admiration : " There " is a river (he obfervos in one of his letters to King Ferdinand written from Cuba) which difchargcs itfclf into the harbour that I have named Porto Santo, of fufficient depth to be navigable. I had the curiofity to found it, " and found it eight fathom. Yet the water is " fo limpid, that I can eafily difcern the fand at " the bottom. The banks of this river are cm- " belliflied with lofty palm-trees, whofc (hade ** gives a delicious frefhnefs to the air j and the " birds and the flowers are uncommon and beau- " tiful. I was fo delighted with the fcene, that " I had almoft come to the refolution of flaying ** here the remainder of my days 3 for believe voyage to Florida for the purpofeof bathing in the River 5»«//»/, u-hich he had been told and believed would reftore him to youth, like the cauldron of Medea. IT we laugh at the cre- dulity of this old man, what fliall we fay to our own learned countryman Sir Walter Raleigh, who fixty years afterwards, ia th^ hiftory of his voyage to Guiana, gives an account of a nation w/io viere dorn -xilhout headiy and vihofe eyes viere placed in their fiouUkrs. Raleigh does not indeed pretend that he had feen any of thefe ftrange people himfelf, but he repeats what lie had heard from others with a gravity and folemnity which evince that he ferioufly believed their exiftence. See his account of Guiana in Hakluyt's CoUedtion, vol. ii. Vol. I. C « me, »r I \ 1 \-\ V I 1 i k J 4 I! \ hi V I. r »■'•' i ' 1 !" ■ 1 ■ 'i' \ h 'Ji i8 HISTORY 6f the M u u *t I( me, Sire, thefe countries far furpafs all the " reft of the world in beauty and conveniency ; and I have frequently dbferved to my people, that, with all my endeavours to convey to your Majefty an adequate idea of the charm- ing objedls which continually prefent them- " felvcs to our view, the defcription will fall •* greatly (hort of the reality.** How ill informed, or prejudiced, are thoCe writer", therefore, who, afFedling to difbelieve, or endeavouring to palliate, the enormities of the Spanifli invaders, reprefent thefe once delightful (pots, when firft difcovered by Columbus, to have been fo many impenetrable and unhealthy dcferts ! It is true, that after the Spaniards, in the courfe of a few bloody years, had extermi- nated the ancient and rightful poffeflbrs, the earth, left to its own natural fertility, beneath the influence of a tropical fun, teemed with noxious vegetation. Then, indeed, the faireft of thefe iflands became fo many frightful folitudos; impervious and unwholefome. Such was the condition of Jamaica when wrefted from the Spanifh Crown in 1655, and fuch is the condi- tion of great part of Cuba and Porto Rico at this day : for the Infinitely wife and benevolent Governor of the univerfe, to compel the exer- tion of thofe faculties which he has given us, has ordained, that by human cultivation alone, • the fmj Dr. 1 " mates," Officer who affords a ftr " (fays the " country al " furroiindec " vvith flime. that our tor, " "'tingttfjhtd Pat I. p. ^^ 1/ WEST INDIES. ^wU' I. tlie earth becomes the proper habitation of chap. man fmj. But as the Weft Indian Iflands in their an- cient ftate were not without culture, fo neither were they generally noxious to health. The plains or favannas were regularly fown, twice in the year, with that fpecies of grain which is now well known in Europe by the name of Turkey Wheat. It was called by the Indians Mahez, or Maize, a name it ftill bears in all the Iflands, and does not require very laborious cultivation. This however conftituted but a part only, and not the moft confiderable part, of the vegetable food of the natives. As thefe countries were at the fame time extremely populous, both the hills and the vallies (of the fmaller iflands eipecially) were neceflTarily cleared of underwood, and the trees which remained afforded a Ihade that was cool, airy, and delicious. Of thefe trees fome, as Cm) Dr. Lind, in liis " Eflay on the Dlfeafes of Hot Cli- " mates," has prefervcd an extra^'ta, is defcri! The tig But fuch J» Mal^ba is the ife the ^fed to . men* lit 200 Theft in oelieve, ) feet in hout an ^ebanon to it in ng ve^e- e among le foliage liifter, of iftal, and mds into From the ;rminating graceful ; in, large at ion of the WEST INDIES. blage of majeftick columns, fupporting a ver- dant canopy, and excluding the fun, without impeding the circulation of the air. Thus the fhade, at all times impervious to the blaze, and refreflied by the diurnal breeze, affords, not merely a refuge from occafional inconveniency, but a mod wholefome and delightful retreat and habitation. Such were thefe orchards of the Sun, and woods of perennial verdure; of a growth un- known to the frigid clime and lefs vigorous foil of Europe; for what is the oak compared to the cedar or mahogany, of each of which the trunk frequently meafures from eighty to ninety feet from the bafe to the limbs ? What European foreft has ever given birth to a flem equal to that of the ceiba f'oy', which alone, fimply ren- dered concave, has been known to produce a boat capable of containing one hundre j per- fons ? or the flill greater fig, the fovere';'-* of the vegetable creation, — itfelf a forelt (p) \ The (0) Tlie wild cotton tree. (p) This monarch of tae woods, whofe empire extends over Afia and Africa, a well as the tropical parts of Ame- rica, is defcribed by our divine Poet with greav exaftnefs; The fig-tree, not that kind for fruit renown'd, But fuch as at this day to Indians known lii MaUbar and Decan, fpreads her arms, C 3 Brandling •» / I ' a ll^'fl ii i Ml 1 t ' p \i ^ jtt HtSTORY OF THE The majeftick fcenery of thefe gigantick groves was, at the fame time, enlivened by the lingular forms of fome, and the furprifing beauty of oiheis of the inferior animals which pofleffed and peopled them. Although thefe will be more fully defcribed in the lequel, a few obfervations which at prefent occur to me, will, I hope, be forgiven. If it be true, as it hath been affer ted, that in mofl of the regions of the torrid zone, the heat of the fun is, as it were, refledted in the untamcable fierccr.efs of their wild beafts, and in the exalted rage and venom of the nu- merous ferpents with which they are infefted, the Sovereign Difpofer of all things has regarded the Iflands of the Weft Indies with peculiar fa-. Branching fo broad and long, that in tl;e ground The bearded twigs take root, and daughters grow Above the mother tree, a pillar\l Jhade, Hi^hovei-arc}Cd,an.l ecJioiiig tualks btlioeen! Paradife Loft, Book IX. And with ftlil greater precifion by Qui/ifus Curtius (who, in this inftance at leal, is not fabulous): Sylva erant ptcpe im- men/um fpatlum d'lffufce^ procerifque ct in eximiam alliluJhiem edit if arboribus umbrrftc Plerique rami injlnr ingentium Jiipi- tumfl'-xi in humtini, rurfus, qua fe cutvuverunt erii^ebantur, aJco ut /pedes rjjit nin rami re/utgfntis,/td arboris exfua radice gene- ratig. It is called in the Eaft Indies the banyan-tree. Mr. Marfden g'vcs t e following Account of the dimenfions of on'-, near Manjee, twenty miles weft of I'atna in Bengal: Diamtter, 563 to 375 fctt; circua.i^erence of the fliadow at noon, H16 feet; circ.imference of the feveral ftems, in number fifty or fixty.gai ket. Hift. Sumatra, p. 131. vour i WEST INDIES. .. 23 rourj inafmuch as their ferpents are wholly chap. deftitute of poifon (q)^ and they poffefs no '• animal of prey, to defolate their vallies. The crocodile, or aUigator, is indeed fometimes difco- . ' -; V . • . -. .: vered (q) I fay this on the authority of Brown, Charlevoix, and Hughes (of whom the firft compiled the Hiftory of Jannaica, the lecond that of Hifpaniola, and the laft that of Barbadoes) —on the teftimony of many gentlemen who have refided in feveral of the Windward Iflands — and on my own experience during a refidence of eighteen years in Jamaica. In that time I neither knew nor heard of any perfon being hurt from the bite of any one fpecies of the numerous fnakes or lizards known in that ifland. Some of the fnakes I hare myfelf handled with perfeft fecurity. I conclude, therefore, (not- withftanding the contrary aflertion of Du Tertre refpefting Martinico and St. Lucia) that all the Iflands are providen. tiaily exempted from this evil. Neverthelefs it muft be ad- mitted, that the circumftance is extraordinary ; inafmuch as every part of the continent of America, but cfpecially thofe provinces which lie under the Equator, abound ii; a high de- gree with ferpents, whofe bite is mortal. ■ Dr. Bancroft, in his Account of Guiana, gives a dreadful lill of fuch as are found in that extenfive country ; and, ia fpeaking of one, of a fpecies whicli he calls the fmall labarra, makes mention of a negro who was unfortunately bit by it in the finger. The negro had but juft time to kill the fnake, when his limbs became unable to fupport him, and he fell to the ground, and expired in lefs than five minutes.— —Dr. Dancer, in his Hiftory of the Expedition from Jamaica to Fort Juan on the Lake of Nicaragua, in 1780, which he attended as phyfician, relates the following circumftance: A fnake hanging from the bough of a tree bit one of the foldiers, as he pafled along, juft under the orbit of the left eye; from whence the poor man felt fiich intenfe pain, that he was unable to proceed: and when a meflengcr was fent to him a few hours afterwards, C 4 he n-^1 l:^fi 4'il "< ^^'i!, «4 HISTORY OF THE vered on the banks of their rivers j but not with* ftanding all that has been faid of its fierce and favage difpofition, I pronounce it, from my own knowledge, a cautious and timid creature, avoid- ing, with the utmoft precipitation, the approach of man. The reft of the lizard kind are per- fectly innocent and inoffenfive. Some of them are even fond of human fociety. They em* bellifli our walks by their beauty, and court our attention by gentlenefs and frolick ; but their kindnels, I know not why, is returned by averfion and difguft. Anciently tlie woods of almoft all the equatorial parts of America a- bounded with various tribes of the fmaller monkey, a fportive and lagacious little creature, which the people of Europe feem llkewife to have regarded with unmerited deteftation j for they hunted them down with fuch barbarous afllduity, that in feveral of the iflands every {pe- cics of them has been long fince exterminated. Of the feathered race too, many tribes have now nearly dcferted thpfe fliores where poliflied man he was found dead, witli all the fymptoms of putrcfaAIon, a yellow iiefs and iwelling over his whole body; and the eve near to which he was bitten, wholly dilfolved. This cir- cuisii'ance was confirmed to me by General Kemble, who commanded in cb ef on that expedition. It may not be ufe- lefs to add, that thole ferpents which are venomous are fur- iiillied with fangs Ibmewhat refembling the tulks of a boar ; they are moveable, and inl'ertcU io the upper jaw. deliglits myi [lights WEST INDIES." delights in fpreading univerfal and capricious deftrudion. Among thefe, one of the moft re^ markable was the flamingo, an elegant and prince-, ly bird, nearly as large as the fwan, and arrayed in plumage of the brighteft fcarlet. Numerous, however, are the feathered kinds, defervedly dif. tinguiflied by their fplendour and beauty, that fbill animate thefe fylvan receffes. The parrot, and its various affinities, from the maccaw to the parroquet, fome of them not larger than a fparrow, are too well known to require defcrip- tion. Thefe are as plentiful in the larger iHands of the Weft Indies as the rook is in Europe. But the boaft of American groves is doubtlefs the colibry, or humming bird j of the brilliance of whofe plumage no combination of words, nor tints of the pencil, can convey an adequate idea. The confummate green of the emerald, the rich purple of the amethyft, and the vivid flame of the ruby, all happily blended and enveloped beneath a tranfparent veil of waving gold, are diftinguilhable in every fpecies, but ditferently arranged and apportioned in each. Nor is the minutenefs of its form loll; the objedt of admiration, than the luftre of its plumage; the fmalieft fpecies not exceeding the fize of a beetle, and appearing the link which connefts the bird and infedl creation. It has been obferved, however, that al- though as i i !' 1,'., 1, 1 w 'M ii f, I |!i 1^ ! i 300 K I. * * ^foun- tains. HISTORY OF THE though nature is profufe of ornament to the biris of the torrid zone, flie has beftowed far greater powers of melody on thofe of Europe ; and the obfervation is partly true. That pro- digaHty and variety of mufick which in the vernal (eafon enlivens the Britiih groves, is cer- tainly unknown to the fliades of the tropical re- gions J yet ?re not thefe altogether filent or in- harmonious. The note of the mockbird is de- fervcdly celebrated, while the hum of myriads of bufy infeds, and the plaintive melody of the innumerable variety of doves abounding in thefe climates, form a concert, which, if it ferves not^ to awaken the fancy, contributes at leaft to footh the afFedions, and, like the murmuring of a rivulet, gives harmony to repofe. But, refigning to the naturalift th? tafk of minutely delcribing the fplendid aerial tribes of thefe regions, whofe variety is not lefs remarkable than their beauty, I now return from thefe, the fmallefl and moffc pleafmg forms of adivc hfe, to the largeft and moll awful objcds of inanimate nature. The tranfition is abrupt ; but it is in the magnitude, extent, and elevation of the moimtnins of the Ncv/ World, that the Al- mighty has mofl flrikingly manifefled the won- ders of his omnipotence. Thofe of South Ame- rica are ruppofed to be nearly twice the height of the higheft in the ancient hemifphere, and, even the far )pei pro- i the cer- alre- 3r in- isde- lyriads of the n thefe ves not^ eaft to muring l9ve, WEST INDIES. even under the equator, have their tops Involved in everlafling fnow. To thofe maffivc piles, the loftiefl fummits of the moft elevated of the Weft Indian Iflands cannot indeed be compared j but fome of thefe rife, neverthelefs, in amazing gran- deur, and are among the firfl objedls that fix the attention of the voyager. The mountains of Hifpuniola in particular, whofe wavy ridges are defcried from fea at the diftance of thirty leagues, towering far above the clouds in ftu- pendous magnificence, and the blue mountains of Jamaica, have never yet, that 1 have heard, been fully explored. Neither curiofity nor ava- rice has hitherto ventured to invade the topmoft of thofe lofty regions. In fuch of them as are acceflible, nature is found to have put on the appearance of a new creation. As the climate changes, the trees, the birds, and the infefts are feen alfo to differ from thofe which are met with below. To an unaccuflomed fpe&ator, looking down from thofe heights, the whole fcene appears like enchantment. The firft obje<5t which catches the eye at the dawn of day, is a vaft expanfe of vapour, covering the whole face of the vallies. Its boundaries being perfectly diftindt and vifibly circumfcribed, it has the exaft refem- blance of an immenfe body of water; whilft the mountains appear like fo many illands in the midft of a beautiful lake. As the fun increafes 4, in 1 i i t^li , f 1 1:^ f \M •I i 1 ■'' 1 f '■: 1. ■, 1 ■ 1 i ■ \ I 'U: ^i R, r: ■' '.I 4 71 1 It tilillS, &c. ^1 HISTORY OF THE in force, the profpcA varic-- • the incumhenb vapours fly upward, and nicii 1:^10 air; difclof- ing all the beauties of nature, and the triumphs of induftry, heightened and embellilhed by the full blaze of a tropical fun. In the equatorial feafon, fcencs of ftill greatei magnificence fre- quently prcfcnt themfelves j for, while all is calm and ferene in the higher regions, the clouds are feen below fv/ecping along the fides of the moun- tains in vaft bodies j until growing more ponde- rous by accumulation, they fall at length in torrents of water on the plains. The found of the tcmpeft is diilindly heard by the fpeftator above ; the diftant lightning is feen to irradiate the gloom; while the thunder, reverberated in a thoufand echoes, rolls far beneath his feet. But, lofty as the tropical mountains generally are, it is wonderfully true, that all the known parts of their fummits furnifli inconteftible evi- dence that the Tea had once dominion over them. Even their appearance at a diftance af- fords an argument in fupport of this conclufion. Their ridges referable billows, and their various inequalities, inflexions, and convexities, feem juflly afcribable to the fluduatioq? of the deep^ As in other countries too, marine fliells are found in great abundance in various parts of thefe heights. I have feen on a mountain in the interior parts of Jamaica petrified oyfters dug up. minut( Weftcn be foui Weft 1 Conjedl jeds hi ofphyf] mentior origin c to the r; the mou maintair and that Were ere; to the fo AJmight^ tcrranean one part promont( terwards and happi Al/L t ever, in t •iias under vulfions a *iie hand {rj Go " "WEST INDIES. tj{>, which pcrfcdily rcfcmblcd, in the moft minute circumftances, the large oyfters of the weftcrn coafl: of England ; a fpecies not to be found at this time, I bcl/ieve, in the feas of the Weft Indies. Here then, is an ample field for conjedlurc to expatiate in j and indeed few fub- jcdts have afforded greater cxercil( lo the pens of phyfical wrhers, than the api v nces 1 have mentioned. Wiiile fome philofoi ITign the origin of all the various inequalities of tlic earth to the ravages of the deluge, others, confidcring the mountains as the parents of fprings and rivers, maintain that they are coeval with the world ; and that, firft emerging from the abyfs, they were created with it. Some again afcribe them to the force of volcanoes and earthquakes : " the Almighty," fay they, " while he permits fub- terranean fires to fwallow up cities and plains in one part of the globe, caufes them to produce promontories and illands in another, which af- terwards become the fruitful feats of induftry and happinefs (r).** All thefe and other theorifts concur, how- ever, in the belief that the furface of the globe lias undergone many furprifmg and violent con- •vulfions and changes fince it firfl came from the hands of the Creator. Hills have funk «9 CHAP. I. (r) Goldfmith*s Hlftory of the Earth, &c. vol. i. mto 1 1 I ^1 :l I 'I ! i|!||!v ^, <^.^' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 IfKai I.I 2.5 ^ Ui |2.2 ^ — iyii2.o i I. IL25 i 1.4 I 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WIST MAIN STRUT WIBSTIR.N.Y. 14580 (716)S72-4S03 l^T^ ,4> o^ JO HISTORY OF THE into plains, and vallies have been exsllted into hills. Refpedting the numerous iilands of the Weft Indies, they are generally confidered as the tops of lofty mountains, the eminences of a great continent, converted into iilands by a tremen* dous concuilion of nature, which, increafing the natural courfe of the ocean from Eaft to Weftj , has laid a vaft extent of level country under water (f). But, notwithftanding all that has been writ*' ten on this fubjedt, very litle feems to be known. The advocates of this fyftem do no*: fufficiently confider, that the fea could not have covered fo great a portion of land on one fide of the globe, without leaving an immenfe fpace as fuddenly dry on the other. We have no record in hiftory of fo mighty a revolution, nor indeed are many of the premiies on which this hypo- thefis is built, eftablilhed in truth. Origin. pERHAPS, inftead of confidering thefe iilands as the fragments of a defolated continent, we ought rather to regard them as the rudiments of a new one. It is extremely probable, that many of them, even now, are but beginning to emerge from the bofom of the deep. Mr. Buffon has (hewn, by incontrovertible evidence, that the bottom of the fea bears an exaft refemblance >-i. (/) See L'Abb^ Raynal, Vk\^hi Pluche, and others. to i.: W£ST INDIES. )| to the land which we inhabit; confifting, chap. like the earth, of hills and vallies, plains and hollows, rocks, lands and foils of every con- fidence and fpecies. To the motion of the waves, and the fediments which they have depofited, he imputes too, with great pro- bability, the r^ular pofitions of the various ftrata or layers which compofe the upper parts of the earth ; and he (hews that this arrangement cannot have been the efTedfc of a fudden revo-^ lution, but of caufes flow, gradual, and fuCi* ceffive in their operations. To the flow of tides and rivers, depofiting materials which have been accumulating ever fince the creation, and the various fluduations of the deep operating thereon, he afcribes therefore, moH of thofe ine- qualities in the prefent appearance of the globe which in fome parts embelliih, and in others (to our limited view, at lead) deface it. Pursuing this train of thought, we may be led perhaps to confider many of the, moft terrifying appearances of nature, as neceflary and propitious in the formation and fupport of the fyftem of the world j and even in volcanoes and earthquakes (of which moft of thefe iflands bear evident memorials) we may trace the ftupendous j^ency of divine providence, employed, as man- kind increafe'in numbers, in raifing up from the bottom of the deep new portions of land for their habitations and comfort. These > ' -"SB i-i ^1-1 1 s« ^ 1'; ? I HISTORY OF THfi These confiderations are founded in jJietyj and feem confonant to reafon ; and although in contemplating the tremendous phenomena which the rtiountains of South America, beyond all other parts of the globe, prefent to our no- tice {t)y and reflefting on the devaftations which they fpread, human reafon will fometiiiies Hnd itfelf perplexed and difmayed, may we not by analc^ conclude, that the Almighty, uniform in his purpofes, is equally wife and benevolent in all hisdifpenfationSi thotigh the fcale on Which he ads is fometimes too large for the fpan of our limited and feeble comprehenfion ? They who feem beft qualified to contemplate the works of the Deity, will moft readily acknowledge that it is not for man to unfold the page of Omnipo* tence. Happy if to confcious ignorahce we add humble adoration ! ftj " Of all parts of th* earth America is the place where the dreadfiil irregularities of nature are the n.oft confpicuous, Vefuvius, and Etna itfelf, are but mere fireworjis m com- parifon to the burning mountains of the Andes, which» as they are the higheft mountains in the world, fo alfo are they the moft formidable for their eruptions."— —Goldfmith'g Hiftory of the Earth, &c. vol. i. p. 99. It is related, that a volcanick explofion A'om Cotofaxi, a mountain in the province of Q2^ito, has been heard at th« dilUnce of 150 miles. CHAK H 'i- I I I WEST INDIES. n C H A p. II. 0/ the Ckaraihs, or ancient hhabttants of the Windward IJIands.--- Origin. — Difficulties at- tending an accurate inveJiigatioH of their charac- ter. — Such particulars related as are leafl dif^ putedy concerning their manners and difpofitionSf perfons and domejlick habits, education of their children, arts, matiufaEiUres and governmenty re- ligious ritesy funeral ceremonieSy &Ci — Some re- fte6lions drawn frorh the whole* JCTAVitTG thus given ati accounC of the cli- mate and feafons, arid endeavoured to cottvey to the reader fomc faint idea of the beauty and magnificence "with which the hand of Nature anayed the funace of thefe numdrous Iflands, I Ihall now proceed to enquire after thofe inha- bitants to whofe fupport and conveniency they were chiefly found fubfervient, when they firft came to the knowledge of Europe. It hath been obferved in the preceding chapter that Columbus, on his firft arrival at Hifpaniola, received information of a barbarous and warlike people, a nation of Cannibals, who frequently made depredations ort that, and the neighbouring Iflands. They were called Carib' bees, or Charaibes, and were reprefented as com- VoL. I. D ing tSfi 14 ;■ i s,: ;: w II HISTORY OF THE ing from the taft. Columbus, in his fccond voyage, difcovered that they were the inhabitants of the Windward Iflands. The great difference in langu^e and cha- rader between thefe favs^es and the inhabitants of Cuba, Hirpaniola»# Jamaica, arid Porto-Rico, hath given birth to an opinion that their origin alfo was different. Of this there feems indeed to be but little doubt j but the queftion from whence each clafs of Iflands was firft peopled, is of more difficult folution. Rochefort, who publilhed his account of the Antilles in 1658, pronounces the Charaibes to have been originally a nation of Flo- rida, in North America. — He fuppofes that a co- lony of the Apalachian Indians having been driven from that continent, arrived at the Windward Iflands, and exterminating the ancient male in- habitants, took poffeflion of their lands and their women. Of the larger iflands he prefumes that the natural flrength, extent and population affording fecurity to the natives, thefe happily efcaped the dellruftion which overtook their unfortunate neighbours; and thus arofe the diftinftion obfervable between the inhabitants of the larger and fm'aller iflands faj. Ca) Rochefort Hiftoire des Ifles AntUIes, IiV. ii. c. vii. See alfo, P. Labat noi&veau Voyage aux Ifles de L'Ame- riqiie, torn. iv. c. xv. To .1^ .-iu (cj (dj (O WfiSt INDIES. ^0 this account of the origin of the Infular Chanubes, the generality of hiftorians have given their aflent ; but there are doubts attend- ing it that are not eafily folved. If they mi- grated from Florida^ the imperfeilH: (late and na< tiiral courfe of their navigation, induce a belief that traces of them would have been found on thofe iflands \^ich are near to the Florida Shore; yet the natives of the Bahamas, when dif- covered by Colurtibus, were evidently a fimilar people to thofe of Hifpaniola {kj. Befides, it is fufliciently known that there exifled anciently many numerous and powerful tribes of Cha- raibes, on the fouthern Peniniula, extending from the river Oronoko to Eflequebe, and throughout the whole province of Surinam, even to Brafil } fome of Which flill maintain their independency. It was with one of thole tribes that our countryman Sir Walter Raleigh formed an alliance, when that commander made his ro- mantick expedition to the coaft of Guiana in t$^$(c) i and by him we are aflured that the Charaibes of that part of the Continent, fpoke the language of Dominica (d). I incline there- fore to the opinion of Mzrtyt (ej, and con* fi) Herrera, lib. ik. chap, iip (cj Bancroft's Hiftaiy of Guiaaa, p. 259* (JJ Hakluyt, vol. iii* p. 668. (ej P. Martyr, Decad. a. lib. i. D 3. dude St * ; 'I ('I. I ■,Mfl * » ■:■.. t'Vrn t t !i mm If I i 1111 I :'-i''i! 1 !V ■: I If f H i ^' M m li HISTORY OF THE elude that the iilandeis were rather a Colony from the Charaibes of South America, than from any nation of the North. Rochefort admits that their own traditions referred conftantly to Gui- ana (/J. It does not appear th^t they enter- tained the mod remote idea of a Northern anceftry. It may be thought, perhaps, that the Con- tinental Charaibps were themfelves emigrants from the Northern to the Southern Peninfula : but, without attempting to controvert the po- fition to which recent difcoveries feem indeed to have given a full confirmation, namely, that the Afiatick Continent firft furnifhed inhabitants to the contiguous North-Weftern parts of America, I conceive the Charaibes to have been a diftinft race, widely differing from all the Nations of the New Hemifphere ; tind I am even inclined to adopt the opinion of Hornius and other writers, who afcribe to them an oriental an- ceftry from acrofs the Atlantick fgj. (f) Rochefort, liv. ii. c. vii. See alfo, Note 94, to Dr. Robertfon's Hiftory of America. The people called Gallhis^ mentioned by Dr. R. are the Charaibes of the Continent, the term Galib'u or Calibis (as it is written by Du Tertre) being, as I conceive, corrupted from Caribbee, Vide Lafitau, tora.i. p. 297. and Du Tertre, torn. ii. p. 360. (g) Some arguments in fupport of this opinion are fub- joincd in the Appendix to Book I. ivu , ^ M. Enquiries El mote fucGe laws, thofe* moftc our kr Ofap from ii i^'ff op thofe w ^arche; and hal cifion. have be from th length 1 they Joft, their orig the defirc minds. derful chi theChara ened j 411 have zott addrefled — " Our J i^iii (f^) WEST INDIES. Enquiries however into the origin of a re- mote and unlettered race, can be profecuted with fuccefs only by comparing their ancient manners, laws, language, and religious ceremonies with thofe of other nations. Unfortunately, in all or moft of thofe particulars refpeAing the Charaibes, our knowledge is limited within a narrow circle. Of a people engaged in perpetual warfare, hunted from ifland to ifland by revenge and rapacity, few opportunities could have offered, even to thofe who might have been qualified for fuch re- fearches, of inveftigating the natural difpofitions and habitual cutloms with minutenefs and pre- cifion. Neither indeed could a jufl eftimate have been formed of their national character, from the manners of fuch of them as were at length fubjugated to the European yoke; for they loft, together with their freedom, many of their original chariadleriftieks -, arid at laft ev6h the defire of a(5ting from the iiiipulfe of their owi minds. We difeern, fays Rocliefort (AJt a won- derful change in the difpofitions and habits of the Charaibes. In fome relpedts we have enlight- ened } ^1 others (to our fhame be it fpoken) we have corrupted them. An old Charaibe thlSiS addreffed one of our planters on tliis fubjeft : — *^ Our people," ho complained, " wre become ♦* alftioft a& hid as yours.-^We arcj lb much sr t^A (h) Rochefort, liir. ii. ch. ix. p. 43d. " altered ^ :i i ■ , u Ii .til II , • ;ih ■ii ■H 38 r mi HISTORY OF THE ** altered finge you came among us, that we ** hardly know ourfelves, and we think it ik ** owing tQ fo melancholy a change, that hurri- ** canes are more frequent than they were for* " merly. It is the evil fpirit who has done ** all this, — who has taken our befl lands from *' us, and given us up to the dominion of the « Chriftians (ij," Mv pref^nt inveftigation mud therefore be neceflarily defcftivc. Neverthelefs, by felefting and combining fuch memorials as are lead con- troverted, I (hall hope to exhibit a few ftriking particulars in the charader of this ill-fated peo^ pie, which, if I miftake not, will lead to fome important conclufions in the ftudy of human natyr?, (ij This extnA from Rochefort is furelya fufficient an- fwertothe obfervationsofMonf. deCiianvalon,who wrote fo late as 1751, and, judging of all the Charaibes from the few with whom he had any communication, reprefents them as not pofleffing any fagacity or forefight beyond mtre animal inftinft. He makes no allowance for tAei,r degradation in a fiate of captivity and fervitude, although in another part of his book, fpeaking of the African blacks in the Weft Indies, he dwells ftrongly on this circumftance refpedting the latter. " Peut on connoitre (he obferves) ** ^e vrai genie d'un peuple opjirim^, qui voit fans cefle les *' chatimens leves fur fa tete, et la violence toujours prSte i *' £tre foutenue par la politique et la fdiret^ publique i Peut ** on juger ^e la valeur, quand elle eft enchain^e, et fam ** armees?"— Voyage a la Martinique, p. 58. », Theih 1 have not 1 tingi tcrpr tiered there for th of fuel into t] to oui the Jai tountr phers < toryof A and Jfabe, and frien< very of th ** men, an " A Span " the fleet •' with the " raibes fe " began t " though t " and evei •• difficulty *' they con " bows wii ^Herrera 1 •/ 'heiii WEST INDIES. Their fierce fpirit and warlike difpofition have already been mentioned. Hiftorians have not failed to notice thefe, among the mod dit- tinguilhable of their qualities ^^^ — Reftlcfs,en- terprizing and ardent, it would feem they confi- dered war as the chief end of their creation, and the reft of the human race as their natural prey ; for they devoured without remorfe the bodies of fuch of their enemies (the men at leaP.) as fell into their hands. — ^This cuftom is fo repugnant to our feelings, that for a century paft, until the late difcoveries of a fimilar practice in the countries of the Pacifick Ocean, the philofb- phers of Europe had boldly impeached the ve- (k) Dr. Robfitfon, in note 93 to the firft vol. of his Hif- tory of America, quotas from a MS. Hiftory of Ferdinand and Ifabella, written by Andrew Bernaldes, the cotemporary and friend of Columbus, the following inilance of the bra- very of the Charaibes. '' A canoe with four men, two wo- *' men,andaboy,unexpeAedly fell in Ayith Columbus's fleet. " A Spanifli bark with 2{ men was fent to take them, and " the fleet in the mean time cut otf their communication *' with the fhore. Inftead of giving way to defpair, the Cha- " raibes feized their arms with undaunted refolution, and *' began the attack, wounding feveral of the Spaniards al« '* though they had targets as well as other defenAve armour, '* and even after the canoe was overfet, it was with no little '< di^ci)lty and danger that fome of them were fecured, as *' they continued to defend themfelves, and to ufe their ♦• bows with great dexterity while fwimming in the fea,** ■rlierrera has recorded the fame anecdote. D ^ if^city 59 CHAP. II. « M i '! '• h 1 iv ii Hi s '; 1" ^ •1 1 ■ ' ^ , , 1 jyil ■J ^ ^ '11 HISTORY OF THE racity of the mod emuKnt ancient voyagers who Imd firft recorded the exiftence of it. Even Labat, wK') refided in the Weil Indies at a pe- riod when Tome of the lilands dill remained in poiTefllon of the Charaibes, declares it to be his opinion that indances of this abominable prac- tice among them, were at all times extremely rare} — the eifeft only of a fudden impulfe of revenge arifing from extraordinary and unpro- voked injury ; but that they ever made premedi- tated excurfions to the laiger iilands, for the purpofe of devouring any of the inhabitants, or of feizing them to be eaten at a future time, he very confidently denies f/J. Nevertheless there is no circumdance in the hidory of mankind better atteded than the univerfal prevalence of thefe pradtices among them. Columbus was not only informed of it by the natives of Hifpaniola, as I have al- ready related, but having landed himfelf at Gua- daloupe on its fird difcovery (m), he beheld in feveral cottages the head and limbs of the hu- man body recently feparated, and evidently kept for occafional repads. He releafcd, at the fame time, feveral of the natives of Porto Rico, who, having been brought captives from thence, were CO Labat, torn. iv. p. 328, (mj November 4, 1493, yeferved IT ijV i 1 1 Ith'l ;rved WEST INDIES. 41 referved u vi&uns for the ^me horrid pur- chap. pok fnj. ". Thus hr, it muft be confefTed, the difpofition of the Charaibes leaves no very favourable im- preflion on the mind of the reader ; by whom it is probable they will be confidered rather as beads of prey, than as human beings i and he will think, perhaps, that it was nearly as juf- tifiable to exterminate them from the earth, as it would be to deftroy the fierceft monfters of the wildernefs ; fince they who fliew no mercy, are entitled to no pity,—- But, among themfelves they were peaceable, and towards each other faithful, friendly and af- fedionate ^0^. They confidered allftrangers, in- deed, as enemies j and of the people of Europe Ihey formed a right eftimation. The antipathy which they manifefled towards the unoffending natives of the larger iilands appears extraordina- ry i but it is faid to have defcended to them from their anceftors of Guiana : they confidered thofe iflanders as a colony of Arrowauks, a na- tion of South America, with whom the Charaibes • (nj F. Columbus, cap. xlvi. Peter Martyr, Decad. I. lib. ii. Herrera, lib. ii. cap. vii. See alfo Bancroft's Hiitory of Guiana, p. 359, who is of opinion, that no other tribe of Indians in Guiana eat human flefli but the Charaibes. Amongft thefe, the proof that this pra^lice iWll fubfifls is in« conteftible. /'o^ ]K.ochef()rt, liy. ii. cap. xi. Dq Tertre, torn. ii. p. 359. of* -.1 m ; m ^ itl'I • : I Ii '^ I.!? '-, >1. 4» ■ 1 ■ » HISTORY OF THE K of that continent arc continually at war fp). We can affign no caufc for fuch hereditary and irreconcileable hoftility. With regard to the people of Europe, It is allowed that, whenevCT any of them had acquired their confidence, it was given without referve. Their friendftiip was as warm as their enmity was implacable. The Cha- raibes of Guiana ftill fondly cherifti the tradi- tion of Raleigh's alliance, and to this day pre- ferve the Englilh colours which he left with them at parting fq). Of the loftinefs of their fentiments and their abhorrence of flavery, a writer, not very partial towards them, gives the following illuftration: There is not a nation on earth (fays I^abat) fr) more jealous of their independency thar\ the ** Charaibes They are impatient under the lead infringement of itj and when, at any time, they are witneffes to the relpeft and de- " ference which the natives of Europe obferve ** towards their fuperiors, they defpifeus as abjedl *< flaves J wondering how any man can be fo bafe " as to crouch before his equal." Rochefort, who confirms this account, relates alfo that when kidnapped and carried fi^om their native illands into flavery, as they freqitently were, the mife-r i( « (( ci » ■! |i U & ip) Rochefort, liv. ii. chap* \. p. 449, Cy; Bancroft, p. a 59. .,.. ,j , (>V Inabat, torn. Iv, p. 329.,, '■. ,.;.*■ ^blQ ^ 1; I II. WKST JNPIES. 43 xabli; captives commonly funk un4er a fenfe of chap. their misfortune, a^d finding re(iftance and efcape hopelefs, fought lefuge in death firom the cala- mities of their condition (s). To this principle of confcious equality and jjative dignity, muft be imputed the contempt which they manifefted for the inventions and improvements of civilized life. Of our fire-arms they foon learnt, by fatal expetrience, the fuperi^ ority to their own weapons j and thofe therefore they valued} but our arts and manu£^ures they regarded as we regard the amufements and baubles of children: — hence the propenfity to theft, fo common among other favage nations, was altogether upHnown X9 the Qharaibes. Thp ardour which has been noticed in them for military cnterprize, had a powerful influ- ence on their whole conduct. Engaged in con- tinual wari^re abroad, they feldom appeared chearful at home, R^fledions on pafl mifcar- riage, or anxious fchemes of future achievement, feemed to fill up many of their hours, and ren- dered them habitually thov^ghtful, peufive and i'i •i I ) . ft . iD ^^h (t) Rochefoft, liv, ii. cap. xi, Labat relates that the following fentiment was proverbial among the firft Frenc}* fettlers in the> Windward If^ands:— " RtgarJo de trovers m *' Charaihtt c'tjt k iattre^ tt que de U hattre e'efi le tuer^ o« ** iexfoftr ^jn itrt hii" Labat, tom. ii. p. 74. , I . . *- filent. 'i \\ 4+ w i* HISTORY OF THE filcnt ft). Love itfelf, which exerts its influ- ence in the frozen delcrts of Iceland, main- tained but a feeble dominion over the Cha- raibes fnj. Their infenfibility towards their women, although they allowed a plurality of wives (xjt has been remarked by many writers; and it muft have arifen from extrinfick caufes j — from the predominance of paffions ftrong enough to counteraft the effeds of a climate which powerfully difpofes to voluptuoufnefs, and awa- kens the inftinfts of nature much fooner than colder regions. The prevailing bias of their minds was diftingililhable even in their perfons. Though not fo tall as the generality of Euro- peans, their frame was robufl and mufcular; their limbs flexible and aftive, and there was a penetrating quicknefs, and a wildnefs in their eyes, that feemed an emanation from a jfierce and martial fpirlt fyj. But, not fatisfied with the vvorkmanfhip of nature, they called in the aflift- ance of art, to make themfelves more formidable, (fj Du Tertre, torn. ii. (uj Rochefort, c. xi. fxj Iblfi. c. xxii. O) Ovicdo, lib. iii. This agrees llkewife with the Chp- valier Pinto's account of the Brafilians in note 42 to vol. I of Dr. Robertfon's Hiftory. " At the firft afpeft a Soii- " them American appears to be mild and innocent, but, on " a more attentive view, one difcovers in his countenance " fometliing wild^ diftriiftful and fuUcn," They They To ex whicl eafily crimU ing tl haps againf pical briiliai but th their j alone, \ adopt. incifion with bl; circles 1 rated th inferted ther, or frightful New H( teeth of in battle as trophi fx) Ro< (^J Ro< Du Tertre aj Hav CcJ Gun Ihey WEST INDIE S. They painted their faces and bodies with arnotto fo extravagantly, that their natural complexion, which was nearly that of a Spanifti olive, was not eafily to be diilinguifhed under the fur&ce of crimfon (z). However, as this mode of paint- ing themfelves was praftifed by both fexes, per- haps it was at f^rfl introduced as a defence againft the venomous infefts fo common in tro- pical climates, or poffibly they confidered the brilliancy of the colour as highly ornamental j but the men had other methods of deforming their perfons, which mere perverfion of tafte alone, would not, I think, have induced tlnem to adopt. They disfigured their cheeks with deep inciHons and hideous fears, which they flained with black, and they painted white and black circles round their eyes. Some of them perfo- rated the cartil^e that divides the noftrils, and inferted the bone of fome fifli, a parrot's fea- ther, or a fragment of tortoife - lliell (a)^ — a frightful cuftom, pradifed alfo by the natives of New Holland (b)^ and they ftrung together the teeth of fuch of their enemies as they had llain in battle, and wore them on their legs and arms, as trophies of fuccefsful cruelty (c), (a) Rochefort, lib. ii. c. ix. Hakluyt, vol. iii. p. 539. (a) Rochefort, liv. ii. c. ix. Purchas, vol. iv. p. 11 57. Du Tertre, torn. ii. p. 391, 393. (l>) Hawkefworth's Voyages, vol. iii, p. 171. (c) Gumilla, torn. i. p, 193. 45 f 'H'.l ■W ' ': m IV H 11 ■rv - • i ^1 ■».: 7 1 ■ ■ . u , \ ■' ■ i i\ ■; 1 HISTORY OF TttB To draw the bow with unerring Ikill, td wJelcJ the club with dexterity and ftrength, to fwim with agility and boldnefs, to catch fifli and to build a cottage, were acquireiheilts of indifpenfible ne- cefEty^ and the education of their children wa$ well fuited to the attainment of them. One method of making their boys ikilful, even in infancy, in the exercife of the bow, was to fuf- pend their food on the branch of a tree," com- pelling the hardy urchins to pierce it with theif arrows, before they could obtain permiffion to eat (d). But thefe were fubordinate objeds:— The Charaibes inftrufted their youth, at the fame time, in lefTons of patience and fortitude ; they endeavoured to inijpire them with courage in (d) See Rochefort, c. xxviii. p. 555, and Gumilla, torn. ii. p. 285. Their arrows were commonly poifdned, except when they made their military excurfions by night. On thofe occafions, they converted them into inftruments of fliil greater mifchief; for by arming the points with pled* gets of cotton dipt into oil, and fet on flames they fired whole villages of their enemies at a diftance *. The poifon %vhich th^'y ufed, was a concoiElion of noxious gums and vegetable juices f, and had the property of being perfed^ly innocent when received into the ftomach, but if communi- cated immediately to the blood, through the (lighteft wound, it was generally mortal. The Indians of Guiana ftill pre- pare a fimilar poifon. It is fuppofed however, that fugar fpetdily adminiftered in large quantities, is an antidote. (See Relation Ahregie d'un Vtyage^ tsic, far Mm/, de l« Cundamitte; and Bancroft's Hift. of Guiana.) * Rochefort, ch. XX. P. 559, f Oviedo, iib. iii. War, abov( hered venge which fome 1 detefti As world, father'; occafio but he fondly rage wh: means t grew, he barbarit nation, a fat of a i allowed and to fortitude dawn of' trial. H had recei\ wg and portance war. §■ '■{ WEST INDIES. war, and a contempt of dange. and death; — above all things, to infill into their minds an hereditary hatred, and implacable thirft of re- venge towards the Arrowauks* The means which they adopted for thefe purpofes were in fome refpedts fuperftitious ; in others cruel and deteflable. As foon as a male child was brought into the world, he was fprinkled with fome drops of his father's blood. The ceremonies ufed on this occafion were fufficiently painful to the father, but he fubmitted without emotion or complaint ; fondly believing, that the fame degree of cou- rage which he had himfelf difptayed, was by thefe means tranfmitted to his fon (e). As the boy grew, he was , foon made familiar with fcenes of barbarity ; he partook of the horrid repafls of his nation, and he was frequently anointed with the fat of a Slaughtered Arrowauk; but he was not allowed to participate in the toils of the warrior, and to (hare the glories of conqueft, until his fortitude had been brought to the tefl. The dawn of' manhood ufhered in the hour of fevere trial. He was now to exchange the name he had received in his infancy, for one more found- ing and fignificant; — a ceremony of high im- portance in the life of a Charaibe, but always (e) Rochefort, liv. ii. c. xxv, p. 55a. , , accompanied 47 m ii'V li I ■' ! 11^ V t' I cc «« HISTORY OF Tl^E accompanied by a fcene of ferocious fcfiivity and unnatural cruelty (/J, The feverities inflifted on fuch occafions by the hands of fathers on their own children, ex- hibit a melancholy proof of the influence of fu- perftition in fuppreffing the moft powerful feel- ings of nature j but the praftice was not with- out example. - Plutarch records the prevalence of a fimilar cuftom among the Lacedemonians. At Sparta," fays the Hiftorian, " boys arer whipped for a whole day, oftentimes to death, " before the altar of Diana, and there is a won- " derful emulation among them who beft can " fuftain the greateft number of ftripes." Nor did the Charaibe youth, yield in fortitude to the Spartan. If the feverities he fuftained extorted the leaft fymptOm of wcaknefs from the young fufferer, he was difgraced forever; but if he rofe fuperior to pain, and baffled the rage of his per- (ecutors, by perfeverance and ferenity, he receiv- ed the higheft applaufe. He was thenceforth numbered among the defenders of his countr}'-,. and it was pronounced by his relations and' countrymen, iAat he was now a man liki one of them/elves. A PENANCE ftill more fevere, and torments more excruciating; ftripes, burning and fuffb- (f) Rochefort, liv. ii. c. ixiii. p. 556. ii. p. 377. Du Tcrtre, vol. cation. catioj the \ mitta HaviT To th( of aut muft a the we had ta quifite captain folemni put the ftances ' however prefled. If it to be gj be endu that, in ward wa coft of t meafures, return. . fgj RocI: P- izbz. G etfeq. C^O Roch( Vol. I. WEST INDIES. cation, conflituted a tefl for him who afpired to the honour of leading forth his countrymen to vrsafgji for in times of peace the Charaibes ad- mitted of no fupremacy but that of nature. Having no laws, they needed no magiflrates. To their old men indeed they allowed fome kind of authority, but it was at beft ill-defined, and muft at all times have beeninfufficient toproteA the weak againft the ftrong. — In war, experience had taught them that fubordination was as re- quifite as courage ; they therefore elefted their captains in their general aflemblies with great folemnity f^J j but, as hath been obferved, they put their pretenfions to the proof with circum- ftances of outrageous barbarity : — the recital however is difgulling, and may well be fup- prefTed. If it appears ftrange that where fo little was to be gained by preheminence, fo much ihould be endured to obtain it, it mud be confidered that, in the eftimation of the candidate, the re^ ward was doubtlefs more than adequate to the coft of the purchafe. If fuccefs attended his meafures, the feaft and the triumph awaited his return. He exchanged his name a fecond time; CgJ Rochefort, liv. ii. cap. xix. p. 519. Purchas, vol. i\r. p. 1262. Gumilla, torn. ii. p. 286. I^fitau, torn. !• p. 297, etfeq. (/i) Rochefort, ch, xxiil. p. 553, Vol, I. E afluming 4f -' Ii CHAF. ■im II. mm i 1,1 i'* pvwj: |o HISTORY OFTHE BOOK siiTumlng in future that of the mod formidable '• Arrowauk that had fallen by his hand /'/y/. He was permitted to appropriate to himfelf, as many of the captives as he thought fit, and his country- men prefented to his choice the mod beautiful of their daughters in reward of his Valour ^^y. It was probably this laft mentioned teftimony of publick edeem and gratitude that gave rife in thefe lilands to the inditution of polygamy, which, as hath been already obferved, prevailed univerfally among them, and dill prevails among the Charaibes of South America (Ij ;— an indi- tution the more excufable, as their women, from religious motives, carefully avoided the nup- tial intercourfe after pregnancy (mj. I am forry to add, that the condition of thefe poor crea- tures was at the fame time truly wretched. Though frequently bedowed as the prize of fuc- cefsfiil courage, the wife, thus honourably ob- tained, was foon confidered of as little value as the captive. Deficient in thofe qualities which alone were edimable among the Charaibes, the females were treated rather as Haves than companions. They fudained every ipecies of (i) Rochefort, ch. xxiii. p. 553. ' ^ {ij Rochefort, ch. xxii. p, 546* {ij Bancroft, p. 2^4. (mJ Rochefort, ch. xxii. p. 548. Du Tertre, torn. ii. P-374. • " ' drudgery: dn caf han prii ban not than towa raibe amon fird /avag< tJiefe (0) 1 (p)l (q)i bordering lation) tl women t ** ftonlng but I do J as it is evi pothefis, tJ Jews, I ft no trace tl raibes. I before they no eftabiifl " the crimi with other ] injured huH 1 .: .^ /■ ^EST INDIES, hamack /*,) °" ^^ wove the "ot wonderful t; T "'''""<^<-^. « i. towarfs their wives Jl Zj?^',- " """"^"y -ngtheutiSir/rr^-""'- firilvifible proof that f-l^'""''' '"'"he favage mannL. L^l^ P^P ' " *"«'«'»g from ti.e female fcx '^^j"^ '^''^'^^ "f tendernef, toward. («>> Purchas, vol. iV d t,^, t u ^^''on) that the Charaibe o the c .- ""' '°^' ^'■- '""^- ivornen caught i„ adultery hkfl '"'"' ^""''^ ^''='> " ftoning them to dea S ^^eancent Ifraelites, '* by ^"f I clo not find JZ^::X f"''^ f ^'^ ^P'- ' " « 't « evidently brought Wdl/ '"^ °^''" ^'"fer; and Pothefis,thattheAmericlr ."PP°"*''*^«"tWshy. J-.I fufpeathaUnrjJS "o trace that fuch a cuftom I i r"* •■"""* ^^^« '^''^ « «ibes. Rochefort. Sl'f I'T^^ ^^^ '"^"^^r Cha- ^'eforc they had any'iXco^e wii t^ o^' °^^"^«' '''«» "o eftabiifl,ed puniftmeri J, '^" ^^"^'^"^ '^'Y had ".f cri.eitre^l^Xtf't'^',^-^^ ^'^^' ^«^ )^'th other European vices Z-" 7f "^"^'^ *''" "'''^ thi«. ' -i-dhuihandlcaJSoTntr^^^^^^ ^ '""""g^f— I.abat'sreafoning oq f« • if • >l. '1^7 >;> S'l-. ir ! ri. f I' :i;f 'i • H J» % ■f HISTORY OF THE Perhaps a more intimate knowledge (not now to be obtained) would have foftened many of the (hades which thus darken the charafter of thefe illanders, and have difcovered Tome latent properties in their principles and conduft, tending to leflfen, though not wholly to remove, the dif- gufl we naturally feel in beholding human na< ture fo debafed and degraded j but of many par- ticulars wherein curiofity would defire to be gratified, we have no account. We know but little, for inilance, concerning their domeilick ccconomy, their arts, manufactures, and agricul- tuici their fenfe of filial and paternal obliga- tions J their religious rites and funeral ceremonies. Such further information however, in thefe and other refpe(5ts, as authorities the leafl difputable afford, I have abridged in the following detached obfervations. Besides- the ornaments which we have no- ticed to have been worn by both fexes, the women, on arriving at the age of puberty, were diftin- •n this head is too curious to be omitted : " I\ n'y a que les ** feiT^mes qui foient obligees a robbiffance, et dontles *• hommes foient abfolument les maitres. lis portent cctte " fuperiorite jufqu* a I'exces, et les tuent pour des fujets tr therefore, ihf Lronal Inonly and eforc, ihf WEST IK DIES. TnBY refided in villages vvliich refetnbl^d liti European encampment j for their cabins were built of poles fixed circularly in the grcjnd, and drawn to a point at the io^(b). They weft then covered with lekves of the palm-tree. In iht centre of each village was a building of fupe-* rior magnitude to the reft. It was formed with great labour, and ferved as a publick hall or (tat^ houfe (c)y wherein we are affured that the rtieh (excluding the Women) had their meals in com- mon J " obferving that law" ((kith the Eatl of Cumberland, who viHted thefe lilands in 1596) " which in Lycurgus's mouth was thought " ftrange and needlefs (d):* Thefe halls wert alfo the theatres where their youth were anirtiatfcd to emulation, and trained to martial eriterpriw by the renown of their warriors, and thtf ha- rangues of their orators. Their arts and mantifadtufes, though feW, difplayed a degfee of ingenuity, Urhich one would have fcarcely expefted to find amongft a people fo little removed from a ftate of mere animal na- ture, as to reje(^ all drefs as fuperfluous. )5 v the Indian cuilom of depre(Gng the tsfrmtis and the occiput, was originally meant to allift the operation of nature in elof- xng the fkull. r^) P. Martyr, decad. i. lib. ii. (c) Ibid. Rochefort, liv. ii. c. xvi. Lafitau, torn. ii« p. 8. ^M: ! ! )i H l( I ; 1. i 'I. ' \ w 'I I : '! 4, s» F '!:■: ». W 9 1 i BOOK I. HISTORY OF THE Jumbus obferved an abundance of (ubftantial cotton cloth in all the iflands which he vifited ; and the natives polTeiTed the art offtainingit with various colours, though the Charaibes de- lighted chiefly in red fej. Of this cloth they made hammocks, or hanging beds, fuch as are now ufed at feaj — ^for Europe has not only co- pied the pattern, but prelerved alfo the original namtf/J. They poiTelTed likewife the art of making veflels of clay for domcftick ufes, which they baked in kilns like the potters of Europe. The ruins of many of thefe kilns were vifible not long fince in Barbadoes, where fpecimens of the ma- nufafture are ftill frequently dug up j and Mr. Hughes, the hiftorian of that ifland, obferves, that they far furpafs the earthern ware made by the negroes, in thinnefs, fmoothnefs and beau- ty (sJ' Befides thofe, they invented various other utenfils for (economical purpofes, which . , ^ej Labat, torn. ii. p. 40. . C/J All the early Spanifh and French writers exprefsly aflert, that the original Indian name for their fwinging beds was amackf or hamack ;-^but Dr. Jobnfon derives the Englilh word hammock ftora the Saxon. (g) Nat. Hift. of Barbadoes, p. 8. Ligon, who vifited this ifland in 1647, declares that fome of thefe vetTels, which he faw, even furpafled any earthern-ware made in England *« both" (to ufe his own words) «* in finefle of mettle, and <• curiofity of turninge." • ^ arc *, lare WEST INDIES. ate enumerated by Labat. The bafkets which they comTH)fed of the fibres of the palmeto leaves, we. fingularly elegant, and we are told that their bows and arrows, and other weapons, difplayed a neatnefs and polifh, which the moil fkilful European artifl would have found it dif- ficult to have excelled, even with European tools. J Of the nature and extent of their agriculture the accounts are flender and unfatisfaftory. We are told, on good authority, that among the Charaibes of the Continent, there was no divifion of land, every one cultivating in proportion to his exigencies (h). Where no criminal jurifdic- tion is eftabliftied, the idea of private property muft neceffarily be unknown or imperfed i and in thefe iflands where land is fcarce, it feems probable that, as among fome of the tribes of South America ^/^, cultivation was carried on by the joint labour of each feparate community, and their har\'efts depofited in publick granaries, whence each family received its proportion of the publick ftock. — Rochefort indeed obferves, that all their interefts ;yJ Lafit 4 I* "uj ttyt- I Itom. u WEST INDIES, firfl fon the father retired to his bed, and faded with a ftridnefs that often endangered life fo), Lafitau, obferving that the fame cuftom was praftifed by the Tybarenians of Afia, and the Iberians or ancient inhabitants of Spain, and is flill in ufe among the people of Japan, not only urges this circumftance as a proof, among others, that the new world was peopled from the old, but pretends to difcover in it alfo fome traces of the dodtrine of original fin : he fuppofes that the fe- vere penance thus voluntarily fubmitted to by the father, was at firil inflituted in the pious view of proteding his ifluc from the contagion of hereditary guilty avertmg the wrath of of- fended Omnipotence at the crime of our firft parents, and expiating thir guilt by its fuf- ferings fpj. The ancient Thracians, as we are informed by Herodotus, when a male child was brought into the world, lamented over him in lad vaticination of his deftiny, and they rejoiced when he was releafed by death from thofe miferies which they confidered as his inevitable portion in life : but, whatever might have been the motives that firii (»J Du Tertre, torn. ii. 371, 373. Rochefort, liv. ii. C. xxiii. p. 550. Labat, torn. iv. p. 368. Lafitau, torn- J. p. 49. NieuhofF relates, that this prai'^ice prevails likewife among the natives of Brafil. Churchill's Voyages, vol. ii. (;>J Lafitau, torn. i. p. 257. 4 induced nil •\; ! If r i ^ '■ • I i hi 6o I ' HISTORY OF THE induced the Charaibes to do penance on fuch occafions, it would feem that grief and dejection had no great fliare in them; for the ceremony of fafting was immediately fucceeded by rejoicing and triumph, by drunkennefs and debauchery. Their lamentations for the dead, feem to have arifen from the more laudable didlates of genuine nature; for, unlike the Thracians on thefe fo- lemnities, they not only defpoiled their hair, as we have before related, but when the mafter of the family died, the furviving relations, after burying the corpfe in the centre of his own dwel- ling, with many demonftrations of unaffefted grief, quitted the houfe altogether, and erefted another in a diflant fituation fqj. Unfortunately, however, if now and then we diftinguifli among them fome faint traces of rational piety, our fatisfa(ftion is of (hort con- tinuance; No light, but rather darknefs vlfible, ; Serves only to difcover fights of woe: Milton. or i. is a light that glimmers for a moment, and then fets in blood. It is aflerted, and I believe with truth, that the expedation of a future, ftate has prevailed fqJ Labat, torn. iv. p. 367. They placed the dead body in the grave in a fitting pofture, wif li the knees to the chin. Lafitan, torn. ii. p. 407. Du Teruc, torn. il. p. 40a. amonefl: tmon of th ^monj lieved their I fond ( iecret ftiJl fy, pated i. tering nature,- dency; the fan: paffions, thought to facrif which h tality fe< they allc enjoymer and theii radife. they affig doomed mountain C'J Roc P- 372- CO Roch I*urchas, vol 7. that failed body chin. WEST INDIES. iimongd all mankind, in all ages and countries of the world. It is certain, that it prevailed «mong the Charaibes (r)i who not only be- lieved that death was not the final extinftion of their being, but pleafed themfelves alfo with the fond conceit that their departed relations were fecret fpeftators of their conduftj — that they ftill fympathized in their fuiferings, and partici- pated in their welfare. To thefe notions, fo flat- tering to our wifhes, — ^perhaps congenial to our nature, — they added others of a dreadful ten- dency; for, confidering the foul as fufceptible of the fame impreflions, and poflefling the fame paffions, as when allied to the body, it was thought a religious duty to their deceafed heroes, to facrifice at their funerals fome of the captives which had been taken in battle (s). Immor- tality feemed a curfe without military glory : they allotted to the virtuous and the brave the enjoyment of fupreme felicity, with their wives and their captives, in a fort of Mahometan pa- radifc. To the degenerate and the cowardly they afligned a far different portion: thefe, they doomed to everlafting banilhment beyond the mountains; — to unremitting labour, in employ- (r) Rochefort, liv. ii. c. 14. 485. Du Tertrc, torn. ii. p. 372. (s) Rochefort, c. xix. p. 484. Du Tertre, c. ii. p. 41X. Purchas, vol. iv. p. T274> ments 61 I- t V \\\ j I fft HISTORY OF THE 00 K mcnts that difgrace manhood: — and this di/- '* grace they fuppofed would be heightened by the grcateft of all afflidions, captivity and fervitude among the Arrowauks (t). It might feem that this idea of a (late of retribution after death neceflarily flowed from 1 well-founded belief in the exiftence of an all- wife and almighty Governor and Judge of the Univerfe; but we are told, notwithftanding, that the minds of the Charaibes were not elevated to this height. " They admitted," fays Rochefort, that the earth was their bountiful parent, which yielded them all the good things of life, bat they were fo lamentably funk in darknefs and brutality, as to have formed no conception " of its beneficent Creator, through the continual energy of whofe divine influence alone it yields any thing. They had not even a name for the Diety (u)^ Other writers, however, of equal authority ^^-^j and even the fame writer elfewhere (y)y prefent us with a different repre- fentation in this refpeft, and allow that the Charaibes entertained an awful fenfe (perplexed indeed and indiftind) of one great univerfal caufe, — of a fuperior, wife, and invifible Being of (t) Rochefopt, c. xiv. p. 485. ' -; ' (u) Rochefort, c. xiii. p. 4'iy. (x) Du Tertre, torn. ii. p. 30.^. (y) Rochefort, c. xiv. abfolutc «c cc ti «s « " about t " were vei " their Pe " being " larger ft " worfljip. )folutc WEST INDIES. abfolute and irrefiftible power ^2^. — Like the ancient heathens, they admitted alfo the agency of fubordinate divinities. — ^They even fuppofed, that each individual perfon had his peculiar pro- teftor or tutelary deity (a). Nor is it true, as affirmed by fome authors, that they had no no- tion of pradical worfhipj for, befides the funeral ceremonies above-mentioned, which arofe furely from a fenfe of miftaken piety, they had their lares and penates, gods of their own creating, in- tended as fymbols probably of their invifiblc deities, to whom tliey offered facrifices, fimilar to thofe of the ancient Romans in their days of fimplicity and virtue (b). It was their cuftom to ered in every cottage a ruftick altar, compofed (k) The Galibis Indians, or Charaibes of South America, from whom I have fuppofed the Infular Charaibes to have beei^ immediately defcended, ftiled the Supreme Beinj Tarnouffi, or Univerfal Father.— Ba.rTexe. C^) Rochefort, c. xiii. p. 471. C^J Mr. Hughes, in his Hiftory of Barbadoes, makes mention of many fragments of Indi m idols dug up in that ifland, which were compofed of the lame materials as their earthen veffels above-mentioned.—** I faw the head of one" (continues he) " which alone weighed above fixty pounds. " This, before it was broken off, flood upon an oval pedeftal " about three feet in height. The heads of ail the others " were very fmall. Thefe lefler idols were in all probability " their Penates, made fmall for the eafe and conveniency of being carried with them in their feveral journeys, as the larger fort were perhaps defigned for fome ftated places of worfliip."— Natural Hiftory of Barbadoes, p. 7. of <( !'-*^ ' r 5 ^'i h V I '■ \.J: i fi . , , \i} HISTORY OP THE of banana leaves and rulhes, whereon they occa* fionally placed the earlieft of their fruits, and the choiceft of their viands, as humble peace-offerings through the mediation of their inferior deities to incenfed Omnipotence ff^ : for it is admitted, that their devotions confifted lefs in the efTufions of thankfulnefs, than in deprecations of wrath i — > but herein neither were they diftinguifhable from the reft of mankind, either in the old world or the new. We can all forget benefits though we implore mercy. Strange however it is, that the fame authors who accufe them of atheifm (hould accufe them likewife, in the fame moment, of polytheifm and idolatry. Atheists they certainly were not; and al- though their fyflern was not that of pure Theifm, yet their idolatry was probably founded on circumftances, the moral influence of which has not hitherto, I think, been fufliciently noticed. If their devotion, as we have feen, was the off- fprlng, not of gratitude, but of fear; — if they were lefs fenfible of the goodnefs, than terrified at the judgments of the Almighty; it (hould be remembered, that in the climate of the Wefl In- dies, the tremendous irregularities of nature are dreadfully frequent ; — the hurricane that fweeps nations to the deep, and the earthquake that fwal- Rochefort, c. xiii. p. 472. lows fc) Lafitau, torn. i. p. 179 Du Tertre, torn. ii. p. 366. lews haftil peopi bine Divin fevere Under the di becilit) to the ( fome n able in confidei defire e Tiie foi henfions mediatio cable in its devoi paid. V poor fava in this r in the m underftan was grac tion was tions of t perhaps hi Charaibes. Vol. I. [eeps Iwal- lows WEST INDIES. lews continents in its bofom. — Let us not then haftily affix the charge of impiety on thefe fimple people, if, when they beheld the elements com- bine for their deftruftion, they confidered the Divine Being as infinite indeed in power, but fevere in his juftice, and inexorable in his anger. Under this imprefllon, the mind, humbled to the duft in the confcioufnefs of its own im- becility, and fcarce daring to lift up a thought to the Great Cauie of all things, fondly wiflies for fome mild and gracious interpreter j fome ami- able intermediate agent in whom to repofe with confidence, as in a guardian and a friend. This defire encreafing, is at length exalted to belief. Tiie foul, feeking refuge from its own appre- henfions, creates imaginary beings, by whofe mediation it hopes to render itfelf lefs defpi- cable in the fight of the Supreme. To thefe its devotions are intrufted, and its adorations paid. We may lament the blindnefs of thefe poor favages, and exult in our own fuperiority in this refped, but let us not forget, thafe in the moft cultivated periods of the human underftanding, (before the light of revelation was gracioufly difplayed) a fimilar fuperfti- tion was pradifed by all the various na- tions of the heathen world j of which, not one perhaps had fo ftrong an apology to plead as the Charaibes. Vol. I. F These «J n: .; ':>: ' : r I'. I 64 HISTORY OF THE These obfcrvations, however, extend only to the fair fide of their religion, the worfliip of be- nevolent deities. A darker fuperftition likewife prevailed among all the unenlightened inhabitants of thefe climates i for they not only believed in the exiftcnce of demons and evil fpirits, but of- fered to them alfo by the hands of their Boyez^ or pretended magicians, facrifices and worfliip; wounding themfelves, on fuch folemnities, with an inftrument made of the teeth of the agouti (dj ; which inflidled horrible gaftiesj conceiving, per- haps, that the malignant powers delighted in groans and mifery, and were to be njipeafed only by human blood (ej. I am of opinion, never- thelefs, that even this latter fpecies of idolatry originated in reverential piety, and an awful fenfe of almighty power and infinite perfedlion. That we receive both goo 1 and evil at the hands of God, and that the Supreme Being Is equally wife and benevolent in the difpenfatlon of both, arc truths which we are taught, as well by cultivated reafon, as by holy writ j but they are truths, to the right apprehenfion of which uncivilized man was perhaps at all times incompetent. The fa- vage, Indeed, amidft the deftruftlve terrors of the (JJ See Chap. 4. C'J Du Tertre, torn, ii. p. 365, hurriciinc i)urri( elude *• vifi iiarrov daiJy ])hyfic: life, h( mercifi a cone and In what tl inexplic Influenc The pn tlirow s ferve nc origin. A Ml to which birth am amiable, illuftratic ftitions ( too far J is fufficiej dations o the expei expreflion 'S ated [is, to man lie fa- »ftlie hcdlie WEST INDIES. Iiurrlcanc and the earthquake, might eafily con- clude that nothing lefs than Omnipotence itfelf, ** vifiting the nations in his wratli," could thus harrow up the world i but the calamities of daily occurrence, — the various appearances of phyfical and moral evil which hourly embitter life, he dared not afcribe to an all-pcrfecl and merciful Being. To his limited conception, fuch a conclufion was derogatory from divine juftice, and irreconcileable with infinite wifdom. To what then would he impute thefe terrifying and inexplicable phenomena, but to the malignant influence of impure fpirits and aereal demons? The profanations built on fuch notions certainly throw a light on the Chriftian religion, if they ferve not as a collateral evidence of its divine origin. A MINUTE detail of the rites and ceremonies to which thefe, and other religious tenets, gave birth among the Charaibes, mofl of them un- amiable, many of them cruel, together with an illuftratlon of their conformity to the fuper- flitions of the Pagan theology, would lead me too far; nor is fuch a difquifition neceflary. It is fufficient for me to have fhewn, that the foun- dations of true religion, the belief of a Deity, and the expedlation of a future ftate, (to borrow the expreflion of an eloquent prelate) " are no lefs F 2 " conformable «7 I , ( * 1 'il« -.;i: ! 1 \\ ' i. Ii 1 t ■' ; ^1 > ! M .68 ,);;' HISTORY OF THE " conformable to the firft natural apprchenfion^ " of the untutored mind, than to the founded " principles of philofophy^^y." I HAVE thus feleded and combined, from a mafs of difcordant materials, a few ftriking par- ticulars in the charafter, manners and cuftoms of the ancient inhabitants of the Charaibcan Iflands. The pidlure is not pleafing; but, as 1 have elfcwhere obferved, it may lead to fome im- portant conclufionsi for, befidcs correding many wild and extravagant fancies which are afloat in the world refpedting the influence of climate on the powers of the mind, it may tend to demon- llrate the abfurdity of that hypothefis of fome eminent philofophers, which pronounces favage life the genuine fource of unpolluted happinefsj— ' falfely deeming it a ftate conformable to our na- ture, and conftituting the perfedlion of it. It is indeed no eafy tafk, as Roufleau obferves, to dlfcriminate properly between what is originally natural, and what is acquired, in the prefent con- llitution of man : yet thus much may be con- cluded, from the account I have given of the Cliaraibes j that they derived their furious and fanguinary difpofitlon — not from the didlates of nature, but — from the perverfion and abufe of funic of her noblcft endowments. Civilization (() Biflu)p of Cliedei'a Sermons, and ri and WEST INDIES. if and fcicncc would not only have given them chap. gentler maimers, but probably have eradicated *'• alfo man\ of their barbarous rites and gloomy luperftitions, either by the introduction of A purer religion, or by giving energy and efled to thofe latent principles, which I have fliewti liad a foundation among them. But while 1 admit the neceflity and benevolent efficacy of improved manners and focial intercoiiric ; con- ceiving that man by the cultivation of hisrcafon, and the cxercife of his faculties, alone anfwers the end of his creation, I am far from concurring with another clafs of philofophers, who, widely differing from the former, confider a ftate of pure nature as a ftate of unrelenting ferocity and reciprocal hoftilityj maintaining, that all thefoft and tender affeftions are not originally implanted in us, but are fuperinduced by t Jucation and reflcftion. A retrofpe«5l to what has been re- lated of the Charaibes will fliew the fallacy of this opinion. Man, as he comes from the hands of his Creator, is every where conftituted a mild and a merciful being. It was by rigid difcipline and barbarous example, that the Charaibc nation trained up their youth to fuffer with fortitude, and to inflicfl without pity the utmoft exertions of human vengeance. The dilates of nature were as much violated by thofe enormities of favage life, as they are fupprji'cd by the cold F 3 unfeeling 1 )! Uj :i ! I ; ' M ' ' i ( • 1 i I >d HISTORY OF THE BOOK unfeeling apathy of philofophical refentment. ^- To the honour of humanity, it is as certain that compaffion and kindnefs are among the earlieft propenfities of our nature, as that they conftitute the chief ornament and the happinefs of it. Of this truth our next refearches will furnilh apleaf- ing example. .^i- 8'f CHAP. m. '.\i. i \ ; ; 1 i' Of the Natrues of Hifpaniolay Cuba, Jamaica, and PortQ'Rico. — Their Origin. — Numbers. — Per- ■ fotis. — Genius and Difpofitions. — Government and ■ Religion. — Mifcellaneous Obfervations refpeSiing their Arts, ManufaSlures and Agricu/iure, Cn^Ity of the Spaniards, i^c. > ' _r 1 AM now to give fomc account of a mild and comparatively cultivated people, the ancient na- tives of Hifpaniola (a), Cuba (b), Jamaica, and (a) Hifpaniola was called by the natives Haiti or j^yti, which ngnlfies tnountuinous; and I conceive the fame word has the fame meaning in the iflands of the fouth fea. (b) Cuba was the Indian name. It was not difcovered to be an ifland until the year 1508, when a captain, named Sebaftian, failed round it by order of Nicholas Ovando. It was firft planted by the Spaniards in 1511; in that year Jago 3 Velafquez or Jytiy Ine word Ifcovered ^, named ido. It ■Jago elafquez WEST INDIES. and Porto-Rico fr^i for there is no doubt that the inhabitants of all thofe Iflands were of one common origin, — fpeaking the fame language, — poffeffing the fame inftitutions, and pradiifing fimilar fuperftitions. Columbus himfelf treats of them as fuch; and the teftimony of many con- temporary hillorians confirm his opinion. It appears likewife from the information of Las Cafas, the Biihop of Chiapa, to the Emperor Charles V. that moft of the natives ofTrinidad (d) were of the fame nation ; the extent and natural ftrength of that ifland, as of the others above- mentioned, having protedted them, in a great meafure, from the depredations of the Cha- raibes. 1 HAVE elfewhere related that they were con- fidered by thefe Barbarians as defcended from a Colony of Arrowauks, a people of Guianaj and Velafquez went thither with 300 men, and fettled on the fouth coaft, near to a port which he called by his own name, (Jago^ a name it dill bears) and which for extent and fecurity mav be reckoned one of the fincft in the world. (c) The Indian name of Port-Rico was Bo>iguen> It was difcovered by Columbus in his fecond voyage, but firft explored by Juan Ponce de Leon, in 1 508. {JJ Trinidad was difcovered by Columbus in his third voyage, and was named by him after the Holy Trinity, be- raufe, fays Herrera, having been in great danger, in a violent ftorm, he made a vow to give that name to the firft land he iliould find ; foon after which a failor, in the main-top, faw three points of laud, vvhereby the name fitted every way to his vow. Fa there ft ri y , ll i ! -w (•■;'" i I :;», 7» HISTORY OF THE there can be no good reafon to fuppofe that the Charaibes were mifinformed in this particular. — The evidence of Raleigh, and others who vifited both Guiana and Trinidad two centuries ago, might be adduced in fupport of their opinion. Thcfe voyagers pronounce the ancient inhabitants of Trinidad to belong precifely to the Arvvacks or Arrowauk nation of the Continent; a race of Indians to whofe noble qualities the moft honour- able teftimony is borne by every traveller that has vifited them, and recorded his obfervations. And here, all enquiry concerning the origin of our illanders feems to terminate. It is indeed extremely probable that all the various nations of this part of the new world, except only the Charaibes, emigrated anciently from the great hive of the Mexican empire. Juan de Grijalva, one of the adventurers from Cuba in 1518, found a people who fpoke the language of that ifland, on the coafl: of Jucatan (ej; but at what period furh emigrations were made; whether the Cha- raibes were previoully pofleiied of the widely ex- tended coaft that bounds the Atlantick, or, in pofterior ages, accidentally found their way thither by fea, from the ancient Continent — (perhaps by their invafion giving birth to that Jiereditary and unconquerable hatred, which ftill (O P. Martyr, Decad. iii. lib. x. prevails i:. Mi! lails "WEST INDIES. prevails between them and the other Indian nations) — thefe are points concerning which, as it is impoflible to determine, it is in vain to en- quire. In eftimating the number of our inlanders, when firft difcovered by Columbus, hiftorians widely differ. Las Cafas computes them at fix millions in the whole; bu the natives of Hif- paniola were reckoned by Oviedo at one million only, and by Martyr, who wrote on the autho- rity of Columbus, ar 1,200,000, and this laft account li probably the mod correfl. Judging of the other iflands by that, and fuppofing the population of each to be nearly the fame in pro- portion to its extent, the whole number will fall greatly Ihort of the computation of Las Cafas. Perhaps if we fix on three millions, inftead of fix, as the total, we (hall approach as near the truth as poflible, on a queftion that admits not of minute accuracy. Indeed fuch are the accounts of the horrible carnage of thefe poor people by the Spaniards, that we are naturally led to hope their original numbers muft have been greatly exa^eratedj firft by the affociates of Columbus, from a fond and excufable propenfity to magnify the merit and importance of their difcovcries, ab undoubtedly they we^'e afterwards by the worthy prelate I have quoted, in the warmth of his lioned indignation at the bloody proceedings of his 73 1 1 '■ |: ) i J . ■H 1-; , ;i '• ,W 7+ HISTORYOFTHE Ills countrymen : with whom, indeed, every man of a humane and reflcdting mind, muft blufli to confel's himfelf of the fame nature and fpecies ! But, not to anticipate obfervations that will more properly appear hereafter, I (hall now pro- , ceed to the confideration, — I. Of their perfons and perfonal endowments : II. Their intel- • ' leftual faculties and difpofitions: III. Their political inftitutions : IV. Their religious rites. Such flibordinate particulars as are not eafily reducible to either of thofe heads, will conclude " the preient chapter. Perfons, I» Both men and women wore nothing more than a flight covering of cotton cloth round the waift; but in the women it extended to the knees : the children of both fexes appeared en- tirely naked. In ftature they were taller, but lefs robufl than the Charaibes(yj. Their colour was a clear brown.; not deeper, in general, ac- cording to Columbus, than that of a Spanifli peafant who has been much expofed to the wind and the fun (g). Like the Charaibes, they al- tered the natural configuration of the head in infancy; but after a different mode (/iji and by {/J Ovicdo, Som. • • r . i. ' " . (s;J F. Col. c. xxiii. ChJ The Ji'icipuf, or fore-part of the head from the eye- brows to the coronal future, was deprefled, which gave an unnatural thicknefs and elevation to the occiput, or hinder part of the fiiuil. this !\e eye- lave ai' [ier part. WESTINDIES. 75 this praftice, fays Herrcra, the crown was fo chap. ftrengthened that a Spanilh broad-fword, inftead "^• of cleaving the fkull at a ftroke, would frequently break fhort upon it(iji an illuftration which gives an admirable idea of the clemency of their conquerors! Their hair was uniformly black, without any tendency to curl; their features were hard and unfightlyj the face broad, and the nofe flat ; but their eyes ftreamed with good nature, and altogether there was fomething pleaf- ing and inviting in the countenances of moft of them, which proclaimed a frank and gentle dif- pofition. It was an honefl face, (fays Martyr) coarfe, but not gloomy ; for it was enlivened by confidence, and foftened by compaffion. Much has been I'uggefted by modern philo- fophers, concerning a fuppofed feeblenefs in their perfons and conllitutions. They are reprcfented to have been incapable of the fmalleft degree of labour, incurably indolent, and infenfible even to the attradions of beauty, and the influence of love (kj. This wonderful debility and coldnefs have been attributed by fome writers to a vege- table diet : by others, it is pretended that they derived from nature lefs appetite for food than the natives of Europe; but nothing can more (ij Herrcn, lib. i. c. xvi. who copies this circumflancs from Oviedo. om uvieao. (kJ Robertfon, Buffon, De Pauw, and others. pointedly ■, i i>; ■:V : 1 ';■;' 76 t HISTORY OF THE pointedly demonftrate the indolent inattention of hiftorians, than their combining thefe circum- fiances in one and the fame charader. An in- fenfibility, or contemptuous difregard, towards the female fex, was a feature peculiar to the Charaibesj who, however, as we have feen, were robuft and vigorous in their perfons, and infa^ tiably voracious of food. It conftituted no part of the difpofttion of our iflanders ; amongft whom An attachment to the fex was remarkably confpi- cuous. Love, with this happy people, was not a tranfient and youthful ardour onlyj but the fource of all their pleafures, and the chief bufinefs of life ; for not being, Uke the Charaibes, op-. preflcd by the weight of perpetual folicitude, and tormented by an unquenchable thirft of re- venge, they gave full indulgence to the inftinds of nature, while the influence of the climate hoi^^htened the fenfibility of the paflions (l)^ In truth, an exceflive fenfuality was among the greateil defeds in their character; and •JO this caule alone is imputed, by fomc wri- ters, the origin of that dreadful difeafe, with (IJ See Oviedo, lib. v. c. iii. We have nearly the ftme account at this day of the Arrowaiiks of Guiana. "In their '•' nntural difpofuion" (fays Bancroft) •' they are amorous " and wanton ;" and Barrere obferves, *' ilsjoru iuin'jues au " J'upreme c/t'i^rc." It is related by Herrera, that a deity flnnlar to the Venus of antiquity, was one oi tiie Divinities of th(5 J'/rr/ialwis, a people of i^Ie\i<.o. • . ■ ■ • ■ ■ the the the of I was a CO has enqu ** tainl "the " foun *' that, " a ren ** comp « fufFer " a mai " year i ■" were " after i *' an ara *• the Se< " panied •' fpread " both w " it a naff ** where i) This ac Is reafon i in Europe although ii violence al expedition.. infrequencj to a report, . I! WEST INDIES. «he calami^:, bi. tT„7 1*"* '*^^"S'='' ^ " - -• of Europe.._if inle | T ^ '^" "'''"" ""• That found ; the Almighty fo rememll • ^«''''^^»«', is alfo - that, when our fi.fs provoke oTn^""^ "^^^ '" J^^'^"^^"^ « a remedy.^I was afaulL ?""'"'' ^^ ^nds Jikewife ^ companL 00^1"^' f ^^17;^ P^r^ons who ac « fnfferedofthisdifeafe: one ofwh ^ r."'^'"^'^^"''"'* " a man much refpea;d "f thet ""' ^''^'^ ^^--g^rite, "yearx496itbegartrWadt^ ^" '^'e - were wholly at a lofs if whl^t^^ " after this, Gonzales Ferranderde n ^^ '"'' ''-'^''^"» *' an army by his Catholick mIo "^"""^ ^'' ^^"* ^'^'^ '' the Second King of NlfLJ'T ^t^''^' ^"^^■"-' " panied that arJy, a„7bv iT '^'^ P^'^°"^^'^<=0"'- " fpread the difeafe nmon. th TT'^' "'''' ^^'« -^'"en, : both Which natioLlTr e L^Th: h"' ''' '''"''^ " It a name; but in truth Ur7 .^ "" ^^'^ouv of gh]^^ "where it ;a.ve;.o^lT°"r^ , Tfiis account iTSentlyT^S^^^^^ ?s reafon to believe that the veS:ir"'^^^^^^ '"Europe many centuries before the dif" T' ''"°"'" « though it is poffiHe it miglu have b^l ''^ ''^'"^"" ^ violence about the time of clln ! ' °"' "'"'' ''^""ved expedition.-.This wTth era o?' r""" ''""^ '^'^ «'« -f-q"e„cy of the co„tagL„t t^^^^^^^^^^ ^":1 P^^^^v the --P-» perhaps at ^amal!t;!;X^-;-:r iis; 1 I M i u Hi I 10 ^. i» I ! i * HISTORY OF THE That a people who pofl'efTed the means of* gratifying every inclination without labour, Ihould fometimcs incline to be indolent, is a circum- ftance not very extraordinary. As the wants of nature were fupplied alrnoft fpontaneoufly, and no covering was abfolutely requifite but the Ihade, that neceffity which urges men to adion, and, by exerclfe, invigorates the fibres, was here wholly unknown. It is probable therefore that in mufcular ftrength the natives were inferior to their invaders, and being lefs accuftomed to labour, they might alfo require lefs nourifhment. Thefe conclufions may be admitted without fuppofing any degradation of their nature, and wFio envied the fuccefs of Columbus, that this difenfe was one of the fruits of his celebrated cnterprize. V is impoflible, in the fpace of a marginal note, to enter deeply into this fubjeft ; neither does the full inveftigation of it come within the defigii of my work. I therefore refer fuch of my readers as aredefir- ous cf forming a decided opinion on the queftion, to thePhilof. Tranfaftions, vol. xxvii. andvol.xxxi. (No. 365 and No. ii) alfo to two learned treatifes on the fubjeft by Mr. Sanches, publiflied at Paris 1772 and 1774, and to the authorities re- ferred to by Mr. Fofter in his '• Obfervations made during a Voyage round the World," p. 492. t^^ In Stow's Survey of London, vol. ii. p. 7. is prelerved a copy of the rules or regulations eftabliflied by Parliament in the eighth year of Henry the Second, for the government of the licenfed flews in Southvvark, among which I find the following, " No ftewholder to keep any woman that hath the perilous infir- mity of burning." This was 330 years before the voyage of Columbus. . , ; '^ with with mate ad:iv( grace] nentlj deJigh of nig cuftorr the dai women • thefe c commo motions exaclne] dances 1 were apj being ac called A iitical in t fecurring to the various other caufes affigned by chap. philofophers, fufficiently accounts for the paucity of their ideas. Meri) without anxiety for the future, have little reflexion on the paft. What they wanted in excited energy of mind, was how- ever abundantly fupplied by the fofter affedtions ; by fweetnefs of temper, and native goodnefs of difpofition. All writers who have treated of their character, agree that they were unqueftion- ably the moft gentle and benevolent of the human race. Though not bleffcd with the light of re- velation, they pradtifed one of the nobleft pre- cepts of Chriftianity, forgivenefs of their enemies : laying all that they poflelTed at the feet of their opprefforsj courting their notice, and prevent- ing their wiflies, with fuch fondnefs and affiduity, as one would have thought might have difarmed habitual cruelty, and melted bigotry into ten- dtrneCs fqj. .;dftti>lo3 itf» h-::l^:.- Among other inftances of their generous and compaflionate turn of mind, the following is not the leafl remarkable. Soon after Columbus's firft arrival at Hifpaniola, one of his (hips was wrecked on the coaft. The natives, fcorning to derive advantage to themfelves from the diftrefs of the ftrangers (unconfcious indeed of the cala- (qj Martyr. Herrera. F. Columbus, c. xxv'ii. xxxii. &c. &c. Vol. I. mitics ■*-^ I I 1:1 I'i'; ii Iri 'I 8s •I §1 U I wi. HISTORY OF THE mitics which their arrival was foon to bring upoa them) beheld the accident with the Uvclieft emo- tions of forrow, and haftened to their relief. A thoufaud canoes were inftantly in motion, bufily employed in conveying the Teamen and cargo afliorc } by which timely aflfillance, not a life was loft ; and of the goods and provifions that were favcd from the wreck, not the fmallcft article was embezzled. Such was their celerity and good will on this occafion, fays Martyr, that no friend for friend, or brother for brother, in dif- trefs, could have manifefted ftronger tokens of fympathy and pity (r). Other hillorians ft ill heighten the pidurej for they relate that Guacanahari, the fovereign of that part of the country, perceiving that, notwithftanding the efforts of his people, the ftiip itielf, and great part of the cargo were irrecoverably funk, waited on Columbus to condole with him on the occafion ; and while this poor Indian la> mented his misfortune in terms which excited furprize and admiration, he offered the Admiral (the tears flowing copioufly down his cheeks as he fpokc) all that he himfelf poffeffed, in repara^ tion of his lofs (s). This benevolence, unexampled in the hiftory (r) Martyr, Decad. i. lib. i. * • ' (sj Fer. Col. c. xxxii. Herrera, Decad. i. lib. 1. c. xviii. ,iu of by ( Coiu his c everw from J fcfentf 6crific OnCoJ fondnef the Spa "ty, exf both iti without natives. *o a viJJj *he Indiai came out fhem into of ebony , ^^em to h] tiieir guef onthegroj ^^eSpaniar of their vi their ftay, , demonftratc (^J Herrer J liftorr Ic. xvui. WEST INDIES. t( civilized nations, was foon bafely requited by the condudt of a band of robbci^, whom Columbus, unfortunately, left in the ifland, on his departure for Europe. Guacanahari how- ever was covered with wounds in defending them from his injured countrymen (tj ; to whofe juft refentment the SpanlHi rufHans at length fell a (acrifice i but their anger was of (hort duration. On Columbus's return, in his fecond voyt^, their fondnefs revived j and for a confiderable time the Spaniards lived among them in perfect fecu- rity, exploring the interior parts of the country, both in companies and individually, not only without moleftation, but invited thereto by the natives. When any of the Spaniards came near to a village, the mod ancient and venerable of the Indians, or the Cacique himfelf, if prefcnt, came out to meet them, and gently conducted them into their habitations, feated them on ftools of ebony curioully ornamented. Thefe benches feem to have been feats of honour referved for their guefts ; — for the Indians threw themfelves on the ground, and kiffing the hands and feet of the Spaniards, offered them fruits and the choiceft of their viands j entreating them to prolong their (lay, with fuch folicitude and reverence as demonftrated that they confidered them as beings of a fuperior nature, whofe prefence confecrated (tj Herrera, Dewd. i. lib. ii. c. ix. Fer. Col. c. xl. G z their I i ■ \m M 84 I ; HISTORY OF THfi their dwellings, and brought a bleffing with it (u). The reception which Bartholomew Columbus, who was appointed Lieutenant, or Deputy Go- vernor, in the abfence of the Admiral, afterwards met with, in his progrefs through the ifland to levy tributes from the feveral Caciques or Princes, manifefted not only kindnefs and fubmiffion, but on many occafions munificence, and even a high degree of politenefs. Thefe Caciques had all heard of the wonderful eagernefs of the ftrang- ers for gold ; and fuch of them as poffefled any of this precious metal, willingly prefcnted all that they had to the Deputy Governor. Others, who had not the means of obtaining gold, brought provifions and cotton in great abun- dance (x). — Among the latter, was Behechio, a powerful Cacique, who invited the Lieutenant and his attendants to his dominions; and the entertainment which they received from this hofpitable chief is thus defcribed by Martyr. As they approached the king's dwelling, they were met by his wives, to the number of thirty, carrying branches of the palmtree in their hands; who firll falutcd the Spaniards with a folemn dance, accompanied with a general fong. Thefe t , , !.. r. >■' ■r^iT i\> (u) Herrera, Decad. i. lib. i. c. xlv, F. Col. c. xxvii. ' (xj P. Martyr, Decad. i. lib. v, matrons matro tingui wearin were a nature. over th on the were fir though The Sp; iieving ( and the c^^nt fal their han ance to t found a mode of I ed. As condudei them was "lock; ar entertaine followed b prizes; af Indians ui gagement , tack and bcs. For Ltrons WEST INDIES. matrons were fucceeded by a train of virgins, dif- tinguifhed as fuch by their appearance ; the former wearing aprons of cotton cloth, while the latter were arrayed only in the innocence of pure nature. Their hair was tied (imply with a fillet over their foreheads, or fufFered to flow gracefully on their (houlders and bofoms. Their limbs were finely proportioned, and their complexions, though brown, were fmooth, fhining and lovely. The Spaniards were ftruck with admiration, be- lieving that they beheld the dryads of the woods, and the nymphs of the fountains, realizing an- cient fable. The branches which they bore in their hands, they now delivered with lowly obeif- ance to the Lieutenant, who, entering the palace, found a plentiful, and, according to the Indian mode of living, a fplendid repaft already provid- ed. As night approached, the Spaniards were conduced to feparate cottages, wherein each of them was accommodated with a cotton ham- mock ; and the next morning they were again entertained with dancing and fmging. This was followed by matches of wreftling, and running for prizes ; after which two great bodies of armed Indians unexpeftedly appeared, and a mock en- gagement enfued ; exhibiting their modes of at- tack and defence in their wars with the Charai- bcs. For three days were the Spaniards thus G 3 royally 85 ' ' i 1 . ' ■ : \ - i l! ''I ll : f1 'MA :i'' m liil i'.- hi =M" If i, I In 1 l.S 1! t'l>; iM li: lik If'' % I BOO K I. Political inilitu- tions. HISTORY OF THE royally entertained, and on the fourth, the aflfec* tionate Indians regretted their departure. III. The fubmiffive and refpeftful deportment of thefe placid people towards their fuperiors, and tliofe they confidered as fuch, was derived probably, in fome degree, from the nature of their government j which, contrary to tliat of the Charaibes under a flmilar climate, was mO'* narchical and even abfolute. The regal authority however, though not circumfcribed by pofitive inftitutions, was tempered into great mildnefs, by that conftitutional benevolence which predominat- ed throughout every part of their conduft, from the higheft to the loweft. The fympathy which they manifefted towards the diftrefs of others, proves that they were not wretched themfdves j for in a flate of abfolute llavery and mifery, men are commonly devoid both of virtue and pity. Their Kings, as we have feen, were called Caciques, and their power was hereditary :—« But there were alfo fubordinate Chieftains, o princes, who were tributaries to the Sovereign of each diftrid. Thus the territor)' in Hifpa- Jiiola, anciently called Xaraguay, extending from the plain of Leogane to the Weftermoft part of the ifland, was the kingdom of the Cacique Behc- chio, whom I have mentioned above ; but it ap- pears from Martyr, that no lefs than thirty-two inferior [ I ncnt riors, rived re of at of i mo- tiority ofitive cfs, by tninat- t, from which others, ifelves J ry, men pity. called tary : — • lins, o |>vereign Hifpa- from of the Behc- [t it ap- jrty-two 1 inferior WESTINDIE8. inferior chieftains cr nobles had jurifdidion within ,that fpace of country, who w/e accountable to the fupreme authority of Behechio (y). They feem to have fomewhat refembled the ancient barons or feudatories of Europe ; holding their poflef- fions by the tenure of fervice. Oviedo relates, that they were under the obligation of perfonally attending the Sovereign, both in peace and war, whenever commanded fo to do (z). It is to be lamented, that the Spanifli hiftorians afford very little information concerning this order of nobles, or the nature^ and extent of their fubordinate jurifdiftion. The whole iiland of Hifpaniola was divided into five great kingdoms (a)'y of two of which, V ic.i Columbus firil landed, ^Guacanahari and tsehechio were abfolute fovereigns. — A third principal Cacique was Cuanaboa, whofe hiftory is remarkable : He had been originally a War Captain among a body of Charaibes, who had in- vaded the dominions of Behechio, and, on con- dition of preventing the further incurfions of his countrymen, had received his lifter, the beautiful Anacoana, in marriage j together with an extent of country, which he had converted into a CHAP. III. (y) P. Martyr, Decad. i.lib. v. (%) Oviedo, lib. iii. c. iv. (aj Oviedo, lib. iii. c. iv. G4 feparate »i i 88 B OOK I. HISTORY OF THE feparate kingdom. The eftablifhment of this leader and his followers in Hlfpaniola, had in- troduced into this part of the ifland the Cha- raibean language, and alfo the ufe of the bow and arrow (b) j a weapon with the pradice of which the natives of the larger illands were ge- nerally unacquainted. Cuanaboa however ftill retained his ferocious difpofition, and having been accufed by Guacanahari before Chriftopher Columbus, of murdering fome of the Spaniards, was ordered by that commander to be fent to Spain : but the fhip perilhed at fea. The fad fate of his unfortunate widow, the innocent Ana- coana, who was moft atrocioufly murdered in 1505, by Ovando, the Governor of Hifpaniola, for no caufe, that I can difcovcr, but her fond attachment to Bartholomew Columbus, having been related at large in the late American hiilory, need not be repeated here. Xhe illands of Cuba and Jamaica were divid- ed, like Hifpaniola, into many principalities or kingdoms ; but we are told that the whole ex- tent of Porto Rico was fubjeft to one Cacique OT\y(c). It has been remarked, that the dignity of thefe Chieftains was hereditary j but if Martyr is to be credited, the law of fucceflion among them, was different from that of all other people ; (h) Ovi?do, lib, iii. (c) P. Martyr, Decad. i. lib. ii. for WEST INDIES.' fife,., acco«ii„g ,0 feJolnr """"'"' " merous wives " Th. , ."'^'n «' 'heir nu- was particularly dUtiaeaUhJl! ^^"i"' '"■Se as tl,e reigning Queen /W V. '^"'P'' " dren of this lady acco^ ^^' ""« '^e chil- fucceeded to Vh^' fTtZ' f '° ^"""'^ °' "=«''. feult of iffue bv the f • °''"""' ''«• » de- «he«, took ^::e f rc:" ""/""'""S "- by his other wi J Th';?!": °"" 'Wdren death of Behechio her b oth L bT^"";. "" ""= x-wr/;. itisot;» ni-^"""°' fon was intended to p J^t the r f • ?^'''- difputed fuccefl-nn mifchiefs of a '-fio„swt:;°:r°"^^"'*-"hofepre- ana njmcrous attendants. In ('0 Decad.iii.c. ix ' .^ lyj Herrera, lib. yi c. y. ^'^ ^''f '^"' ^^b. v. c. iii. tmveJJing I i ih i I n ^. I # ^ (■■• w\ li- HISTORY OF THE travelling through his dominions, he was com« monly borne on men's flioulders, after a manner very much refembling the ufe of the palanqueeii in the Eaft Indies (gj. According to Martyr (AJ, he was regarded by all his fubjefts with fuch reverence, as even exceeded the bounds of nature and reafon j for if he ordered any of them to call themfelves headlong from a high rock, or to drown themfelves in the fea, alledgiug no caufe but his fovereign pleafure, he was obeyed with- out a murmur j oppofition to the fupreme au- thority, being confidered, not only as unavailing, but impious. Nor did their veneration terminate with the life of the Prince ; it was extended to his me- mory after death j a proof that his authority, however extravagant, was feldom abufed. When a Cacique died, his body was embowelled, and dried in an oven, moderately heated; fo that the bones and even the fkin were preferved en- tire/'/;/. Thecorpfe was then placed in a cave with thofe of his anceftors, this being (obferves Ovie- do) among thefe fimple people the only fyftem of heraldry ; whereby they intended to render, ;iot the name alone, but the perfons alfo, of Hi c«/V;V ■ :r;i U. (g) Herrera, lib. i. c. xvi« ^' (h) Martyr, Decad. i. c. i. i'l) Hencia, lib. iii. c. iii. F. Coliimbui, c, ixl. their is not inif ^^.f«,— bii »''<*^in7, coj ^ (O Her j V- Coiumbj %:< WEST INDIES. (heir worthies immortal. If a Cacique was (lain in battle, and the body could not be recovered, they compofed fongs in his praife, which they taught their children ; a better and nobler tefti- mony furely, than heaps of dry bones or even monuments of n--'blej fmce memorij^lt ^o the deceafed a oi "ht to be, intendcw lefs in honour of the dead, than as incitements to the living (k), Thesb heroick effufions conftituted a branch of thofe iblemnities, which, as hath been obferv- cd, were called Arietoes j confifting of hymns and publick dances, accompanied with mufical in- ftruments made of Ihells, and a fort of drum, the found of which was heard at a vaft diftance (I). (h) It is related by Martyr, that on the death of a Cacique, the mod beloved of his wives was immolated at his funeral. Thus he obferves that Anacaona, on the death of her brother King Behechio, ordered a very beautiful woman, whofe name was Guanahata Benechina, to be buried alive in the cave where his body (after being dried as above mentioned) was depofited*. But Oviedo, though by no means partial towards the Indian charnfter, denies that this cuftom was general among themf . Anacaona, who had been married to a Cha- raibe, probably adopted the praftice from the account (he had received from her huiband of his national cudoms. And it is not impoffible, under a female adminiftration,— flOTo«g-y2i- vi7f«,— but that the extraordinary beauty of the unfortunate viftim, contributed to herdiftruftion. • Martyr, Decad. Jii.lib. ix. f OvIedo, !ib v. c. ill. (!) Herrera, lib. iii. c. iv. P. Martyr, Decad. iii. c. vii. f . Columbus, Thcfe ft srl 1 m i-i ii M' ,i i { < i", . .1 •• Relioious rites. HISTORY OF THE Thefe hymns, reciting the great adions of the de- parted Cacique j his fame in war, and his gentle- nefs in peace, formed a national hiHory (mj, which was at once a tribute of gratitude to the deceaf- ed monarch, and a leffon to the living. Nor could any thing have been more inftrudive to the rifing generation than this inftitution, fince it comprehended alfo the antiquities of their country, and the traditions of their ancef- tors. Expreffions of national triumph for vic- tory in war, lamentations in times of publick ca- lamity, the voice of feftivity,,and the language of love, were likewife the fubjedls of thefe exhi- bitions i the dances, fo eflential a part of them, being grave or gay as the occafion required. It is pretended that among the traditions thus pub- lickly recited, there was one of a prophetick nature, denouncing ruin and defolation by the arrival of ftrangers compleatly did, and armed with the lightning of heaven. The ceremonies which were obferved when this awful prediction was repeated, we may well believe were ftrongly expreflive of lamentation and horror (nj. IV. Like all other unenlightened nations, thefe poor Indians were indeed the flaves of fu- perftition. Their general theology (for they had an eftabliflied fyflem, and a priefthood to fup^ ^;hJ Oviedo, lib, V. c.iii. (nJ Martyr, ut fupra. Herrera, lib. ii. c. iv. port :a- Lge hi- jm. It ub- :ick the led fiiies tion igly jons, fu- ha4 fup' I port ~'*s. j 1 ' i' 1 ' 1 . Ill; ■ 1 "■ f il ^1 i I \' ii n III' m ii' fc . i ■ 1 "'' ^ii >^^ -#:* «^^ id' :..^.-v>: ..-.'rti.'fi**^. y> ■rJM ^IK^ f'S *^ V:^-2ac^-v-,, |4 "^ ^hu 1 m . — «**e*rt m m ta.. BW9^ ittl 1; „^^^^ ii^ ■ '■-,./-. ■■■]■:■■ ■■''y^\ W0/'fo ^~>fe:/Jj>^.i' 'Mv ^i|ii \x ^ 5C ,MV ^5 ^■• « Ni 4. ■C Jt- ^ \ j/i '< 4- s H \ r ^ r H X . i^ ■*, ■^ \ X ■. \ "SC ;:| • H s ? ■ N 'A V. ft -1 mi s pc tra Ye of nefs fpcc Vvho grea( addn dJN we ** COL " incl " We "you ** feJve ** this] " portii " therei " us, th " future " prefen ** none t ro This J"'y »494, a h Herrera, ^erftdod the him to Spain «^e of whon Wchofavc™«W;^/"f'"'«' » remarkable " we know not. yZJ ™'"^' '""'. countries with a fc,. ? '^°""' '"f^^ thefe :^--al.the"^,'^';-;-uWbefo„,. you are men, fubi.A 7 '^ '""^' ■^■«. if • " <""-«. you can^f^ *° ■""^^'i'y '"^^ our- " : "■''"fe.i.ereisan ,^"7''""''' *'"' "ft" ; portion is aUotted o 'i^H "''''y*«"^«"'- " therefore you exll,^^^""'"''"' men. If "-■''"-L.yTis'Vo'V"'' '■'''•- with ; f«"re ftate, according I, '"^""^'•^ '" » Prerenr, you „,« .^^ » - conduft in ,,, none to you ^,;... ° ''"" '" "'ofe, wl,o do ''^y This remarlraKi • ^HEiR '' * • ^'"'' ^"^^ ^=^ remained ■ ,' «•*...'>-. ■" ■ ^^«h < f '{ './ I ! , *•=' * ■'' 1 i . ! i fl ! ' , ," if p ' ■ HISTORY OF THE Their notions of future happinels fcem htnf* ever to have been narrow ajnd fenfuaL They fup^ pofed that the fpirits of good men were conveyed to a pleafant valley* which they called Ct^aba j a place of indolent tranquillity, abounding with delicious fruits, cool (hades, and murmuring rivulets (p) J in a country where drought never rages, and the hurricane is never felt. In this feat of bliis (the Elyfium of antiquity) they be-f lieved that their greateft enjoyment would arife from the company of their departed ancef* tors, and of thofe perfons who were dear to them in life (q) j — a proof at leaft of their filial piety, and of the warmth and tendernefs of their afFedions and dilpofitions. T;H E coufcioufnefs in our Indians that they were tjccountable beings, feems to indicate a greater de- ^ee of improvement than we are willing to allow to any of the natives of the New Hemifphere. Although, like the Charaibcs» our iflanders ac- knowledged a plurality of Gods, like them too, they believed in the exiftcuce of one fupreme, invifible, immortal, and omnipotent Creator; ivhom they named JocahHna(r), But unhap- with him from Oftobcr 1492, had acquired the Spanifl) lan- guage. This man, w hofe name was Didacut^ ferved him on this and other occaficns, both as a guide and interpreter. (p) F. r. Col. c. l*i. (q) Berrera, Hb. ui. c. iii. rr> Martyr, Dccad.i. Kb, ix. F. Qolnmbws. 4 pily. pie b fancie piety, affigne whom and the feats of worflii| than e\ feem th ilones c Zemi\ 1 prefenta ties, and th© mem divinity flipping own hanc however, among p Egyptians lized natic nials, and them the j accomplifl paid divin* Ci)l \- lor; llan- 111. iiy. WEST INDIES. plly, with thefe important truths, thefe poor peo- ple blended the moft puerile ^od extravagant fancies, which were neither founded in rational piety, nor produftive of moral obli^tion. They aiSgned to the fupreme Being,a fether and mother, whom they diftinguifliedy by a variety of names, and they fuppofed the fun and moon to be the chief ifeats of their refidence (s). Their fyftem of idol- worihip was, at the fame time, more lamentable than even that of the Charaibes j for it would feem that they paid divine honours to flocks and ftones converted into images, which they called Zemi ; not regarding thefe idols as fymbolical re- prcfentations only of their fubordinate divini- ties, and ufeful as fenfible obje(5ts, to awaken th© memory and animate devotion, but afcribing divinity to the material itfelf, and adually wor- fliipping the rude ftone or block which their own hands had fafhioned. It may be obferved, however, that an equal degree of folly prevmk^ among people much more enlightened. TIic Egyptians themfelves, the moft ancient of civir lized nations, worfliipped various kinds of ani- mals, and reprefentations of animals, fome of them the moft noxious in nature ; and even the accomplilhed philofophers of Greece and Rome paid divine honours to men to whom they ba4 CO F. Columbus. P. Martyr. Benzoni. ^^;/i. . ji'j themfelves ti )l II i ■ ^::''*l I '-it i i; \ t J i :il ^ « (C HISTORY OF THE themfelves given an apotheofis. — So nearly allied* in religious refearches, is the blindnefs of un* tutored nature, to the infufficicncy of mere cuU tivated rcafon ! It has indeed been alTerted (whether juftly or not) that " the fuperftitions of Paganifm al* ways wore the appearance of pleafure, and of* ten of virtue (t) ;" but the theology of out poor iflanders bore a different afpeft. By a lamentable inconfiftency in the human mind, they confidered the Creator of all things as wholly regardlefs of the work of his hands ; and as having transferred the government of the world to fubordinate and malignant beings, who delight- ed in converting into m/, that which he pro- nounced to be good. The effufions of gratitude, the warmth of affedion, the confidence of hope, formed no part of their devotions. Their idols were univerfally hideous and frightful, fometimes reprefenting toads and other odious reptiles j but more frequently the human face horribly dif- torted ; — a proof that they confidered them, not as benevolent, but evil, powers ; — as objeds of terror, — not of admiration and love. To keep alive this facred and awful prejudice in the minds of the multitude, and heighten its influence, their Bohitos or Priefts, appropriated a gsvfvifiiatvi (t) Gibbon. confec rated toh Was and( obje(f to be dieef which on th extend PopuJai Bohitos pradice the priv firft ran influence tleareft rendered With ^^W be church am iflands, th in many o the inftrun f the Cac impioufly 1 CoJumbus r Vol. I. A \ f ^ '<> the people « ,^;t ^-^ "- '•' Permit- \"d°« ""■•"Portanto^^:;'"" "">«. 'o enter, fjea of their adora,iorr;i''f;'^'" "«=*ead *e efficacy ofthefrDl '"'■'''"''"' ^"d by *'>-'' theMead:d'^T""'"""'^<*™ge„' ^^ 'hefe Cokcnnitks t!' '''*'"°"'^^ exhibited ^^^od the prieft,; do2^ ^^» ^^cuhted to P°P«'« fobjea J. ''°^"'T' r" confirm the BoIWos added to thdr T, ""' '''•'^' «'« "« privilege rfi"^" "■? ^W-^ed li^ewi^ " ."f -^ of peoSX-'S the children of .he "ifluence which. ex(e„,r'~* ™mbi„ation of ''7ft concern, 'bo™:!;"^ "--'*-/ r •'^ C7:;:rt^if '■-'.■> ^a, ch"'-c'. and ftate. ;ri , : '"'^"ce between :«»*, than in he I"rf '"'"'"'^ '•" ^hefe ""^ny other naLs?^^°"'°^^»™Pe. As '-'•"ftrt.ment of ^^ " ^"!" *- '-re „„de , °' "'' ^-ique, if ci™'"?*'> -d the wi« ■ , -— ate^that^j^-^ea.. , Vol. I. ^«>' Martyr. H 5 . / i jng H ! I 'hi jii- Pi in b [ i''; I HISTORY OF THE ing unexpededly into one of their houfes of worfliip, found the Cacique employed in obtain- ing refponfes from the Zemi. By the found of the voice which came from the idol, they knew that it was hollow, and dafliing it to the ground to expofe the impofture, they difcovered a tube, which was before covered with leaves, that com- municated from the back part of Ihe image to an inner apartment, whence the Prieft iflued his precepts as through a fpeaking trumpet; — but the Cacique earneftly entreated them to fay nothing of what they had feen; declaring that by means of fuch pious frauds, he collected tributes, and kept his kingdom in fubjedtion. The reader, I believe, will readily acquit me for declining to enter into any further detail of the various wild notions, and fantaftical rites which were founded on fuch arts and impof- tures. Happily for our iflanders, however, the general fyftem of their fuperftition, though not amiable, was not cruel. We find among them but few of thofe barbarous ceremonies which filled the Mexican temples with pollution, and the fpedators with horror. They were even more fortunate in this refpcd than the other- v'ife happy inhabitants of the lately difcovered iflands in the Southern Pacifick Ocean ; amongft whom the pradlce of offering human facrifices to their deities, is ftill dreadfully prevalent, as 9 : 't it ar the es Hj South Wonde betwet placid temper and car and trej ^ent in Piaced a divided Continer >n manj itheir nat teconomj funeral c affirm tht create the affinity pei of thefe \ from a fi fituation, Jiuman nati between fa' fefinements equally exe trefles and d V , . ^^ST INDIES. II ^"^'ently was amongft moll of th. .• ^' t^e earth. ^ " °^ *^^ nations of c h a p^ Having thbs m^nf;^ ♦ . '"• P -id people. thefaJtSd':;"^''''" »nd candour j-a l^h? '''"P''"'>'' gendenefs -nd t^acheo- of cm,""":; <'"-d of .„ea„„efi ,- ^ . placed at fo great a mL T '~^°'^ ^"''°"S'' divided by L ile! '^°'" '^^■'^h". and >- tne intervention of fh^ a • ' ^ *H«>naLa,<:i:rdt:eii,.:t-r' ■• ^"H-nthatr^^^r;:^^-'"' create the prefurnDtinn r '''^' ^ to from a fimilarity in ,..""'■ ="^°'^ P'obabiy fituation. operating on h "T"""^ '""' • human nature. pLl. ! ^ ^""''P'^' "f between favage m t^, 7 '"""^ "^'^'•"'» refinements of poM,ed f ' ''"''*' ""'' "'« eS-Uy exempt'^ ;^',,f;^'j;''ey - found ' • "■effes and fangui„r„i f '"'P"""' ^if- nguwaO-paffionsoftheformerftate, and ,, , '1 (lis; (5 ' ! 1 ( < I ! i r» :| ; V" too HISTORY OF TH E and from the artificial necefllties, the reftralntl and folicitudes of the latter. To a fpeculative mind, fuch a fituation may appear, for a mo- ment, even fuperior to our ownj " but if we " admit" (fays the elegant hiftorian of the amia- ble Otaheiteans) " that they are upon the whole " happier than wei we mufV admit that the child " is happier than me man, and that we are lofers *' by the perfedtion of our nature, the increafe of " our knowledge, and the enlargement of our " views (xj.*' In thofe inventions and arts which, varying the enjoyments, add confiderably to the value of life, I believe the Otaheiteans were in general fomewhat behind our iflanders : in agriculture they were particularly fo ()•;'. The great fup- port ^x) Hawkefworth's Voyages, vol. ii. p, 105. CyJ Dr. Robertfon, in his Hillory of America, vol. i. p. 332,obfervcs, that as the natives of the New World had no tame animals, nor the nfe of th: metals, their agriculture muft necelHirily have been imperfeft. It fl^oiild however be remembered, that as every family raifed corn for their own fupport, and the iflands being (to ufe the exprcflion of Las Cafas) *' abounding w'.tii inliabitants astiti ant-hill loith ants" a very fmali portion of ground allotted to the maintenance of each family, would comprehend in the aggregate an im- iiienfe fpace of cultivated country. Thus we find Bartfiolo- mew Columbus obferving, tliat the fields about Zabraba, a country in the Gulph of Darien, which he viewed in 1^03, " were all covered with maize, like the corn fields of Europe, *♦ fot above fix leagua together.** Unacquainted with the ibil of I por com botf thou ofya vafio as wa to di/ cafTavj of the V ^entimen known ir Superior t trouble in "^e of Jr formed of ^hicb wer ^e find tb ^"d formii Pofleffing t ^heycouldi operations c ance. r«J L'Al "riy Spanifl produftions to have con/ introduced it Indians were ^«^«'ng the p fatisfaaionof ed with the At ^^f^ P. Martyr .v-^• ^E^T INDIES bo", which flouri(h,h„";' ''"^Phntain; "fy^s and other eluW '"""""^ P'^'^'ons "^'ionofnoneofthemon ™°''' 5"^* "«^ ^'f- «' ^^^ that of ,hc ,1'^^'"^ '° ^ '' '«»five. '» **l.y equal fti, ITh*' '''='*■ '"*•«• °'- known m ihefe !„,,„/, ^ ,.',,"'*"'="«• Tha, f„i, „,,„■, ™ f-Pffw to moll ath.nl f'T''^-'''^'''"''^^' WL'AbbeRavn,! • " ~ Waai„„„fr„„,„, ^ no "'■oieWfood. For "hj ^;v»lnheA™eWca„4C/:--«™a.e,yac,:a,-t° ' lor -Ipei^ ^^ If:. i i fj' ) ■ ^ ..,1 II. ! i i 4.-^ tea, HISTORY OF THE Indians, not withftanding that they pofleffed almoft every variety of vegetable nature which grew in the countries I have mentioned, the bread fruit ex- cepted, raifed alfo both themiizc and the maniock in great abundance j and they had acquired thci Ikill of watering their lands from diftant rivers, in time of drou^^ (aj. It may Ukewife be ob- fei-ved, that although the Otaheiteans poflefs the (hrvib which produces cotton, they neither improve it by culture, nor have the knowledge of converting its wool into cloth fhj ; but content themfelves with a far meaner produdion as a, fubftitute. Our iflanders had not only the fkiH of making excellent cloth from their cotton, but they pra(^ifed alfo the art of dying it with a variety of colours ; fome of them of the utmoft brilliancy and beauty (cj. In the fcience of (hip-building (if the conftruc- tion of fuch veflels as either people ufed, may be diitinguifhed with that appellation) the fuperii ber, 1493, feven months only after the return of Columbus from his firft voyage, particularly mentions the maniock, or jucca, as furnifliing great part of the food of the iflanders^ and he defcribes their manner of making the ca^avi bread from it ; obfervingthat the raw juice is a$ ftrong a poifon as aconite. Negroes were not imported into the iflands till many years after tliis account was publiflied. (a J Martyr, Decad. iii. fij Forfter's Obfervations. (cj Oviedo. Purchas, vol. iii. p. 98 5. _,_.-■_ ,:^ .;- :- ' ■ ority on p/a for indc boat Were reJat< throi that V to a awnia linden chiidre the fea Jucataj On, the "pec variety < their ea inipleme aclniirati( former of niagnifici 00 Mai CO Herr( ofi'edar,ortl «cli end like Ij'-accd cJofe, ftance to renc V. Martyr, D( on ty . . ^'EST INDIES. 'ndeed were bv no L ""PVd in, and boats. We are toTd 7Tr ~"'™''"We fea- --navigated Ji;t^7;;f'''e.eve «d like p„,u,. Tl,„v 1 ' ""' ""''' 'I""'-' "■ t-ccd clore, .„, f„.e„: ':4" 'I* -- ™ree American hZ^ ^"^ '^^^ ">« «""'<>' «=.''"'g^of,„„J,',:^,''*°» '<> ehe voice and -.cicednefs ^,;. y;";,'; P^'«e -"uch h„„ib,o •'«' -n the (hort i„.erv o r. """'"^ '«'""•". ^"^t to the difcovery of M «?" '''*" '""''fc- SpamanlshadreduIIJ.;;^ '^''' '"*«. the « "• vain that he remal ? ""'' ^''^■" '» --■-f there poo. ;nrn::;;''««'^f-ble- "Pacty for labour sZ', " ''""'^' '"- ' ^^^' '^ « "ifted.- enti' St°"' *■ I have «p^c„ced in ,h ca„rf V '"'■'• ^'"™ "L t •= co„d„a of .hi „a • :trLT7'"''™^c., We light " Tu- • . ^ piaced in a mnr^ <■ "" I »y •Hilrorv nf A . •' i H If ■*i if fl^ Iff n Ini'i Vi ! 1 i i (' ie6 i| I f\ fi ■';f ' HISTORY OF THE lenity ; but the Spaniards diflributed them into lots, and compelled them to dig in the mines, without reft or intermifTion, until death, their only refuge, put a period to their fuficrings. Such as aiteriptcd refiftancc or efcape, their mercilefs tyrants hunted down with dogs, which were fed on their flefh. They difregarded fex and age, and with impious and frantick bigotry even called in religion to fandlify their cruelties ! Some, more zealous than the reft, forced their miferable captives into the water, and after ad- miniftering to them the ritcof baptifm, cut their throats the next moment, to prevent their apof- tacy ! Others made a vow to hang or burn thirteen every morning, in honour of our Saviour and the twelve Apoftles ! Nor were thefe the exceffes only of a blind and remorfelefs fanaticifni, which ex^ citing our abhorrence, excites alfo our pity : The Spaniards were adluated in many inftances by fuch wantonnefs of malice, as is wholly unex-< ampled in the wide hiftory of human depravity, — Martyr relates, that it was a frequent pra(5tice among them to murder the Indians of Hifpaniola in fport, or merely, he obferves, /o keep their hands in ufe. They had an emulatioB which of them could moft dextcroully ftrike off the head of a man at a blow j and wagers frequently de- pended on this hellilh exercifc (i). To fill up tjn \ (') P' Martyr, Decad. i. lib. vii. • the th in 110 its nea cxti gave iiabi port " Sc '• Rti '• whi " the] " fron '' cdai '* invJt " blifs " pk J '* fond " that " eager/] ** decoyc ^* feringi " of that tears w '* men ("jd t the III. '" "- s"i'< of i„d,viir IT '^"T'''' «<" only negfcfted to punift 1 r"^ "^ ^f^'" «'"P«io„of „,e„,,,^.''„P"T»'^'..by the u«cr E've permiflion to fei,l , '''""'°'»> ""e King P°« 'hem toperift t ,°"""^ '""'''' ""d '""f- " Severn] veffds- /fl ""T °^^'- ^"""eo- " -I'ich informedthenaZ 1 ~'"™»'Je.. of " "-ey We„„o„„,„"^'"'"'"""'whofeIa„g„,^ " from » delicious in"T ""' '"^^ "™^ ^C'i-eftors.efided '';C:r''^^^ " 'nvte (hen, to refort thT "'^J"'"ere„t to " blifs which thercn ", ••°P"«'"-eofthe " fond of vifi,ing ^"fZ ''"'""'y- "nd ' : '''-happyn,if,;,X;;-^d friends i„ ' eagernefs. By this artifi ' , ^P^^-ds with ■ :de»yedi„eoW;2ir;:t/°-owe. " fenngs which were th. i / r '" ""^ '"f- " rofthatifland.andtot-ll/'l''"''^^ ■" '^-^ with thofe of ,tf ' "■'" S'-oans and " -" r^^-" After Ltg'^:^:'" "■" °^ S tiiele accounts, - .; i' '■ i Vi 108 HISTORY OF THE BOOK who can help forming an indignant wifli that the ^' hand of Heaven, by fome miraculous interpo- afFefting particulars of the poor Lucayans thus fraudulently decoyed from their native countries. " Many of them in ** the anguifh of defpair, obftinately refufe all manner of *' fuftenance, and retiring to defert caves and unfrequented " woods, filently give up'the ghoft. Others, repairing to the «' fea-coaft on the northern fide of Hifpaniola, cafV many a *' longing look towards that part of the ocean where they ♦' fuppofe their own iflands to be fituated; and as the fea- *' breeze rifes, they eagerly inhale it; fondly believing, that it *' has lately vifited their own happy vallies, and comes fraught *• with the breath of thofe they love, their wives and ** their children. With this idea, tliey continue for hours " on the coall, until nature becomes utterly exhaufted ; " when ftretching out their arms towards the ocean, as if " to take a laft embrace of their diftant country and relations, *' they fink down, and expire without a groan."—'' One of •* the Lucayans" (continues the fame author) "who, was. *' more defirous of life, or had greater courage than moft of *• his countrymen, took upon him a bold and difficult piece " of work. Having been ufed to i^-nld cottages in his native *' country, he procured inflruments of ftone, and cut down " a large fpongy tite called jaruma*^ the body of which he •' dexteroufly fcooped into a canoe. He then provided " himfelf with oars, fome Indian corn, and" a few gourds of *' water, and prevailed on another man and a woman to em- *' bark with him on a voyage to the Lucayos Iflands. *' Their navigation w^is profperous for near aoo miles, and •' they were almoft within fight of their own long-loft iliores, ** when unfortunately they were met by a Spanifli fhip, " which brought them back to flavery and forrow. The *' canoe is ftill preferved in Hifpaniola as a Angular curio- •' fity, confidering the clrcumftances under which it wa& «* made." ■ fit! fac( pre and fierc havi in O nefit prove( coft di/ficu ten mi the but iiumbei termina reconcili finite w JU% CO] which ar exigence tht uneqi this h'fe fl ^e madi t( (Oln 15 paniola, and in Hakliiyt, utterly extern fteiidant bein * The bombax, or wild cotton tree. fitionj ■ !, ■VEST INDIKS «"on. had f„.ep,ehefe European, . "' f'^' of the earth, who l^T '^"""'^ '^'» 'he c „ ^ , -nd deftro,; and, „,ore r "I' '° ''''"<"«■= fierceft ravage, .hiiedfl""*'""^ "'^'' ">e ^-i-'g 'he ™p„,fe:^^-»» Wood, without " fheir defence ! ""^ petite to pfead On the whole ;r -«'«>eac,u:fc ^-^''"ofho.h-.tiebe- P'-ovedtotheSpanirhnL '"'"''^ '"^ «nce ™ft of the connueft " ' ""* """' °ver the *«cuit.oi„c,Ietch ;""'' «"" '•' »'-"et 'enmffiionsof innocent nf'"''™«"''''-'>f f;^-cherie3inC^X^-^^^''="^ing ■ ""mber of thofe partial .„ f , ^ ^''"S'^ 'he ' '-"-'eingeneCi^'^o '^''""-ate,, reconci,ei,sper„ifl;„f to ourSr," •? """""^ ^ fi^'fe wifdom an,)„ ?"'"'''' "^^^s ofin- J"%co„dude,:tn ■' °'""" "-'•o- '^Wch arifes fr^n Lnc °T "'""^ ">» "'« "■•fence of a ful ! H T' ''' S'^'™ "^ 'he 'heunequaldiftribuLrf ''v'^^ '*"'^' therein '^''^C?-/; //a,-^^ ^/^;^^ ^^y ,„ ^0 In icgf <5;,. r ..... " ^ ^^ ^ nevenhelefs ♦derived f i I ^]!in- I I r tl6 :| I' ' ' ' HISTORY OF THfi derived fo little advantage from their criieltyi aS to beobligea to convert pieces of leather into «roa^;— all the filver, in the at- tainment of which from the bowels of the earth fo many thoufands of poor wretches bad periflied, having long fincC found its way to Europe, and the inhabitants had no means of getting a frefli fiipply. - It may be proper in this place to obftrve, that Ibme of the tircumftances wlilih I have related above, refpefting the cnielties of the Spaniards, are cxtrai^ed from the writings of Bartholomew De Las Cafas, who is accufed by Dr. Ro- bcrtfon of exaggeration 5— but Oviedo himfeif, who endea- vours to palliate the mohftrous barbarities of his countrymen towards the natives, by aflertihg that they were addlded td tinnatural vices, which rendered them properly obnoxious td punifliment (a charge, by ilie way, which Herrera admits td be groundlefs) — Oviedo, I fay, eonfcfles that in 1535, only forty-three years pofterior to the difcovery of Hifpaniola^ and when he was hinifelf bn the fpot, there were not left ali"e in that idand above five hundred of ihe original natives^ old and young ; for he adds, that all the other Indians at that time there, had been forced or decoyed into flavery, from' the neighbouring iflands*. Las Cafas,it is true, when he fpeaks of numbers in the grofs, certainly over-rates the original inha- bitants. But it does not appear that he meant to deceive ; nor is there any juft reafon to fufpeft his veracity whea he treats of matters fufceptive of precifion \ more efpecialiy in circUmftancesof whichhe declares himfeif to have been an eye- witnefs. Let the reader judge of Las Cafas from the follow- ing narrative, in which his falfiiood (if the (lory were falfe) could have been very eafily detected. " I once beheld'* (fays he) '* four or five principal Indians rcafted ahve at a " flow fire ; and as the miferable virtims poured forth dread- ** ful fcreams, which difturbed the commanding officer in *' his afternoon flumbers, he fent word that they fliould be " ftrangled ; but the officer ftn guard (I know his namj-^ •* ANP I KNOW HIS RELATIONS IN SliVILlE) \V0Uld llOt <( «< fc'?;:* * Oviedo, lib. ill. c. vi* " fuffef \-- \ "ruff • '"'^"■^ INDIES „ -^to,d, and roaW .ta.rd^Sj;'' n,' «" -•"> >^ " ^ '' ^ p'oved to u m. ^ '^ '^""""ly «m„g ■« 'fi.rj ?i j;^.^ i 1 lit HISTORY OF THE Hi • HI ciiA:*. IV. Land animals ufed as food, — FiJIies and wild fozVu Indian method of fijJiing and fovoUng. — Ffaifcui vegetables^ \£c. — Conclufion. In tracing the feveral tribes of quadrupeds, properly fo called, which anciently exifled in the Weft Indies, it will be found that the Windward or Charalbcan iflandsjpoireffed all that were pof- feffed by the larger iflands, and fome fpecies which in the latter were unknown It is likewife obfervable, that all the animals of the former are ftill found in Guiana, and few or none of them in North America: Thefe are additional proofs that the Windward Iflands were anciently peopled from the South. The enumeration of them follows : I. The Agouti; 2. the Pecary ; 3. the Arma- dillo j 4. theOpuffumi 5. the Racoon; 6. the MuikRat; 7. the Alco; 8. the fmallcr Mon- key of feveral varieties. TttESE tio or anc neig have name tranff It is partici Th coatL Spaniar pan^s oi and Indi and the , To th defcrfptio quadrupec intermedia rat; Kid ( rated abov( ^^^^ that J ^^e nobJer i/Iands, maii cepted ! Th Porto-Rico, times in the VoA. I. i VI t "" d'alefts rathe, of ,^7^"*""' '»guages "^ei-bouri^g Co„,Ct *; '"'' "^ o" thl *«<'e been AH- "™f> 'nmeof (JibC • names !t *.'*'"g>'ia«i by fo ' '^ '"'"«'» ^'feption of it, ^, j; ^"f '•»' to refer, fcr , -'™edi«efpecie3^:;;^--<'co„ffitute.t* «ted above, this and the iT , '"'"'^ ^""me- ™- "-« iave efcaped tt ;"• ' ''^' '*'' o„,^ ;^; "°Wer inhabitant, of IT"" ''^^ "' «» "Pf J The agouti .^Vafr'"'"""^ ''°^«- ;°«o-Rico. Cuba and „' '^='?»^'«'y found i„ "7'" '"emountainsofc*' -<'«"- "4 i Wm ' '■ ' y ii^lii h ' ^ ■ -'li > •' n • "' \ M i'^ Ul HISTORY OF THE the iilands to Windward, the race, though once common to them all, is now I believe utterly extinfb. The Pecary, which was not known in the larger Iflands, has been honoured with no lefs variety of names than the Agouti. According to Rochefort it was alfo called javari and pacquire. By Dampier it is named pe/as. By Acofta /aim and zaino. It is the fus tajacu of Linnaeus, and the pecary and Mexican-mujk hog of our Engliflii naturaliils. Of this animal, a very full and particular account has been given by Monf. BufFon in his Nat-aral Hiftory, and by Dr. Tyfon in the Phi- lofophical Tranfaftions. I have heard that it ftill abounds in many of the provinces of Mexico } but in the Weft Indian iflands I be- lieve the breed has been long fince exterminated. Thofe that I have feen were carried thither from the Continent as objefts of curiofity j and they appeared to me to differ from the European hog principally in the fingular but well-known cir- cumftance of their having a muiky difcharge from an aperture or gland on the back, errone- oufly fuppofed to be the navel j and in the colour of rheir briftles j the pecary being indeed highly ornamented ; for the briftles of thofe that I beheld, were of pale blue, tipt with white. It is alfo related of this animal, that it poffefles ' - far fa w] Coj bra con the . '• O W t\ cover ^nd h hedge- fomeaj of the The from aJi lender i wherein Both thi Known t render It I believe known to The R time of s. ^y aJi forts iioliovv tree! P'^ths to thi * I have fine I ^ ml ." °'''''« Armadillo th^r ■ covered w,„, , "'"^ ">« »»« ^« «ie the 'j^^'^d deHcate. j/l! """ *" ■=-= ve^ whole- of^he Weft l„die, "" ""^^ '"°«'N in all p,;, . ^"der the belly of I / ""'"**'' Propertv ^O-n Ae rZ^:tl7^ ">-'-S f'h '"is and the fo ^er ' ""'^^ ^"""S*- ■I HE Kacoon w;i certain. Nature however feems to have difplayed towards the inhabitants of thefe iflands, a bounty that almoft rendered fuperfluous the labours of art in procuring them fuftenance; for, befides the animals that I have mentioned, and thofc that are furnilhed by the rivers and the fea, the woods were peopled with two very extraordinary creatures; both of which anciently were, and ftill are, not only ufed as food, but accounted luperior delicacies. : - n , . . • .. These are the Iguana and the Mountain-crab. The Iguana (or, as it is more commonly written, the yjiana) is a fpecies of Lizard : — a clafs of animals, about which naturalifts are not agreed whether to 1 3 rank J17 A i\ ' l;..ii T :ii:ii f ? I'i in ' i !■.' '■ l.^'i I! If I, ^ 118 HISTORY OF THE rank them with quadrupeds ^i lO degrade them to ferpents. — They feem therefore to (land aloof from all eftablilhed fyftems, and indeed juflly claim a very diftinguilhed 'ace by tbemfelvcs. From the alligator, the moIL formidable of the family, meafuring fometimes twenty foct in length, the gradation is regular in diminution of fize to the fmall lizard of three inches ; the fame figure and conformation nearly (though not whcUv) prevailing m each. The iguana is one of the intermediate fpecies, and is commonly about three feet long, and proportionably bulky. It lives chiefly among fruit trees, and is perfedly gentle and innoxious. Europeans doubtlefs learnt to make food of them from the example ot the ancient Indian; amongft whom the pradticc of hunting them was a favourite diverfion foj ; and they are now become generally fcarce, ex- cept in the iflands of the Windward -paiTage, and fuch other places between the tropicks as are feldom vifited by man. I believe indeed the Englith, even when they were more plentiful, did not often ferve them at elegant tables i but their French and Spanilli neighbours, lefs fquea- mifli, ftill devour them with exquifite relifh : I imagine too they have good reafon j for I have been alTured by a lady of great beauty and (0j F. Col. c. XXV. elegance, ckgi 'guai thcfi Ri iliJi ft its Cm; /P) \ highapf nefs of ; *''e manr objeaion participat( (%s he) " of whic " After b ** covered " a tree. " to which " out his n *| fully. -] " it the fidi " pleafed w " and ftret( '' at length " dexteroufl " brought hi " to fee thee '' felf entrap " iceptoneo tiniies the rev " find that he arelikewifc k ^>ot one of th< ^ly :lefs c ot ex- age, s as the Itiful, but uea- lilh : or I and WEST INDIES. elegance, who fpoke from experience, that the Iguana is equal in flavour and wholefomenefs to the fineft green turtle fpj. Respecting the Mountain Crab, which flill furvives in the larger of thele If ids, though its final extinction is probably at irmd, its hiftory (pj P. Labat likewife fpeaks of a frii ' guana with high approbation. He compares it to chi . r the white- nefs of its fle(h and the delicacy of its flavour.— Tom. iii. p. 3 1 5. In a fubfequent page, he gives a minute account of the manner of catching this animal, and if the reader has no cbjet^ion to accompany the good Father a IH chajpc^ lie may participate in thediverflon as follows : " Wt were attended" (fays he) " by a negro, who carried a long rod ; at one end " of which was a piece of whipcord with a running knot. *♦ After beating the bu(hes for fome time, the negro dif- " covered our game balking in the fun on the dry limb of " a tree. Hereupon he began whirling with all his might, *' to which the guana was wonderfully attentive, flretchiiig " out his neck and turning his head, as if to enjoy it more *' fully. The negro now approached, ftill whirling, and " advancing his rod gently, began tickling with the end of '♦ it the fides and throat of the guana, who feemed mightily " pleafed with the operation ; for he turned on his back, " and ftretched himfelf out like a cat before a fire, and •' at length fairly fell afleep; which the (negro perceiving, " dexteroufly flipt the noofe over his head, and with a jerk •♦ brought him to the ground : and good fport it afforded, " to fee the creature fwell like a turkey cock, at finding him- " felf entrapped. We caught others in the fame way, an J " kept one of them alive feven oretght days; but" (con- tinues the reverend hiftorian) " it grieved me to the heart to *' find that he thereby loft much delicious fat." Thefe animals are likewife known in the Eaft indies. Sir Jofeph Banks Aiot one of them at Batavia, and found it good food. '. 1 4 is 119 HAP. IV. i! \. \ 11 '1 ): lanccj il V^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 IttlM |25 ¥^ ^ 12.2 Sf B4 ■■■ £ L& 12.0 !» wami m 1 1.25 II , .4 IJ^ . , - - - . < 6" -^ S^ p / <%^ J Photogra{iiic Sciences Corporalion a>^ f\ <> '^. 23 WIST MAIN STREIT WEBSTM.N.Y. USIO (716) •72-4503 O^ K^ ^ ^ f u lie HISTORY OF THE. is fo wonderful, that I choofe 'rather to give it in the language of others, than in any recital of my own. The authors from whom I tran- fcribe, are Du Tertre and Brown. They both wrote from their own knowledge and perfonal obfervation, and the fads which they relate have been repeated to me a thoufand times in the Weft Indies, by perfons, who I am fure never kn» fof- " ^his change, tCtlT™'^ "■«"'«mg " '"o've as the Jtu^l;"''''^'' ''^^ -"d dif- " new cruft." °"~ »"<' P^rfefts its '" order to eat of this fint , "*"'' P^P'". tigfaeft perfeaion. dufe If 1"'"^' '" «=« "■e earth in the Ztl^7 '° "" ""S""' of "My taken fo„ "L "! h"' 1 '« "-^ «« ofthemfelves, till they ^ h 7 r'^'" """°^' related. During .11 thi, T ^ ''^ "" "^'^dy '•.f '•fmytefti^t;X'''^!'--nfpawnf »" who have written ?„/ ,^ "='" "> that of -'''efubjea.lpi ;';''oi>avefealled, °™ of the choiceft n,orft, „ 2 """ ''°"''^' frvafon therefore of DuT ^""^ *" hyperbolical. „or extravajnt T'J" "^''^- various fpedes of this af; , fP^^^Sof the :''«vi„gandpep ;;7^'''-'-msthen, " 'he wildernefs f equ^'d Tl "^ "^"^ '« " 'ou» bounty «; P^o" •t'' °"'^ "y 'he mi„.cu. :'^- --vaSS---'-;of 1(1 ' V;l 'f «( are .> .-» "♦ Wl-i it HISTORY OF THE arc a refourcc," continues he, " to which " the Indians have at all times refort ; for when " all other provifions are fcarce, this never fails " them." Such plenty of animal food, had the laviHi hand of nature enabled the groves and the forefts of thefe highly favoured iflands, to furnilh for the ufe of man. The regions of water and of air were ftill more copioufly gifted. Happily the inhabitants of thofe elements, lefs obnoxious to the arts of deilrudlion than the races that I have defcribed, are yet fuificiently numerous to bear witnefs themfelves to the inexhauftible liberality of tlieir almighty Creator. — ^We may fay in the language of Milton, ■ Each creek and bav With fry innumerable fwarnn, and fhoals Of fifli glide under the green wave. - Part fingle, or with matCj Graze the fea-weed their pafiure ; and thro' groves Of coral ftray, or fporting with quick glance, Show to the fun their wav'd coats dropt with gold. While the woods and the marfhes equally abound with while fowl of infinite variety, and exquifite flavour fqj. But of the tribes which thefe C^J The moft delicious bird in the Weft Indies is the Ortalafi, or O^oicr-iirJ. It is the emberixn oijzivcra of Lin- naeus, or rice- bird of South Carolina; of which a defcrip- tjou is given by Catciby.— Yet it is remarkable, that they the] who toaj ^Ith that as fr, niodc] theki the pr obferv( iittle I fhe rec fore do ^^ reckoi »n the We Caroiina h *o devour i ^"t* retire 'heir route i arc not in tl '^'ithatmo '<» feed on t Cateftv.the- ^'*^n is about "'■"the back and fl.arp p„j ^0''ous kind.- y^^o% the up ^ad black; h f^«ofthewin< '"«"'" in both wards, p. ^, *hore nature J ;^':S'':^"'*'-''fi-m "«' I have m«ie h« cS '"""'ration ^ from their fcarckyTlT'"^ """^b' the knowledge and eT„ 7"^"' "^^ "^ which •he prefent im^bitants -If "T' "* '•"* '<» °'"^^ed. that whatLr? " *" '«"'Ju% •he ^commendation rf ^ter'"™""" ''"^ «>« clofe my account ;r';n- ?*" *'«- <'™™ in bort <■ "''* "« black I; *"''"« f ff it\ y I*; I' J I .( '■In ii6 BOOK I. If I3S I .JjjftV I «s ♦ ! i'S 1 ■• Mw ll I if I 1 HISTORY OF THE with a defcription of two very curious methods, known to the antient Indians, of catching fifh and wild fowl, with which I believe the reader will be amufed. " The Indians of Jamaica and Cuba" (fays Oviedo) " go a fifliing with the remora^ or fuck- ing-fifli, which they employ as falconers em- ploy hawks. This fi(h, which is not above a fpan long, is kept for the purpofe and re- gularly fed. The owner on a calm morning carries it out to fea, fecured to his canoe by a fmall but flrong line, many fathoms in length ; " and the moment the creature fees a fifli in the water, though at a great diflance, it flarts away with the fwiftnefs of an arrow, and foon " faftens upon it. The Indian, in the mean " time, loofens and lets go the line, which is " provided with a buoy that keept on the fur- " face of the fea, and ferves to mark the courfe " which the remora has taken, and he purfues " it in his canoe, until he conceives his game to be nearly exhaufted and run down. — He then, taking up the buoy, gradually draws " the line towards the (hore j the remora Hill " adhering with inflexible tenacity to its prey, " and it is with great difficulty that he is made " to quit his hold. By this method" (adds ** Oviedo) " I have known a turtle caught, of 4 " a bulk M «C ft «( «( «( (C (C « (( < u {\ was lieve at th tcCort gourd when proach far, th on hh frJUt Decad. i. Indians (tJ ^ow hecot Wands, but wifnefs. J, % t*e Brii refemblance ^aftes fomev ^^ and fa *=««ure, nei and M coverc «aves the vva •omofthefe. ^"Sfi and unv dttd weight. wte'thatthisa M'Tfcrupie -.,.„ ^=«T INDIES. -fup;:!;';::;;'''*' """•''"«' %fe«a„ could «'- "y otLr S\^;"eh pmaifcd I be- 8°"")) which float ,Z! !f"'**" ^» ''«"« of -'•- accuft„„,ed totChT' "" '"'''=''■ P"^h without fear „ • ^' '^"' """Idap- *=-• ">e fpo«f„,„ '^f ;'"g Succeeded thu, «■> h« head (firft «aSS a~l°' 'J""" S"""'' "S apertures for n^ jg^, Jflands, but is ftiii r^^.,. '"*^ ">ores of the Wi-ft t j- wifneft n • . '°"'ct'nies caught th^ \ " '^'''a cftafn.. . . °-"-The an mal itfeif ,0 r ^ ^ood, both torn of ,h. rj '•^" f«°» on graft which gZ"s'a„hT" and r I ' 1 1 i BOOK I. HISTORY OF THE and the breath ) and very cautioufly creeps into th^ water, either gently fwimming, or walking where the dream is fliallow, with his head only above the water, until he gets among the fowl, whenr feizing one at a time by the feet, and dragging it by a fudden jerk under the furface, he faftens it to his girdle, and thus loads himfelf with as many as he can carry away, without creating the leafl alarm or difturbance among the reft. I MIGHT now proceed to an enumeration and account of the efculent vegetables originally produced in thefe Iflands ; efpecially thofe moil valuable ones, the Maize, the maniock (s)y and the different fpecies of the dhfcorea or Yam j of which, and the many delicious fruits, the growth of thefe climates, the natives without doubt com- pofed the chief part of their daily fupport: but I am here happily anticipated by the voluminous colledions of fyftematical wtiters ; particularly thofe of Sloane, Brown, and Hughes. Never- thelefs it were to be wiflied, that thofe authors had more frequently difcriminated than they appear to have done, fuch vegetables as are in- (s) A late ingpnious writer (Dr. Darwin) has giren it a> his opinion, that the maniock, or cailava, wlien made into bread, is rendered mild by the heat it undergoes, rather than by expreffing its fuperflnous juice; and I believe the obfer- ▼ation to be juft; for Sir Hans Sloane relates, that the juice itfelf, however acrimonious in its raw flate, becomes, when boiled, as innocent and wholefome as whey. digenous. cdfr( benef ciiniai each. greatef progref ofProvj %arate ProcaJ p eni])Joyn W'hich w and the c Birr it OJ The \ to the Eaft, b Ofpine-appJe, found by Cc /*• Martyr, ,vl '"mbus'sLett* ^I'umfvuaumj "f'i'/Jem terru ■^P'^"* forma cot o»'»emfuperat & ^"'"'Sopemisn 'tpen're incorrupt ^"i'nnativofoh I 'f « extoUunt. v\ •J'd not leave a J 'fm Anana is, J rWs fruit ,vas/a«. Vox.. I, Hi P"«refi of men i„ fp"^"""" "'"'"^ ^ «»d the of Providence, ad^ *;t:^,t"^ ^"-^ "'effing, fepamted regions of tlfe^UK ■"«"■= "idely focalprodudlions J if ^^ T"' "■«' "*"■ "'"•ch well defen^rthnr 'V' " " '""•'>« «-««no..n,e.o<,ui.gene„uVcriio„ P n/r ^ *-oJumbus in aJI the W-n _ .." ^»'^ It was P- Martyr, whofe Decade, werl ch^ ^"^'^ ^"«"V ' I: I.- ';) I I mn I i;' ■ f .. ' i \ i i i i • 1 \- % 1 m . 136 HISTORY OP THfi " the Ihort narrative of Hanno*s expedi" ** tion before mentioned, is of fufpicious au- thority (c):* I SHALL quote from Herodotus the paflage alluded to, that the reader tnay judge for himfelf of the Veracity of the venerable old Grecian. It is as follows. " Libya is every where encircled " by the fea, except on that fide where it adjoins " toAfia. Pharaoh Neco, King of Egypt //y, ** made this mahifeft. After he had defifted from his projcA of dicing a canal from the Nile to the Arabian Gulph,he furnilhed a body of Phe- nicians with (hips, commanding them to enter tlic Northern Sea by the Pillars of Hercules ; and fail back by that route to Egypt. The Phenicians therefore failing from' the Red Sea navigated the Southern Ocean : At the end of autumn they anchored, and going afhore " fowed the ground, as thofe who make a Libyan voyage ahvays do, and ftaid the harveft. Having cut the corn, they failed. Thus two years having elapfed, they returned to Egypt, pair- ing by the Pillars of Hercules j and they re- u u it «< <( (C C( (t tt (( (( (C (e) Robertfon's Hiftory of America, vol. i. p. 9. (f) There were two kings of Egypt of this name. The fecond, who is generally fuppofed to have ordered the cir- cumnavigation of Africa, was flain in battle by the Afl>'rians, I think under the command of Nebuchadnezzar ; but an ambiguous phrafe in Herodotus, feems rather to point out the elder Neco, who was contemporary with Solomon. " ported •( « fc «c n J\ by J percc owni it ha vatioj cotnpi the ve inarkal voyage ia faiJi; poffibiJi picks w ci/ivie o Dr. d) He •"y work, tJiis pafTagi of Henry that he has deniable pr< It was the ouier fea Atlantick, a ^' '-p. 38, « is aflerted. from Gades d) This hundred yea The the cir- TyrianSt Ibut an Vmt out sorted •( « <( K WEST INDIES. 137 a circumflance which to me is not appen* DIX. ported credible, though it may gain belief from others, that failing round Libya they had the fun on the right (g)r Notwithstanding the doubts entertained bj' Dr. Robertfon refpedling this account, I perceive in it fuch evidence of truth, as, to my own mind, affords entire convidion. — How could it have been known, unlefs from adual obfer- vation, that Africa, towards the South, was en- compaffed by the fea ? The caution with which the venerable hiftorian exprefTes himfelf, is re- markable : and the circumftance that the voyagers obferved the meridian fun on the north, in failing round Libya, which feemed an im- poflibility at a time when all between the tro- picks was deemed uninhabitable, is of itfelf de- cifive of the main fadt (h). Dr. Robertfon has fhewn, it is true, that (g) Herod. Melpomene 42. In the former editions of tny work, fome miftakes were made in the tranflation of this paflage, which were pointed out to me by the kindnefs of Henry James Pye, Efq. the Poet Laurcat, who affures me, that he has always confidered the paflage in queftion as an un- deniable proof of the early doubling the Cape of Good Hope. It was the opinion of Eratofthenes the cofmographer, that the ouier fea flowed round the earth, and that the Weftern, or Atlantick, and Red Seas, were but one Ocean. ^ and " being bound to one other of the Canary " Iflands, had provifions for a few days only, which, with their utmoft care, had been ex- pended a confiderable timej fo that the crew lived entirely on wine. They were reduced to the laft extremity, and expefted death every moment, when they difcovered Trinidad, " and foon afterwards came to an anchor in that " iHa'nd, to the great ailoniHiment of the in- " habitants; who ran in crowds to behold the " poor feamenj whofe emaciated appearance, " wovdd have fufficiently confirmed the truth " of their relation, even if the papers and docu- ments which they produced, had not put the matter out of all poffible doubt.'* To the preceding inftances it may be added, that Columbus himfelf, in his fecond expedition to the Weft Indies, found the ftern-poft of a veffel lying on the (hore at Guadaloupe ; — a circum- ftance which affords a ftrong prefumption that a ihip had been in the New World before him. Under this head of fortuitous vifits to the American continent prior to that of Columbus, may likewife be included the circumftance mentioned by Martyr, that at a place called Quarcqua, in theGulph of Darien, Vafcho Nunez met with a colony of negroes (d). The enquiry (if any was (J) Mancipia ibi nigra rcpereriint ex regionc diftante ^ Quarequa, dierum fpatio tantum duorum quse folos gignit nigritas « <( «{ « (C (C x. their origin in the Old Hcmlfphcre, and we may readily believe that many inftances of a fittiilar nature might be adduced, but for the caufe I have affigned, namely, the different modes which different perfons would neceffarily adopt, each according to his own perception of the found, of reducing the fame words to writing; thus creating a perplexity which it is now too late to difentangle. To Cbaraltu Mtan'mg h Freiieb,ac- WtrJt hav'mi tb* famt mtaithg Mtmi'mg \n Eiig* In ibi Or'unial dlaliHu li/h, nin '^ [Li Hene] His at//* •J mn nin [Hene Hera nij My lui/i Sam. ntNtt- HH/t- [Aca ati] Come hither Liant Yene-neri Hac yete Karbet Encka Mtanitig In French, ac ttrding to Reebt/iirt, Sa femme Ma femme Vencz ici Maifon poblique Collier PUTpn Qlr 1 or I or VBit , If ailed houfe •l Jjembly houfe Yene kali Hue-Hue Nora Mon Collier Du bois Ma pe<;^u Nane-guacte Je fuis malade Halea tibou pjy [Onq] Necklace or col- [lar »^H pjrn [E'Onq ali] My necklace Cald : Hff [Oa] Wood »J 1W [Our ni] Myjkin ♦nnJHJ [Nanechcti] I amjick Sois le bien n'ton »^ Hn» [ Yeha li e thibou] Good be to you [vcnu Phoubae Souffle niD [Phouhe] 7r ,J.V Toubana ora Couverturc u*un *iip nja n [Di Bne Oiir] Roofi a houfe [Maifon Bayou boukaa Va t'en *]MU Mil [Boua Bouak] Go thyway Baika Mange Cald. nJi [Bge] Eat Aika Manger ^3W [Akl] To eat Nichiri Mon ncz inJ [Ncheri] The nofe Natoni boman Donne moi a 10« 3 'JnJ [Natonibamen] Give me nourish' [boire \menU (g) For this illiiftration, and other afliftance in the courfe of this eoquiry, I am indebted to a learned friend ; by whom Vol. I. L T am .1 ■'"N ! 1 1 ■!• %, ' r. , Li. ■' - i \ ' I iMi i ? 'I- & ' *-?;i il! U6 ■ ? 'AV HISTORYOFTHE To the proofs arifing from langu^e, I (hall ad4 the following. — We have feen from Herodotus, that the Phenicians in their African voyages were accuftomed to land on the Arabian and Libyan coafts, and taking poffefTion of a fpot of ground fit for their purpofe, they proceeded to plough up and fow it with corn, j\nd waited until it came to maturity; — thus providing themfelves with food for a long navigation. This praftice muft doubtlefs have given rife to difputes and con- flifts between the intruders and the inhabitants. Now it is remarkable that the word Charaibe, in the Arabick language, fignifies, as I am informed, m robber or deftroyer, an appellation which we may believe was frequently beftowed by the natives on the invaders of their country (h). The I am informed (being myfelf unacquainted with the orientat languages) that the Samaritan, and old Phenician, the Syriack, Chaldee and Hebrew, are all dialers of one lan- guage ; differing but little from each other, except in their letters. The Hebrew agrees Ifefs with the other dialefts than the refl, but is now printed in the fame charafter with the Chaldee. Tiiey all form a noun in the fame manner except the Hebrew, which perfixes t» (S) to form the genitive cafct and n« (at) to form the accufative ; all the others ufe n (D) and n» (it). (h) Leri, and fome others, fpeak of the Charaibes as priefis or prophets found iti Brafil. Rochefort makes Charaibe a national name. Thefc words are oriental, founding alike, but fpelt differently ; and of a different meaning : The priefts may be called u;'« ai;? as men who offer {anp m^»9 aa Inani evide cafe, cuftoj the C monft Of foi probal and fi; but w prevail foundei fituatio coincidi Thus, I ble, it buried their kr prevails the Sou an ofFerinj vnde Cor But if the predatory verb Chal a fword o was given note. • Ledvi (ricntal the lan- their than ith the except cafe* T(D) priefts aiie a alike. The aa DIX. WESTINDIEl ^The teftimony arifing from a fimilarity of appej* hianners, though far lefs conclufive than the evidence of mguage, is furely, in the prefent cafe, not without its force. That many of the cuftoms of the eaftern nations prevailed among the Charaibes, I have, I think, fufficiently de- monftrated in the fecond chapter of this work. Of feme of thofe cuftoms, the refemblance was probably fortuitous, and a fimilarity of climate and fituation, might have given rife to others ; but when very Angular and arbitrary practices prevail between diftant nations, which are neither founded in nature nor climate, nor proceed fram fituation and rank in the fcale of refinement, the coincidence can fcarcely be deemed accidental. Thus, among other cuftoms equally remarka- ble, it has been related that the Charaibes buried their dead in a cowering pofture, with their knees to the chin. The very fame cuftom prevails at this day in the Sandwich Iflands of the South Sea*, the inhabitants of which are. •>i an offering, xspaS*; is the Greek word for a prieft of Cybcle, itmie CoKYBANTEs, nin»^ pnp D3n anjj* '^ Leviticus i. 2. But if the national name be derived from their warlike and predatory way of life, then we may derive it from ann the verb Chaldee. Syr. Arab, to lay ivajle. The noun fignifies a fword or fpear and nnn Sam. irar. This explanation was given me by the friend mentioned in the preceding note. • Ledyard'sMSS. penerme. ,,.,1, •• L 2 beyond ir if ! I I- 1, i . K ^Sl m ' : J 1 1 ■>r.\ i n I ■•;! ni m • ! 148 l! < '; . I I HISTORY OF THE beyond all doubt, of eaftern origin ; and that it was an ancient praftice of the eaftern nations appears from the authorities of Herodotus and Cicero ; the former recording the exiftence of it among the Nafamones, a people who inhabited the countries between Egypt and Carthage i and the latter relating the fame circumftance of the ancient Perfians. I am inclined to believe that this pradice prevailed alfo in the country and age of the patriarchs; — for how otherwife are we to underftand the fcripture phrafe of GATHERING UP THE FEET OF THE DYING? " And when Jacob had made an end of command- *' ing his fonsy he gathered up his feet " INTO THE bed, and yielded up the « ghoftf/;." Many other correfponding circumftances may be traced in Herodotus. Thus when he enume- rates the army of Xerxes, he ubferves of the an- cient Ethiopians, that they uied bows and arrows in battle, and painted their bodies with crim- fon *. The coincidence between thefe people and the ^Charaibes in both thefe refpcfts, can hardly, I think, be afcribed to chance, and it is fuch as inflind could not have producecl. - Equally prevalent among tiie Charaibes, and many of the ancient nations in the eaftern foito^'j*f (i) Gen. c. xlix. V, 33. % * liouk I' , 1 1^ 1 H i. r iM 1 i 1' 1 if' ISO HISTORY, &c. BOOK and illudratlve, was the habit among the Cha« !!• raibes of chewing the betekj preparing it with calcined fhells precifely after the manner of the Indians in the Eaftj — a circumftance, which, though recorded by P, Martyr fuj, had efcaped my refearch^s, until it was pointed out to me by Mr. Long. Some other refemblances, al- moft equally ftriking, might be collected ; but the reader will probably think that more than enough has already been faid on a fubjed, the inveftigation of which he may perhaps deem a mere matter of idle curiofity, neither contribut- ing to the improvement of fcience, nor the comfort of life. Here then I conclude: An attempt to trace back the Charaibes of the Weft Indies to their progenitors, the firft emigrants from the ancient hemifphere, in order to point out, with any de- gree of precifion or probability, the era of their migration, were (like the voyages I have been defcribing) to venture on a vaft and unknown ocean without a compafsj — and even without one friendly ftar to guide us through the night of conjedure, . (v) Decad. vi'ii. c« y'u h -'■■:^ : f ■ > r^j It Jamaica o^Jamaio thefe DBp the Mufq T H S HISTORY, CIFIL AND COMMERCIAL, or The Britifh Colonies in the Weft Indies. ;,'■<, BOOK II. Jamaica (a). CHAP^ I. Difcovery of Jamaica by Columbus. — His return in. 1503. — Spirited proceedings of his fort Diego, after Columbus's death. — Takes pojfefjion of Jamaica in 1509. — Humane condu6i of Juan de Efquivel, the firjl Governor. — EJiabliJJment and defertion of the town of Sevilla Nueva. — DeJlruSlion of the Indians. — St. Jago de la Vega founded,- ^Gives the title of Marquis to Diego's fon fa) It may be proper to obferve, that the governor of Jamaica is ililed in his commiffion Captain-general, &c. of Jamaica and tie territories thereon depending in America. By thefe DEPENDENCES Were meant the Britifh fettlements oi) the Mufquito ihore, and in the bay of Honduras : But his •jj ii 4. jurifdiftiott I nt ••T „> ^-.... IHl ,1" ' '\ i 1'! l! *r' i,il :»5« 1 I j i ir lii HISTORY OF THE Jon LewiSy to whom the IJland is granted in perpetual fovereignty. — Dejcends to his Jijler Ifabelloy who conveys her rights by marriage to the Hovfe of Braganza, — Reverts to the crown of Spain^ in 1640. — Sir Anthony Shirley in- vades the IJland in 1596, and Col. Jack/on in 1638. JAMAICA had the honour of being dif- covered by Chriftopher Columbus, in his fecond expedition to the New World. In his former voyage he had explored the north-eaftern part of Cuba, proceeding from thence to Hif- paniola; but he had returned to Europe in doubt whether Cuba was an ifland only, or part jurlfdiftion over thofe fettlements having Leen imperfeftly defined, was feldom acknowledged by the fettlers ; except when they wifheu to plead it in bar of the authority claimed by their refpcftive fuperintendants. On fuch occaflons they admitted a fuperior jurifdii^ion in the governor of Jamaica, and applied to him for commiflions civil and military. As both the fettlements were furrendered to the crown of Spain by the Spanifli convention figned at Lon- don on the 14th of July 1786, it comes not within the plan of my work to enter on a difplay of their pad or prefent ftate. I formerly drew up a memorial concerning the fet- tlement on the Miifquito-fliore, wherein an account was given of the country, its inhabitants and productions, and the queftion between Great Britain and Spain, as to the territorial right, pretty fully difcufled. This memorial having been laid before the Houfe of Commons in 1777 (by Governor Johnftone) was foon afterwards publiflied in Al- mon's Parliamentary Regifter for that year - Qf /ij P. 'j'^forians v ^'ed, in the y>%j. Co O/dmixon, f I fM, f. < of WEST INDIES. after h. arrival rfecoS^r~-/- another voyage to Cuh, T "'"Pamola, on • courfe and ^ r ' '''' * f^'h-wefterly ft^llops. On Tuet T ""' ** "^^ '"o t->ehrrbo„?:,^3tSi^''V^-h^^^^ croffed over to Cuh, ?' "'" *''""« ^e fouthern fide of that M'd"f "*" ^^"^ "-e thoufand canoes fiS;riT''''™'^ curiofity and admiration l,ad bro ?'' "*°'" In this navigation onT. , ^^"^ '"S^her. i-edircovererCtCfiSreVlf^^^' Januicao„the,eft.andprraW^^^^^^^^^^ (the name which it ftiil ret,i„ V? "^^ ^"e Indians that foiloS C, A I:"' °^ a new difcovery. and many'^fet "■ "" o^'heBaW^it1i?^'''''"''^- ^'' as tJie country moll 'r^/* P. Martvr. F r^i. l l»«o,ia„swro,e-.he„;,d^^;,^'- The e.rf, Spa-ift W, .n .he h„g„,ge of ,^'ZZls I '" "'^' "S"' Jpri'S: Columbus havi„» „ «,» ^ ", """"> •»*»«<*» ;, abounding I i 1 ;| HI Im if ■ I ii-i'ii r .i »i4 BOOK II. HISTORY OF THE abounding in gold, Columbus was eafily perfuad- ed to turn his courfe towards it. He approached it the next day, and, after a flight conteft with the natives, which ended however in a cordial reconciliation, he took polTeffion of the country, with the ufual formalities. But it was not until the fourth and lad voyage of Columbus, a voyage undertaken by this great navigator, after he had fuffered a fcverer trial from the bafe ingratitude of the Country and Prince in whofe fervice he laboured, than from all his pall toils, dangers and inquie- tudes, that he learnt more of Jamaica ; which, as it had the honour of being firft difcovercd by him nine years before, had now the ftill greater honour of affording him Ihelter from ihipwreck. For, on the 24th of June 1503, being on his re- turn to Hifpaniola, from Veragua, he met with ftich tempeftuous weather as compelled him, after loling two of his Ihips, to bear away in the utmoft diftrefs for this ifland. With great dif- ficulty, he reached a little harbour on the north fide (c) where he was forced to run aground the two veflels that were left him, to prevent their foundering. By this difafter, his fhips were damaged beyond the poffibility of repair, and he had now the melancholy refledion that his i a fi UJ til hii Tti exa hy renc avai, bytj 1 wher jhavii: iiiftor ^ardfl ills Sc mightj them, I name that Councii diaries ar (c) Called to this day, Dm Ckrifiophr'i Cove. the procJ miferies ^''flfettleJ : f ' 1^ liferies WEST INDIES." mlferies and his life would probably terminate together. During the fpace of twelve months and four days, that he remained in this wretched iituation, he had new dangers to furmount, and unaccuftomed trials for the exercife of his for- titude. His people revolted, the Indians deferted him, and the Governor of Hifpaniola not only refufed to relieve, but, with monftrous and un- exampled barbarity, aggravated his misfortunes by outrage and mockery. All thefe occur- rences however, the dexterity with which he availed himfelf of the fuperflition of the Indians by the circumftance of an eclipfe, and the means whereby his deliverance was at length effedted, having been recounted by a thoufand different hiftorians, need not be repeated by me. The hardihips he fuffered on this occaiion, and his Sovereign's ingratitude together, proved too mighty for his generous fpirit : he funk under them, foon after his return to Spain ; leaving a name which will not be extinguifhed, but with that world whofe boundaries he had extend- ed f./;. ' After (d) There is preferved among the Journals of the Hon, Council in Jamaica, a very old volume in MS. confilUng of diaries and reports of Governors, which relate chiefly to the proceedings of the army and other tranfaftions in the ^rft fettlement of the colony* In this book is to be found the »« I n ! f- ir.. ]i.m\\ !,.■,!■, i- '. imm I . Si hr \i 1 hi n\ lin: I III 156 m li : -' l\h I im V ';f '1 w HISTORY OF THE After the death of thisilluftrious difcoverer, the tranfaftions of the Spaniards, during a century and a half» in the fettlement of Jamaica, have fcarcely obtained the notice of hiftory. Happy indeed it would have been for their national charadler, if the records of many of their more extenfive enterprifes, during the fame period, were the trrnflation of a letter to the King of Spain, fald to be written by Cohimbus during his confinement o.i this Ifland. As it appears to me to bear marlis of authtaticity, I fliaiJ pr«fent it to my readers. It was written proliably about eight months after the departure of his mefler.ger Diego Mendez, who had attempted to reach Hifpaniola in an In- dian canoe. Hearing qothing from him in that interval, Columbus feems to have relinquiflied every hope of relief and to have written this letter in an hour of defpondency, not as having any probable r ir-^ns of fendhig it to Spain> but on the idea that it would be found after his death.** It is as follows : A Letter from Chkistophbr Columbus, In Jamaica, ' to King Ferdinand. '• Jamaica, 1504. ** Diego Mendes, and the papers I fent by him, will Ihew your Highnefs what rich mines of gold I have difcovered in Veragua, and how I intended to have left my brother at the river Belin, if the judgments of Heaven and the greateil misfortunes in the world had not prevented it. However it is fufficient that your Highnefs and your fuccelTors will have the glory and advantage of all, and that the full difcovery and fettlement are referved for happier perfons than the unfortunate Columbus. If God be_ fo merciful to cv do ton con^ not of fill fancy neith( «xpre( north Alreac lodged and Ja( have n: ^ere fai the Indi fore are compani render m fliaJJ evei envy of < takings a knowkdg and you 'iinand ; that my thus low j equal to IT and, for deftriiaion 'labitations performed 'o niyfelf, f, tender me WEST INDIES. a purer ^«"vlncc your Highnefta^ J"""' ' '^°"'* "°^ •'"^ ^c will ""^ only be a clv/Ind /^ f' "^"^'^^^ ""' ''''^ «i" f ^bledls, lands ai^t^^^"^ ^ clifbovery of a .orld f-ncy could ever comp ehl' ' '" '^'"'' ""''«""'^«'d "*'»her he, this ^..T^ort' T '''"" ''^^'^ ^"^« '■ ^^^ -^Prtk the a„g„X/°:.'^:^*''"S"e of mortal ,r,a„, can nor the rni(.r^ ZZt^ T"' f ""^ ''^^y «"d m nd ; Already ^^^^ ..^^Z^l^ ''''^ l>-ther and friends f Jodged on the open decks of n, "^°""" «"" this place have mutined under the Porras wT •< ""''^ '" ''^''-'^J* -erefeithfulare momy f^k,. /?'''"'' ""^ ^"-'^^ that fhe Indians' provifions^ fo ^ 1 ^'"f ' ^ ^ave confumed fo- are h'ke to periH. by h ,„1^1^^^^^^^^^ -'^ «" ^here- companied with fo manv .^ * " ''"^' '"""^'■'« ^^e ac - render .e ti^.o/rSS^ •^r""'''^"^"' ^^- «>all ever fee; as if the TpIeautfR ""■'"'"' ''"'^ ^^«^'^' ' envy of Spain, and would tm/r'-'" ^^^•'"^^'' ^'"^ takings and difcoveries vhfch f!^. '"'"'"'' ^^^^''^ ""^^••- knowledgedasgreatand J "■'«"' ^^"'d have ac •» 7Wf. fo I fear ,he empev^wl ^f vf T "■" ' """*'- — e„...,„s.oi;.,j:]t'^---:;. ' - • ■ ■ ' It I: i: Ir -I I I k, (i- ' I 158 HISTORY OF THE BOOK purer medium, and not, as now, ferving chit^f ''• to render vifible the vices and enormities that furround and debafe them ! The few particulars of their progrefs which, by diligent feledion, aided by traditionary memo- rials. It is vifible that all methods are adopted to cut the thread that li breaking; for I am, in my old age, opprcded with in- fupportable pains of the gout, and am now languifliing and expiring with ttiat and other infirmities, among favagei, where I have neither medicines nor provifions for the body, prieft nor facrament for the foul. My men in a ftate of re- volt; my brother, my fon, and thofe that are faithful, £ck, ftarving and dying t the Indians have abandoned us, and the Governor of Saint Domingo, has fent rather to fee if I am dead, than to fuccour us«or carry me alive from hence; for his boat neither delivered a letter, nor fpoke with, nor would receive any letter from us ; fo I conclude your Highncfs's officers intend that here my voyages and life fliould terminate. O blefTed mother of God, that com- pafTionates the miferable and opprefTed, why did not cruel Covadilla kill me when he robbed me and my brother of our dearly purchafed goldf and fent us to Spain in chains without trial crime or fiiadow of mifcoiiduA ? Thefe chains are all the treafures 1 have, and they fliall be buried with me, if 1 chance to have a coffin or grave ; for I would have the remembrance of fo uojuft an action perlfli with me, and, for the glory of the Spanifli name, be eternally forgotten. Let it not bring a further infamy on the Cadillian name, nor let future ages know, there were wretches fo vile in this, that think to recommend themfelves to your majefty by dertroying the unfortunate and miferable Chriftopher Columbus ; not for his crimes, but for his fcrvices in dif- covering and gi '" Spain a new world. As it was Heaven itfelf tiiat iiilpireil . id conduced rac to it, the Heavens * will y It * ircad ti tn- gand rageif body, of re- lithful, ltd Wf to fee if hence; ith, nor ie your md life it com- kot cruel other of n chains .fe chains with ine, have the Tie, and, forgotten. ian name, fo vile in jir majefty iriftopher ;es in dil- ls Heaven Heavens NVill WEST INDIES. rials, I have been able to colleft, I fliall now prc- fcnt to in V readers. About fevcnteen years had elapfed after the Spaniards had firft fixed themfelves in Hifpa- niola, before they fcem to have entertained any will weep for me, ami fliew pity ! Let the earth, and evsrj fonlin it, that loves jiiftice and mercy, weep for me ! And you, O glorified Saints of God, that kmw my innocency and fee my fulFcrings here, have mercy ! for though this prcfent age is envious or obdurate, furdy tliofc that are to cotrie will pity me, when they are told that Chrillopher Columbus, with his own fortune, ran the hazard of his own and his brother's lives, and, with little or no expence to tlie Crown of Spain, in ten years, and four voyages, rendered greater fervices than ever mortal man did to prince or king- dom, yet was left to perifli, without being charged with the lead crime, in poverty and milery ; all but his chains being taken from him ; fo that he who gave Spain another world, had neither fafety in it, nor yet a cottage for himfdf, nor his wretched family : but, ihould Heaven ftill perfecute me, and fcem difpleafed with what I have done, as if tlie dif- covery of this new world may be fatal to the old, and as a punifliment bring my life to a period in this miferablc places yet do you, good angels, you that fuccour the opprefled and innocent, bring this paper to my great miftrefs. She knows how much I have done, and will believe what I have ftitlered for her glory and fervice, and will be fo jufi and pious as not to let the children of him that has brought to Spain fucli immenfe riches, and added to it vaft and unknown kingdonts and empires, want bread, or'fubfift only on alms. She, if flje lives, will confider that cruelty and ingratitude will bring down the wrath of Heaven, fo that the wealth I have dif- covered, fluU be the means of flirring up all mankind to re- venge and rapine, and the Spanilh nat^^ij (iitfer hereafter, for what envious, malicious and un^,rateful people, do now. ferious »fll r.' r.ii i 1^ IM } I ',1 ' i ! ) y i6o ,"^ HISTORY OF THE ferlous defign of fending forth a colony to pof- fefs itfelf of Jamaica. As this illand had hither- to produced neither gold nor filver, it feems to have been neglefted as unworthy further notice j and perhaps it might have continued a few years longer the peaceful feat of innocent fimplicity, but for the bafe ingratitude of King Ferdinand, towards the family of Columbus. This great man, after his return to Spain in 1 504, was com- pelled to employ the clofe of his days in fruitlefs and irkfome felicitation at the court of an un- thankful and unfeeling monarch ; who meanly fuffered him to be cruelly defrauded of the rights and privileges originally granted to him ; and which he had fo dearly and fo nobly earned. His fon Diego, the heir of his fortunes, fucceeded to the fame debafing neceflity, till, at length, wearied out with frivolous and unprincely ex- cufes, he inftituted a memorable procefs againft his fovereign before the council of the Indies at Seville ; and this court, with a firmnefs and virtue that cannot be fufficiently applauded, decided in favour of his pretenfions. After a minute and folemn inveftigation of his claims, the council pronounced him hereditary viceroy and high admiral of all the countries and illands difcovered by his father. They decreed, that he was invefted withajurifdidionover them fimilar to that of the high admiral of Caftille i that he • ^ was r i-:.-l o pof- lither- ms to lotice ; V years plicity, iinand, s great IS com- fruitlefs an un- meanly e rights m; and earned, icceeded length, :ely ex- ; againft [ndles at id virtue decided minute ms, the eroy and illands , that he finiilcir that he was n I- '»: vfj^t or rnci>KHli>llWP.ST iNf nn -I I -• M* i 'I '. 1 I i; .>?r^fi^>iv-. * u- J J // •f^ * i I'alnrW I r^iMElu Hat trhitr Ittvif -*-4 ST \ %T »,*^' .'Alirttrf/J* 7-^ t w>> ?=."■#. A. MAP ol* //ir ISJ.ANJi of J)iri//i)/ tn/ii rOTNTIKS mid rAKISUKS, HISTOIO' uIiIk MKITISIIKKST IMMKS \ \^ ^//■/ '^n^ WUffktot Htntl Kiv vlU*' 1'AHLIIl.K llAI' *" |l-' ,I1»>< ;*r> — ^ I D.L.Mi^r /., I Xl,.,/.,U. /'.,>, U„. iZ Scale of Miles JtiiV sv-'-^v.i-r^'' Thw-ftroi/w « V\*U.VA.I». nAHHOm /I. ^^%'^; EXI'I.AN.\TI<)V. J'/,iiiMii>ny iiihI X,ltlim,iit.\- Z-:- . i'/iim-ftrA- it/hf 1 /iti/k'/!r . . k /"iUtx tifkf /itinth'Av . tta Jtimr -i>^-%. /'.Mi!r ■'— . f/tAvt/^'' fi'f Air/tff I'lHir/r t . l/ti/tivtfifi' fi''/'.*h/ii// lt-/»/i' I Jhiix/i /ltv//hAi/7iif .-*.." thilit iV'l/ic Miiihl « Jtry^iri tiuff/f tAr . tiif/tivit .»>»//. a //( Tirlinnv iiui\'fy ' irartBrari "^ B| 31: Kl //.iiy /,t'/hji//t,A- f'nin /.,'n,/i*n U' ^ /;//./„/„>'/., I yi,.,M.ii. iu„Mh i>rt:i'^r,u- tl. I Mi rr'' if I 1 H{ I' ' iili^i Vi * 1 Iff* P .. 1 f //*!»/ /tOtiifitiuff /hvH Loihfon Voj WEST INDIES- was entitled to a tenth part of all the gold and filver that might thereafter be found in thofe territories j and they adjudged him various other privileges and immunities, of vaft extent and authority. But the king, notwithftanding this diftinguilhed and competent recognition of his rights, confirmed to him only the title and au- thority of governor and admiral of Hifpaniola ; and even of this diminiflied command, it is pro- bable he would have been deprived, if he had not fortunately flrengthened his intereft by an illuftrious marriage (e). The gallant youth, neverthelefs, ftill boldly perfifted in his claim to the full exercife of all the rights and authority, which had been fo recently decreed to belong to him; and he fliortly afterwards, accompanied by a numerous and fplendid retinue, embarked for his government, refolved to enforce his prctenfions. He arrived in Hifpaniola in the month of July 1508, but had very foon the mortification to difcover that the king had adually invefled in two other perfons (Alonzo de Ojeda and Diego de Nicuefla) not only two feparate and diftinft governments, which comprehended all the con- (e) He married Mary Jc Toledo^ Azw^itt to FerJinand Je Toleilo^ grand commander of Leon, who was brother to Frederick duke of Alva- Vol. L M tment 161 1 1 u 'I I !?1. I I'. ■ ;■■ !! is!: i'l l:i:li 'M '1^ ! li' i . ' i ! ^ 'I, ■':1- ■J , S ; .1 ' ' ' j .1 Adi i III |!.-" If If . 1 / It ^ i 1 si! 1 1,1 f iiV if it ■ 1 1 ■ ii : 1 i '' ' f i , i 1* '^ ?1 ! 1 r 1 1' ^ H 1 1 J, i . ■' I 1 f li^. :|.-- ij i i' 1 HISTORY OF THE tinent as far as it had been difcovered by Chrif- topher Columbus, but had alfo included the iiland of Jamaica, as a joint appendage within the jurifdidion of each. Thefe appointments Diego Columbus confidered as a manifeft violation of his own rights, and ftrenuouily contended for the exclufive privilege of nominating, in particular, to the governments of Veragua ard Jamaica, the prior difcoveiy of both thofe countries by his father being a circumilance of univerfal no- toriety. To fecure his claim to Jamaica, in the month of November 1509, he fent thither Juan de Efquivel, with about feventy men. Efquivel had acquired the reputation of a gallant foluier, and it is ftill more to his honour, that he was one of the very few Caftillians, who, amidft all the horrors of bloodflied and infedlious rapine, were diftinguiflied for generofity and humanity. An eminent inftance of his great- nefs of rriind is recorded by Herrera. — About the time that he failed from Hifpaniola to take poffeflion of his new government of Jamaica, his competitor Ojeda was on his departure to the continent. Ojeda violently oppofed the in- tended expedition of Efquivel, and publickly threatened that if he (hould find him at Jamaica, on his return from the continent, he would hang him up as a rebel. It happened that Ojeda's voyage was unfortunate in the highell degree j for, WEST INDIES. ^ for. after fuftai„i„g a foies of unexamnle. **•* - »« now „du«d to tTe Z^IT'- '"t ^Ploring fuccour from Z """' °^ fent over to Cuba, P^o .e m ""'"'*"''y <'f«nk.toco„d;ro;dt^^Tr'"'"'"^ quIveJ receJv^^ j • • . ^ Jamaica, fif. ™*ofdifti„ai:^ ;'^:':f;7Poflib,e '"- with the means of a fp^ dv a'„d ' '""'^'' on n r •^"'""™ f'^-y^ «="-'ra) went ' ^ ^'^^ ^'^" '^^tives to fubmiflion ■'■ ' ' M z « • 7 <( (( :^l , . :u I, 'I i 'I ] 1 I i64 -. i HISTORY OF THE " without any effufion of blood, they laboured in " planting cotton, and raifing other commodities *' which yielded great profit." This praife is the more valuable becaufe it is almoft peculiar to Efquivel, who alone Teems to have been fenfible of the abominable wickednefs of vifiting diftant lands only to delblate them j and of converting the Indians to Chriftianity by cutting their throats. How many noble qualities, in fome of his cotemporaries, were tarnilhed by cruelty and rapine, or unhappily blended with a mifguided and frantick zeal for religion, that rendered their pofleflbrs Hill more remorfelefs and favage !' --^ EsQuivEL continued in his office but a few )'ears. He died in his government, and was buried at S evil la Niieva, a town which he had founded. He was probably fucceeded by governors of a far dlifcrent charader, who, it is to be feared, ibon began to fpread among the wretched natives the fame horrible carnage that was now defolat- ing Hifpaniola. It appears that Francis de (iaray held the chief command in 1523, fince in that year he lilted out an expedition from this Iflnnd for the conqueft of Panuco, a territory which Cortes, unknown to Garay, had already annexed to the Si)arii{h dominion. In this ex- pcdition were employed nine (liips and two brigantines, and there were embarked in it 850 Spaniards, iiiid a cc-nfiderable body of Jamaica ^. i'- Indians, & m ties the r to fible ftant rting tbeir me of y and ruided d their V ta few j buried Dunded. ors of a feared, I natives defolat- Incis de ftnce in rem this territory already this ex- land two lin it 850 Jamaica Indians, WEST INDIES. Ind' -wd, and 144 horfes. Such a force, if col- ledled chiefly within the ifland, proves that a great progrefs had been made in its fettlcment and population during the thirteen years that tlie Spaniards had been in poflcflion of it. As Efquivel had eftabliflied the feat of government near to the fpot which had been honoured by the rpfidence of Columbus after his fliipwreck in 1503, it may be prefumed that the town of Sevilla Nueva was now become of fomc con- fideration. This town, as we are informed by Herrera, was founded on the fcite of an ancient Indian village, called Maima (f), and near to the port named by Columbus Santa Gloria (now St Ann's Harbour) and the daily acceffion of new inhabitants would naturally extend the boundaries of the capital, till the rude village, confifting at firil of a few temporary huts, mull have increafed to a place of importance. Re- ligion too, in all the Spanifli territories, very foon forced architefture into her fervice ; for, by a lamentable inconfiftency in the human (f) Quafi Mamee, There is a bay a little to the eaft- ward, which is called at this hour Mamee Bay. The ground on which Sevilla Nueva was built, is now chiefly the pro- perty of Mr. Heming, who has a large fugar plantation thereon. It is called Seville Plantation ; and the ruins of the ancient town are ftill vifible in fomc of the cane-fiekls. It defcended to him from his anceftor Captain Heming, an officer u] Cromwell's army. M 3 ' mind, 165 I k ^y m U ii* 11 'l\ \\ II. m 166 HISTORY OF THE BOOK mind, thefe deftroyers of their fellow-creatures were wonderfully exadt in the obfervance of all the outward ceremonies of divine worfhip. With hands yet reeking in the blood of murdered innocence, they could ered temples to the Al* mighty, and implore that mercy from Heaven, which they had jufl denied to the miferable viAims of their cruelty and rapine. Among other collly buildings a cathedral and monaftery were defigned, and the foundations of both were vifible not long ago, as many of the ruins are at this day. Peter Martyr of Angleria, the author of the Decades, was appoiiited abbot and chief miffionary of the ifland. A fort was alfo erefted, the remains of which, as well as of the cathedral^ were infpected by Sloane in 1688, who relates, that a pavement was difcovered at the diilance of two miles from the church j a circumftance that may give us fome idea of the extent of the city in the days of its profperity. The weft gate of the cathedral flood entire in 1688, and difplayed, in the judgment of Sloane, very ex- cellent workmanftiipj but it was his opinion that the building was never compleated j for he obferved feveral arched ftones that muft have been defigned for it, which apparently had never been put up fgj. Hfi" likewife difcovered, in fsJ " Over the door (of the weft gate) was a carving of ppr Saviour's head with a crown of thorns between two angels ; I' ' ires all hip* ered Al- xven, rable mong iftery I were are at luthor d chief refted, ihedral* relates, iiftancc Tiftance t of the e weft 8, and ery exr opinion ; for he ft have ly had covered, ii> Icarving of \vveen two angels i WESTINDIE8. in the fame condition, materials for a capital manfion, probably intended for the palace of the governor. From thefe circumftances, the tradition which flill prevails in the ifland, that the Spanifh inhabitants of Seville were at fome period, in their wars with the natives, entirely and fuddenly cut off, is probably founded in truth. Sloane, indeed, relates that fome of the Spanifli planters, who had retired to Cuba, afllgned very different reafons for the defertion of this part of the country, alledging, that a vifitation of innumerable ants had deftroyed all their provifion grounds, and that the fituation of the capital was ill adapted for the purpofes of their commerce. Thefe realbns might poffibly have operated againft the re-eftabh(hment of the place J but were not, I think, of fufficient efficacy to induce a whole body of people, the inhabi- tants of a growing capital, fuddenly to remove angels; on the right fide a fmall round figure cf fome faint, with a knife fiuck into his head. On the left a Virgin Mary or Madona, her arm tied in three places, Spanifi) fiafliion. Over the gate, under a coat of armi>, this inl'cripi- tion. Pctrus. Martir. Ab. Angleria. Italus. Civi?, Mediolanen, Frothon. Apos. Hiijus. Infule. Abbas. Senatus. Indici. Confiliarius. Ligneam. Primus, ^dem. Hanc. Bis. Igne. Confumptam. Latericio. Et. Quadrato. Lapide. Primus. A> Fundamentis. Etruxit." SlOANE. M 4 their 167 1 ' I ' ' i u *! ■ ! >i ! m i I HISTORY OF THE their families and effeds, and voluntarily fub- mit to the labour of building an entire new town, in a very diftant and wholly uncultivated part of the country*. It is certain, that the tov/n of Seville was not fuffered to fall gradually to de- cay i but was depopulated while it was yet in ai\ unfinilhed ftate, many years before the con- queft of the ifland by the Englifti {AJ. Neither (if this tradition of its cataftrophe were true) could a juft account be expefted from the de- fcendants of men, who had defervedly brought deflrutftion on themfclves ; fince the recital of their fite would again have brought the deeds alio of their ancettors to remembrance, and * hey were deeds of darknefs, too mournful to contem- plate i too dreadful to be told ! io * It is remarkable, however, that the whole ifland of Hifpanioja was nearly (ieftroyed by ;ints about the fame peiiud. In 1519, and the two fucceeding years, as Oviedo relates, thcie inftfts over-ran that iflai\d like an Egyptian plague; dcvoiuing all the roots and plants of the earth, fo that the country was nearly depopulated. In our own times, the ifland of Grenada has fuffered prodigioufly from th» fame caufe, of which fome account will hereafter be given. C/iJ See the account of Jamaica tranfmitted to Cromwell by general Venablcs, prderved in Thurloe's ftate papers, vol. iii. p. 545, wherein he fpeaks of Seville as a town t/iat had exiji-d in times pajl. And Sloane relates that when the Englilh took the illand, the ruins of this city were over- grown with wood and turned black with age. He faw timber-trees growing within the walls of the catliedral, up- ;vards of fixty feet in height. p. 66, Sloane's Hift. Jamaica, vol. i, ^ Both I, fub- )wn. It of •n of ) de- in ai\ con- either true) he de- rought fital of > deeds id ^ hey onteni- ifland of the fame asOviedo Egyptian earth, fo wn times, from th» e given. CromweU te papers, Itown that when the ere over- He iaw drdl, up- ica, vol. i^ WEST INDIES. Both ancient tradition, and recent difcoveries, give too much room to believe that the work of deftrudion proceeded no lefs rapid in this ifland, after Efquivel's death, than in Hifpa- niolai for to this day caves are frequently dif- covered in the mountains, wherein the ground is covered with human bones; the miferable remains, without all doubt, of fome of the un- fortunate aborigines, who, immured in thofc recefles, were probably reduced to the fad al- ternative of perilhing with hunger, or bleeding under the fwords of their mercilefs invaders fgj. When therefore we are told of the fate of the Spanifh inhabitants of Seville, it is impofilblc to feel any other emotion than an indignant wiili that the ftory were better authenticated, and that Heaven in mercy had permitted the poor Indians in the fame moment to have extirpated their oppreffors altogether ! But unhappily this faint glimmering of returning light to the wretched natives, was foon loft in everlafting darknefs, fince it pleafed the Almighty, for reafons infcru- table to finite wifdom, to permit the total dc- ftruftion of this devoted people j who, to the number of 60,000, on the moft moderate eftimate, were at length wholly ci t off and ex- terminated by the Spaniards, not a fmgle de- (gj It is difcovered by the (kiills, which are preternaturally compreired, that thefe are the Ikeletons of the Indians. fccndant 169 I I M ) ; f li , - ;1 f II. »70 HISTORY OF THE BOOK fcendant of either fex, being alive when the Englifh took the ifland in 1655, nor> I believe^ for a century before (h). The (h) There is faid to exift on the fouth fide of the idaud of Cuba, at this day, a fmall remnant of the ancient Indians. They refide in a little town near St. Jago de Cuba, called IvMuee, and have adopted the manners and language of the Spaniards. The deftruftion of fuch prodigious numbers of thefe Innocent people by the firft difcoverers, is one of the moft extraordinary circumftances in the hiftory of man- kind, and the fubjeft can never be contemplated but with blended fentiments of indignation and horror, commifera- tior.' and fympathy. Emotions of this kind gave rife to the following night fcene (part of an unfini(hed work, which ^vil) probably never be compleated) and its infer(ion in this place the poetical reader may polfibly pardon ; -Now on high Refulgent Venus and the ftarry train, Spangle the vivid hemifphere. Around Myriads of infeft-meteors *, living lamps^ People the glittering air. A fairy worl4 I tread : a land of genii ! Airy fhapes, Oft vifible to contemplation's eye, Koamin the midnight hour thefe facred fhades} Nor unobferved, while i\oyi the ftarry train Burn with diminifli'd luftre ; for behold. The radiant rnoon bid meaner glories fade.— No clnud her courfe obfcures, and high (he tow'rs, Guiding in awful majefty thro' Heav'n Her filver car, triumphant o'er the dark. Sure 'tis illufion and enchantment all !— For ftill fond fancy, thro' the ihadowy glade, jSec& vifionary fleeting forms ; ftill hears ■i ';;1 ■' Sound; WEST INDIES. 17: The lofs of Seville was followed by that of chap. Melilla, a fmall village fituated about eleven leagues to the eaflward, (at the harbour now called Port Maria) and the cataftrophe which attended I' ; Sounds more than human. Once a gentle race Own'd.thefe fair vallies : from the birth of time Thefe groves, thefe fountains, and thefe hills were theirs. Perhaps e'en now their fp'rits delighted haunt Their once-lov'd manfipns. Oft thepenfive Mufe Recalls, in tender thought, the mournful fcene When the brave Incotel, from yonder rock, His laft fad bleffing to a weeping train Dying bequeath'd. * The hour (he faid) arrives. By ancient fages to our fires foretold *!— Fierce from the deep, with Heav'n's own lightning arm'd. The pallid nation comes ! Blood marks their fteps ; Man's agonies their fporc, and man their prey ! What piercing ihrieks ftill vibrate on the ear ! The expiring mother lifts her feeble arm In vain to fhield her infant; the hot fteel Smoaks with their mingled blood ; and blooming youth. And m?nly ftrength, and virgin beauty, meet Alike th' untimely grave ; till fell revenge Is cloy'd and tir'd with flaughter. See, full-gorg'd, The vulture fickens o'er his wafte of prey, And, furfeit-fwell'd, the reeking hound expires. Yet paufe not, Spaniard! whet thy blunted flcel; Take thy full paftime in the field of blood ! But know, ftern tyrant, retiibution's hour Ere long fliall reach thee. The' his once loved ifle, ' For crimes yet unaton'd, dread Zemi thus To defolation and to death configns, And thou the inftrument of wrath divine ; I ' f ; * See B. i. c. 3. p. 92. \'U it ■■ i V ft 1^^. In 'r ■ 1 tp, , t' ! : ( HISTORY OF THE attended thefe places is fuppofed to have caufed the eftablifhment of the capital of St. Jago de la Vega, or, as it is now called, Spanilh Town. Concerning ■ In yonder orb, now darken'd in his coiirfe, Read thy own doom more dreadful ! With the flain, ^ The murtherer falls ! Th' opprefTor aiid th' opprefs'd Mingle in duft together! Where are now "^ Thy blood-polluted glories ? Ah ! too late. Learn, when avenging Heav'n prefumptuous guilt Gives to its own fell purpofes a prey. More mark'd its fate, more terrible its fall. So periih the falfe triumphs, and vain hopes Of mad ambition, and remorfelefs pride. That make weak man the murtherer of man ! O my affociates, dry thofe fcalding tears !— One little moment, and we fhall arrive .' ■ At thofe blefsM iflands, where, from guilt refin'd ,j. By fharp affliftion, we no more fhall feel Death's torpid grafp, and agonizing pang ! There, with lov'd forefethcrs, (hall we rove Thro' palmy (hades ; in lintpid fountains bathe, ' Repofe in jafmin bowr's at fultry noon ; And, when cool ev'ning tempers foft the air, Unenvied gather from his unprun'd bough The fragrant guoyva*. On our cheeks no more The burning tear (liall linger; not a figh Swell the light bofom ; but immortal joy Fill ev'ry thought, and brighten ev'ry eye : Meantime, thofe happy interdi£led (hores Our blooii-fbin'd foes (hall feek ; but feck in vain : The hurricane (hall rave, the thunder roll. And ocean whelm them in his deeped tide, Or leave transfix'd on the hard pointed rock ; • The fruit fo called is the P^Jiumfruilicofum of Botanifts, f. Mar- tyr relacei, that it was in higli ^cem aitiuL^ tht iiativei. The r\ y. ifts. ?.M*r. The WEST INDIES. CoKCERNiNc the precife era of thefe events, it is now perhaps ufelefs to enquire j but if con- je<5ture may be allowed, I Ihould fix on the year 1523, immediately after the departure of the force under Garayi and if the new capital was really founded by Diego Columbus, as tradition reports, and which there feems no good reafon to difpute, the conjefture is ftrongly confirmed; for he embarked for Spain in difcontent in 15 17, returned to his government with fuller powers in 1520, and died in his native country in the latter end of 1525, or the beginning of 1526; and it was certainly after his arrival the laft time in Hifpaniola, that he laid, or caufed to be laid, the foundation of St. Jago de la Vega (i). The new city increafed rapidly, and in 1545 (twenty years after the death of its founder) it The fport of howling winds. How fliall we laugli. When the pale coward Haves, to us, remote, Dlreft th' uplifted hand, th' imploring eye ! Their confcious groans (hall feed our great revenge;— Their eodlcfs woes, our wond'rous wrongs repay.' > Jamaica, a poem ; MSS.peaes me. (i) Since this was written I have difcovered, by a re-perufal of Oviedo, that there was a general revolt of the Indians of St. Domingo in December 1522, which Diego Columbus fupprcfled, and immediately afterwards repaired to Jamaica to take on himfelf the government in the room of Garay. It feems probable, from hence, that the revolt extended to both illaiuis. * liad «73 m. 3^. have been perfectly underftood by any of the Englilh hiftorians who have treated of the affairs of Jamaica, I prefume that a more copious ac- count and explanation of it, will not be unac- ceptable. ' Diego Columbus left iffue three fons and two daughters. His eldeft fon, Don Lewis, fucceeded to his father's honours and extenfive claims. Of the daughters, the eldeft, Ifabella, afterwards intermarried with the count de Gelvez, a Portuguefe nobleman of thehoufeof Braganza. Lewis Columbus was an infant of fix years of age on the death of his father j but was generally confidered as hereditary vice-roy, and high ad- miral of the Weft Indies. The emperor, how- ever, though he treated him with Angular dif- tindion, and confiderably augmented his reve- nues, as he grew to manhood, abfolutely refufed to admit his claim to fuch extenfive authority; and LeVv'is, as his minority expired, inftituied, after his father's example, a legal procefs for the recovery of his birthright. It does not appear that the , an i the have ngliih irs of js ac- unac- ns and Lewis, ictenfive Ifabella, Gelvez, raganza. rs of age renefally [high ad- for, how- :ular dif- Xs reve- refufed authority; Inftituifid, ;fs for the lot appear that I. WEST INDIES. 175 that his fuit ever came to a legal iiTue ; for, chap. in the year 1545, he found it prudent to accede to a compromife with the emperor, whereby he transferred all his hereditary rights to the crown, for a grant of the province of Veragua and the ifland of Jamaica, with the title of duke de Veragua and marquis de la Vega. What might have been the precife extent and nature of this grant, we have not information fufficient to. en- able us to judge. Whatever it was, he left no iffue to enjoy it j, and his brothers aifo dying without male iffue, his filler Ifabella, wife of the count de Gelvez, became fole heirels of the Columbus family, and conveyed by her marriage all her rights to the houfe of Braganza, where they continued, I believe, till the year 1640^ and then reverted back by forfeiture to the crown of Spain, in confequence of the revolution which placed John duke of Braganza on the throne of PortugaL Sir Hans Sloane therefore, in afferting that a duke de Veragua enjoyed a yearly revenue from Jamaica, at the time the illaiid furrendered to the Engllfh in 1655, muft have been mif- infbrmedi as he clearly is in fuppofmg that the family of Columbus were at that time proprie- tors of the ifland, and had fo continued from the days of Ferdinand and Ifabella. But there is a circumftance recorded by .: **" Blome, II ■> I' ! n 1! 5 ' \ >• \ !■. . ■ m i I tjb « ! i [I i. HlStORYOFTHE Bbme, and confirmed by the ftate pipets of Thurloe, for which the relation I have given fufficiently accounts. I mean the eftablifliment in Jamaica of many Portuguefe families. The transfer of Ifabella's inheritance to the houfe of Braganza, might have encouraged many of the Portuguefe to fix their fortunes in the newly- acquired colony, and it is equally probr.ble that the fame event would excite jealoufy in the old Spanifli fettlers towards their new vifitors. Blome adds, that the Portuguefe were abhorred. To fuch mutual diftrull, and irreconcileable averfion of the inhabitants towards each other, mull be afcribed the reafon that Sir Anthony Shirley met with fo little refiftance when he in- vaded the ifland in 1596, and plundered the capital. About forty years afterwards it was again invaded by a force from the Windward Wands under colonel Jackfon. It is faid, how- ever, that on this occafion the inhabitants behaved with great gallantry in a pitched battle at Paflage- Fort. They were, however, defeated, and Jack- fon, after lofing forty of his men, entered St.Jago de la Vega fword in hand, and, having pillaged the town of every thing valuable, received a con- fiderable ranl'om for fparing the houfes. He then retreated to his (hips, and carried off his booty without interruption. . , From Its of given iment The 3ufe of of the newly - )le that the old . Blome I. ncileable ch other, Anthony len he m- aered the ds it was Windward faid, how- Its behaved ,atPaflage- and Jack- |edSt.Jago ng pillaged lived a con- ,s. He then bis booty W£STINDIE8. FnoM this period, until the capture of the ifland by the Englifli in 1655, during the ufur- patlon of Cromwell, I know nothing of its con- cerns, nor perhaps were they produftive of any event deferving remembrance. I (hall therefore prorced, in the next chapter, to the confideration Oi. Protedor's motive •:. attacking the ter- ritories of Spain at a time when treaties of peace fubfifted between the two nations j which I con- ceive have hitherto been greatly mifunderftood,or wilfully mifreprefented, by hiftorians in general. m ^••t In the preceding chapter (p. 167 of the prefent edition) I have afligned fome reafbns in fnpport of the traditional account of the deftru^ion of New Seville, on the northern fide of Jamaica, bj tbt MtuMt Indiatu, and I have fuppofed that event to have happened in the year isaj* I have fince difcovered that the reafons I have given were well founded. Among Sir Hans Sloane's MSS. in the Britifh Mufeum, I have been fhewn part of an unpubliflied hiftory of Jamaica, which was written the beginning of the prefent century, by Doflor Henry Barham, a very learned and refpeftablc phyfician of that ifland, wherein the circumftance is related nearly in the manner 1 had fuggeftcd, and ftated to have occurred (as I had fuppofed) immediately after the em- barkation of the force under Garay } which is known, from Herrera, to have taken place m 1513.— In the fame work, the letter from Chriftopher Columbus (-vidt p. 15C, it feq.) is preferved as a document of undoubted authenticity. fj'^-'>'.^.-j ■ 1 I' ■ I ■ ■ i V ' H f'Mti I ; Vol. r. N nt HISTORY OF THE :3 CHAP. II. I ! Cromwell vindicated for attacking the Spaniards in 1655. — Their cruelties in the Weft Indies^ in contravention of the treaty of 1 630. — Propofals offered by Modyford and Gage. — Forcible argu- ments of the latter. — Secretary Thurloe^s account of a conference with the Spanijh Ambajfador. — Cromwell* s demand of fatisfaSlion rejeSied. — State of Jamaica on its capture, 1 HERE is no portion of the Englifli annals, in the penifal of which greater caution is requifite, than the hiftory of the adminiftration of the proteftor Cromwell. The prejudices of party, which, in common cafes, are lofl in the current of time, have floated down to ui in full ftrength againft this profperous ufurper ; and his aftions, from the period that he reached the fummit of power, are flill fcrutinized with induftrious malig- nity, as if it were impoffible that authority irre- gularly acquired, could be exercifed with juflice. It is not ftrange therefore that the vigorous proceedings of the Proteftor againft the Spanifli nation, 'n 1655, A^ould have been obnoxious to cerifure, or that writers of very oppolite political principles a miardi Indies y 'ropofali le ar^»' accojifti fador. — jeSled.-^ annals, ift , requifite, on of the > of party, he current ill ftrengtb lis actions, fun«nit of [ious malig- [liority itre- ithjuftice. L vigorous :he Spamfli jnoxious to fite political principles WEST INDIES. principles (hould concur in mifreprefenting his condudt on that occafion. The celebrated female republican (a) terms it " diflionourable and piratical," and the courtly and elegant apologifl of the Stewart family (bjy pronounces it a mod unwarrantable violation of treaty. The publication of the (late papers of Thurloe (the Secretary) ought, however, to have mitigated this weight of cenfure. In truth, it will be found tliat nothing but a moil difingenuous con- cealment of the hoftile proceedings of the Spaniards, too grofs to be palliated, towards the fubjedts of England, can give even the colour of plaufibility to the charge which I been brought againft Cromwell, of having commenced an unjuil and ruinous war, againfl a friend and ally, contrary to the intereft of the nation, and in violation of the faith of treaties. If the power which is veiled in the executive magiftrate, by whatever name he be diflinguifhed, be held for the protedion and fecurity of the religion, liberties and properties of the people under his govern- ment, the meafures adopted by the Protedlor on that occafion were not merely juftifiable ; they were highly neceffary, and even meritorious; for the condu(5l of Spain, efpecially in America, faj Mrs. Macauley^HIftory of England. CiJ David-Hume—Hiftory of Great Britain. N a was J79 CHAP. II. »>i!iki|j i I ' i' > 1 ' i i:!i ft } II i* ) 'f i 1 8* HISTORY OF THE was the declaratioh and exerclfe of war againfl the whole human race. I fliall adduce a few rd- markable fafts to fupport this aflertlon. The fubjed is curious in itfelf, and, in fome refpe6ts, will be new to the reader. The lateft treaty which had been made be- tween England and Spain, previous to the affump- tion of the proteAoratc by Cromwell, was con- cluded in the year 1630J by the firft article of which it was ftipulatcd, " that there fliould be peace, amity, and friendfhip betweeen the two crowns and their refpedive fubjefts in all farts of the wcrld'* Before this period, the fovereigns of Spain had not only encouraged, but openly avowed, the exercife of perpetual hoftility on the (hips and fubjefts of all the nations of Europe, that were or might be found in any part of the new hemifphere ; arrogantly affuming to them- felvcs a right not only to all the territories which their own fubjeAs had difcovered there, but claiming alfo the fole and exclufive privilege of navigating the American feas (c). Pretensions (c) In the reigti of James I. within two years after the conclufion of a peace between England and Spain, which faved the Spanifli monarchy fi-bm abfolute deftruftion, Sir Charles Cornwallis, in a letter dated from M-drid in May 1606, informs the Earl of Salifcury, tliat Xif.i Lewis Firardo, a Spanifh admiral, having met with certain Engliih fhips laden with com and bound to Seville, " took the maflers, and unft \itt' The )c6ts, lebe- rump- 15 con- ticleof ,vild be he two all parts (vereign* t openly ty on the Europe, art of the [to them- ries which here, but rivilege of afs after the Spain, which .ftruftion, Sir ■r.drid in May ewis Firardo, [EngUfh Ihips )k the matters, and WEST INDIES. Pretensions fo cxorbitanf, which violated alike the lawo of nature and nations, were refilled by every maritime (late that felt itfelf concerned in the iflue : by the Englifli particularly, who bad already planted colonies in Virginia, Bermu- das, St. Chriftopher's and Barbadocs j territories feme of which Spain had not even difcovcred, and none of which had flie ever occupied. Thus aftual war, and war iijt all its horrors, prevailed between the fubjec^s of Spain in the new world, and thofe of the feveral other nations who ventured thither j while, at the fame time, peace and Brft fet their necks in the flocks. He afterwards re' moved them into his own (hip, and there, with his own hands, did as much to their legs; reviling them, and calling tlicm hereticks, Lutheran dogs, and enemies of Chriil, threatening to hang them ; and in conclufion robbed them of what he thought fit." See Winwood, vol. ii. p. 145— ..It ap- pears, by fub&quent letters preferved in the fame coile£lion, that Cornwallis, complaining to the Duke of Lerma, the minifler of Spain, of Firardo's condudl, particularly in fend- ing to the gallies fome Englifh mariners, whomhe had made prifoners in the Weil Indies, was told by that minider*' that Firardo fliould be called to account, not (adds the Duke) for fending the men to the gallies, buty^r not haviug hanged them uj>, as he ought to have done." Sir Walter Raleigh, fome time afterwards, in a letter to King James, fpeaks of it as a ^yell•known fa£l, that the Spaniards, in another inflance, had murdered twenty-fix Engliflimen, tying them back to back and then cutting their throats, even after they had traded with them a whole month, and when the Englifli went ashore in fpU confidence, and without fo much as on^ fword among them. See Raleigh's Works by Birch, vol. ii. p. 376. ;- ■ N 3 apparently 181 ■ ( . 1 i 1 1 ' i , 1 1 1 |:::ji: If «.i: I- IjlpS llil A' i8» HISTORY OF THE apparently fubfifted between the parent Aates in Europe. To fecure to the Englilh an uninterrupted intercourfc with theii: fettlcments above men- tioned, was one great objcd of the treaty of . 1630. It feems indeed to have been more im- mediately founded on a remarkable inftancc of Spanifli perfidy, which had recently happened in the ifland of St. Chriftopher ; for the court of Spain having, towards the latter end of the year ' ^629, fitted out a fleet of twenty-four Ihips of force, and fifteen frigates, under the command *' of Don Frederick de Toledo, oftenfibly to attack the Dutch fettlement in Brafil, fecretly ordered I the admiral to proceed in the firfl place to the ifland I have mentioned (which, al- though the Spaniards had indeed firfl difcover- cd it 130 years before, they had never once occupied) and rout out from thence both ^he Englifh and French, who at that time held a joint and peaceable poflcflion. Neither the French, nor Englilh, nor both together, were ftrong enough to oppofe fuch an enemy. The French planters took refuge in the neighbouring ifland of Antegua, and the Englifli fled to the mountains j from whence they fent deputies to treat for a furrender ; but the haughty Spaniard required and obtained unconditional fubmiflionj and, having feledted out (late« rnii pted t mcn- caty of lore im- lance of appcncd court of the year (hips of :ommand to attack y ordered rft place rhich, al- difcover- icver once both the ime held nor both pofe fuch ook refuge a, and the )m whence ender ; but 1 obtained ng felefted out WEST INDIES. out of the Engliih fcttlcrs fix hundred of the abled men, whom he condemned to the mines, he ordered all the red (confiding chiefly of women and children) indantly to quit the ifland, in Tome EngliHi velTcis which he had feized at Nevis, under pain of death. He then laid wade all the fettlements within his reach, and having reduced the country to a d'jfart, proceeded on his voyage. It might be fuppofed that the treaty of 1630, prevented fuch enorniities in '"aturej - ut in violation of all that is folemn and fs . .d among Chridian dates, and to the difgr.ce of human nature, the Spaniards, eigic rears only after the affair of St. Chridopher s, attacked a fmall Englifh colony which had taken poiTeflion of the little unoccupied Ifland of Tortuga, and put every man, woman, and child to the fword : they even hanged up fuch as came in and fur- rendered themfelves, on the promife of mercy, after the fird attack. The unhappy monarch at that time on the throne of England, was. ; people defert- :ch na- ok pof- tied and gum. )jeds of on their mt num- [s as bar- for fei'?:- llefs and trds were ley fore- prifoners, lifliment ; lines of It tfcU, revived I own times. About WEST INDIES. It is evident, from the numerous fchemes and propofals for attacking the Spaniards, which were prefented to Cromwell on his elevation to the pro- tedorate, that the Englifh in general, had a deep and juft fenfe of the wrongs which they fuftained from the bigotry, avarice, and cruelty of the Spa- nilh nation. — ^We may furely conclude, that ap- plications of fuch a nature could not have been made to the fupreme executive magiftrate, with- About the year 1680, they landed on the Tfland of Providence, one of the Bahamas, and totally deftroyed the Englifh fettlcment there. The governor (Mr. Clark) they took with them to Cuba, in irons, and put him to death by torture. Oldmixon, wiio wrote '* The Britilli Empire in America," was informed by Mr. Trott, one of Governor Clark's .fuc- ceifors, that the Spaniards roaded Clark on a fpit. The infolence and brutality of the commanders of the Spanifh guarda-coftas, in the days of Walpole, are remembered by- many perfons now living ; and perhaps there are thofe' alive who were prefent when Captain Jenkins gave that remarka- ble evidence to the houfe of commons, which it would be thought might have animated every Britifli heart to infift on exemplary vengeance. The cafe was this :— A Spanilh commander, after rummaging this man's veflel for what he called contraband goods, without finding any, put Jenkins to the torture, and afterwards, without the fmalleft provocation, cut off one of his ears, telling him to carry it to the king of England his mafter. Jenkins had preferved the ear in a bottle, which he difplayed to the Houfe of Commons. Being afked by one of the members, what he thought or ex- pected while in the hands of fuch a barbarian i •« I recom- mended (he replied) my foul to God, and my caufe to my country." Sec Torbuck's Parliamentary Debates. ' - out ,«5 11 V\ ..ii* ! I! '.is. 1 86 HISTORY OF THE >• : ! out any pretence of injury received. To fuppofe that a body of the fubjedts of any civilized ftate, or that even any individual of found mind, would intrude into the national councils, and prefume to folicit a violation of the publick faith, and the commencement of hoftilities towards a pow- erful ftate and an ally, without any provoca- tion, is to fuppofe a cafe which I believe never did occur in hiftory, and which indeed it feems next to impoffible fhould happen. Among other perfons who prefented memorials on this occalion, we find the names of Colonel Modyford and Thomas Gage. The former was one of the earlieil and moft enterprifing planters of Barba- does; and Gage had refided twelve years in |«Iew Spain in prieft's orders. He was brother of Sir Henry Gage, one of the Generals under Charles I. (e) and appears to have been a man of capacity and extenfive obfervation. In his memorial, which is preferved among the ftate papers of Thurloe, he enters fully into a juftification of the meafures which he recom- mends. " None in conlcience (he obferves) may better attempt fuch an expulfion of the Spaniards from thofe parts, than the Englifh, 'iV \ (e) This Sir Henry Gage was killed at the battle of Culham-Bridge, in 1644. ^^ ^^s anceftor of the late General Gage, by whom I was favoured with this account of Thomas Gage. wh« pofe tate, fume , and pow- jvoca- never feems Vmong on this odyford e of the f Barba- years in 5 brother lIs under fcna man WEST INDIES. iffy V^ho have been often expelled by them from our chap. plantations ; as from St. Chriftopher's, St. Mar- tin's, from Providence and from Tortugas, where the Engllfh were inhumanly and moft barbaroufly treated by the Spaniards, who to this day watch for their beft advantage to caft us out of all our plantations, and fay that all the iflands as well as the main belong to them. And in confcience it is lawful to caft that enemy or troublefome neighbour out of his dominions, that would, and hath attempted to caft us out of ours." — He then proceeds to demonftrate, that it is not a work of difficulty to diflodge the Spaniards from fome of their moft valuable pofleffions, and recommends the firft attack to be made on Hifpanlola or Cuba; the former, he obferves, " was the Spaniards* firft plantation, and there- fore It would be to them a bad omen to begin to lofe that, which they firft enjoyed." " This ifland (he adds) is not one quarter of it inhabi- ted, and fo the more eafy to take."— Gage, fome years before, had publiflied a book, which is now before me j entitled " A new Survey of the Weft Indies." It contains much curious information refpefting the ftate of Spanifh America, at the time that he refided there. In the dedication to Fairfax, General of the parliament's forces, he combats, with great ftrength of reafoning, the pretenfions of the Spanifh Crown to an ex- ' clufive ':-'\ i< i I ''I ".il wmm i J"! 'li \' If i: r.: 1 88 S O O ] II. HISTORY OF THE clufive right to the countries of the New Worid: " I know of no title," he obferves, " that the " Spaniard hath (the Pope's donation excepted) " but force, which, by the fame title may be repelled. — And, as to the/;j/? difcoveryy to me it feems as little reafon, that the failing of a Spanifli (hip upon the coaft of India, (hould entitle the king of Spain to. that country, as the failing of an Indian or Englifh (hip upoa the coafl of Spain, (hould entitle eitlier the Indians or Englifh unto the dcmiinion thereof. No queftion but the juft right or title ta thofe countries, appertains to the natives them- felvesj who, if they (hould willingly and freely invite the Englifh to their proteftion» what title foever they have in them, no doubt ** they may legally transfer to others. But, " to end all difputes of this nature, fince God ** hath given the earth to the fons of men to •' inhabit, and that there are many vaft countries in thofe parts not yet inhabited, either by Spaniard or Indian, why (liould my country- men, the Englifhi be debarred from making " ufe of that, which God, from all beginning, " did ordain for the benefit of mankind ?'* These, or fimilar arguments, and a long lift of Spanlfh depredations on the fubjeds of England, made without doubt a deep impreffion on the mind of Cromwell. It appears indeed that u it tt U fl <( (C M U <( CC «i M it II. WfeST INDIfcS. 189 that the court of Spain, confcious of having chap. merited the fevereft vengeance, forefaw an im- pending ftorm, and endeavoured to avert it. We are told by Thurloe, that Cardenas the ambaffador, in a private audience, congratulated the Protedtor on his elevation to the govern- ment, " affuring him of the true and conftant friend(hip of his mafter, either in the condition he then flood, or that if he would go a ftep further, and take upon him the crown, his mafter would venture the crown of Spain to defend him in it." Thefe general difcourfcs came afterwards to particular propofitions j which Cromwell receiv- ed with a coldnefs that alarmed the ambaffador i who then defired that former treaties of alliance between the two kingdoms might be renewed, as the firft ftep towards a nearer union. It does not appear that Cromwell had any objeftion to this propofition. That he fought to involve the nation in an unprovoked and unneceffary war with Spain, or, as Ludlow expreffes it, that " he meant to engage tliofe iuen in diftant fervices, who otherwife were ready to join in any party againft him at home," though it has been con- fidently aflerted, has been afferted againft clear and fubftantial evidence. He demanded, it true, fatisfaftion for paft, and fecurity is againft future injuries j and he appointed com- ^ ■ ' , mlflioners / ■ 1 •; m t ' i i t '^ -■'. \ !i ■ ^Mi ' (■/ i I * ! f {n\ 196 If l: i HISTORY OF THE miffioners to treat with the Spanilh ambaffador thereupon j with whom feveral conferences were held, chiefly, fays Thurloe, on the right inter- pretation of the treaty of 1630. — ^The refult of thofe conferences, which I fliall give in Thur- loe's own words, affords fo full and clear a juftir ficationofthePtotedtor's fubfequent proceedings, that no excufe can be offered for thofe hiftorians by whom this evidence has been wilfully fup- preffed. The chief difficulties (obferves Thurloe) were the following, " ift. touching the Weft Indies, " the debate whereof was occafioned upon the ** firft article of the aforefaid treaty of i630» whereby it is agreed, that there fhould be peace, amity, and friendlhip between the two kings and their refpedive fubjeds in all parts of the "/orld, as well in Europe as elfewhere. Upon this it was fhewn, that in contravention •* of this article, the Englilh were treated by the Spaniards as enemies, wherever they were met in America, though failing to and from their own plantations, and infifted that fatisfadion was to be given in this, and a good founda- tion of friendlhip laid in thofe parts for the " future, between their refpedlive fubjedts (the Englifli there being very confiderable, and whofe fafety and intereft the government here ought « ti « « <( c« «( (C at the Spaniards not only were the firft aggreffors, but had proceeded to thofe hoflilities againft the fubjefts of England, which are unjuftifiable even in a ftate of adual war J and, although the outrages com- plained of, were fuch as the moft infignificant ftate in the world would pot have tamely fub- mitted to, from the moft po^ye^ful; yet did ' 4 . . " Cromwell, m iiir i I ^■If h i£ > H|| \h 1 III 1 if ! 1 ^^Hul i'i ^? ■ ^ j H|li 1 ^' i ^B If ■' t V ' 1 1 • ■If i 1 ■ 'f :■'/ 1 ! ■ B 'i I , ! / r I ' ■ M ! ' 1 ' 1. ' i I If i 11 4 1 ' 1 ." iPjji 1 ;, III, jj; ' ^ ■:■ Mi 1 r n m 1 : 1 H« 'ir ' il .; /IriI' 1 '-I 1 i^m 1 ^W '^ H T 1. ffl 1 ^ r^ 11 HISTORY OP THE Cromwell, in feeking redrefs, difplay his regard tojuftice by his moderation and temper. He demanded, it is true, reparation for paft injuries, and fecurity againfl future; but he did not order reprifals to be made, until his demand was rejefted, and until he was plainly told, that thfe fame hoftile line of conduft which the Spania. .s had hitherto purfued towards the Eng- iifh in America (hould be perfiiled in. Now» as Blome well obferves, on this occafion, " war muji needs be jujlifiabk^ zvhen peace is not « allowable:* The courfe of i«iy work would now bring me to a detail of the Protedor's meafures in confequence of his appeal to force j the equip- ment of a powerful armanent, its mifcarriage at Hifpaniola, and fuccefs at Jamaica j but of all thefe tranfadions a very accurate and circum- ftantial narrative has already been given in the hiftory of JamiUca by Mr. Long j to whofe account I cannot hope to add perfpicuity or force. Re- ferring the reader, therefore, to that valuable work, for fatisfadtory information in thefe particulars, I (hall conclude this chapter with an account of the ftate of Jamaica, its inhabitants and produftions, as it was found by the Englifh forces on its cap- ture in May 1655 j obferving only, and I mention the circumftance with a regret in which I Hi am ^EST INDIES. Pwiflied in it , ^""^*«1 '" 'he expedition, - exceed teXrrr''""*^"'*'' »mina,io„ before the P^tLs ' •? '"' «" "'h of September .S^ft ° r"'"' °" ""= "^ fourteen hund Jl^', ' "■"" " "^''vc -boutfivehundred^ '•"^"'"""''efay, maica fo early as ,/, *"** ''^'^""n' of Ja- St- Jago de la Vega con'fft ^ "f "■' '»-' of '-"fo. two churcte two , 1 '"" "«'"'"»d • period a wonderful d^i ^n'' ^' ''o- "f 'he white inhabitants la 1 •'""'^^ of the Portuguefe fettfc ^' f^T"'""" ' author, appears the n,^' '"^ ''J' 'his perhaps h^ given ' T" ^^''''- Biome 'henumberofthehoufes^^"t''.^'=°"« "' "^xt in confequence to Sf Ur. • ^ ' Vol. f. o " ^^^ " . ' probably 'f; I I r« . •.. I. ■ i 194 I ,fi JllH HISTORY OF THE probably nothing more than an inconfidcrable hamlet, eftablilhed for the purpofe of fome fmall traffick with the fhips bound from Hlfpaniola to the continent. Its fubfequent rife and extenfive profperity, its deplorable wickednefs and fatal ca- taftrophe, are circumflanccs too well known to be repeated (f). To the wc(lv\ ard of Caguay was the port of Efquivel (Puert.i de Efquivella) fo called, I prcfume, in honour of the governor of liiat name. This port fecms indeed to have been almofl defcrted at the time of the conqueft in 1655, the Spaniards giving the preference to Caguay; hut it was Hill reforted to by the galleons, as a place of fhelter during the hurricane months, and, from its ancient reputation, the Englilh named it Old Harbotich tained. '"" ''"'">' now be afcer- C^uay wa, the H r d^ LieralFortefcue, and of the fleet en Admiral Goodfon. Neverthelefs it was the intention of Cromwell to have eftablifli- ed a civil government in the inland on very liberal principles, Soon after he received the account of its capture, he iflued a proclamation declara- tory of that purpofe, and on the return to Ehgr Jand of CommifTioner Butler, he fent over Major Scdgewicke to fupj)ly his place. Sedge-- wicke arrived in Jamaica in Oftober, but Win- ilow and Serlc having in the jnean time fallen viclims to the climate, he wq-s unwilling tOwidt under the Protedlor's commiflion vvithout further ftliiftancc. An jnftrument of government was thereupon framed, and fubfcribed, on the f\:;;,hth of Oftober 1655, by Sedgewicke and the prin- cipal officers, who thereby conftituted themfelves a fupreme executive council for managing the general affairs of the ifland ; of which Fortefcue was declared prefident, and he dying foon after- wards. Colonel Edward D'Oyley, the next in command, was chofen to prefidc in his room. But the fituation of the troops required martial array. 1 k s, in- anger might he two ing tq . of the , and of ;rthelefs labUm- y Uberal account declara- toEng^ "ent over Sedges but Win- jne fallen ing to A6t ,ut further jment was :he n-hth the prin- Ithemfelves laging the ForteCcue Ifoon after- lie next in his room^ [red martial ^; WESTINDIES. Array, and ftri^l difcipline ; for the dirpoflefle(i Spaniards and fugitive negroes continued to ■liarafs the Ibldiers with perpetual alarms. Men were daily killed by enemies in ambulh. The Spanifli blacks had feparated themfelvcs fron> tlieir late mailers, and murdered, without mercy, fbch of tlie Englifli as rambling about the country fell into their hands. They were even fo au- dacious as to venture by night to attack the Englifli troops ih their quarters, and to let fire to fome of thehoufes in which they were lodged, in the town of St, Jagp de la Vega, the capital. But the Protedtor was determined to main- tain his conqueft, and feemed anxioufly bent on peopling the illand. While recruits were railing in England, he direded the governors of Barba- does, and the other Britifh colonies to windward (which at that time were exceedingly populous) to encourage fome of their planters to remove to Jamr ' :a, on the affurance of their having lands afligned them there. He difpatched an agent to New England on a fimilar errand, as well as to engage the people of the northern provinces to furnifli provifions to the newly-acquired terri- tory. He gave infcrudions to his fon Henry Cromwell, who was Major General of the forces in Ireland, to engage two or three thoufand young perfons of both fexes from thence, to become fettlers in Jamaica; ^d he correfponded with the 303 ; i^ i 204 ,i {- HISTORY OF THE the lord Broghill, who commanded at Edmburgh, on the beft means of inducing as great a num- ber to emigrate for the fame purpofe from Scot- land. In the mean while the old foldiers within the ifland, difliking their lituation, and conceiving, from[the preparations of the government at home, thil the Prote6Vor had thoughts of confining them to Jamaica for life, became diffatisfied and feditious. Odier caufes indeed concurred to awaken among them fuch a fpirit of difcontent as approached nearly to mutiny. Having at firft found in the country cattle and fwine in great abundance, they had deftroyed them with fuch improvidence and wantonnefs of profufion, as to occafion a fcarcity of frefh provifions in a place which had been reprefented as abounding in the higheft degree. The chief commanders appre- hending this event, and finding that the bread and flour which arrived from England were oftentimes fpoilt by the length of the voyage and the heat of the climate, had urged the foldiers, with great earneltncfs, to cultivate the foil, and raife, by their own induftry, Indian corn, pulfe and caflavi, fufficient for their main- tenance. They endeavoured to make them fenfible that fupplies from England muft ne- celfarily be cafual and uncertain ; and, perfua- fion failing, they would have compelled Uiem by force .' ji ''■^ m ■**(• burgh, num- 1 Scot- iVm the ceiving, t home, onfining iaed and arred to Ifcontent laving at fwine in hem with ofufion, as , in a place ling in the lers appre- the bread ^land were he voyage urged the iltivate the Lry, Indian [their main- ^ake them muft ne- 1, perfua- t.hem by force :i WEST INDIES. aoj force to plant the ground; but the fubaltern chap. officers concurred with the private men, abfo- '*** lutely rcfuling to contribute in the fmallefl degree to their own prefervation by the means recom- mended. They were polTefled of a paffionate longing to return to England, and fondly ima- gined that the continual great expence of main- taining fo large a body of troops at fo great a diftance, would induce the Protedor to re- linquilh his conquefl. Tlicy even rooted up the provifions which had been planted and left by the Spaniards. " Our foldiers (writes Sedge- vvicke) have deftroyed all forts of provifions and cattle. Nothing but ruin attends them whercfo- cver they go. Dig or plant, they neither will nor can, but are determined rather to ftarve than work." A fcarcity, approaching to a famine, was at length the confequence of fuch mifcon- duft, and it was accompanied with its ufual at- tendants, difeafe and contagion. Perhaps there are but few dcfcriptions in hiftory wherein a greater variety of horrors arc accumulated than in the letters addrefied on this occafion by Sedge- wicke and the other principal oliicers, to the government at home, which arc preferved among Thurloe's ftate papers. Sucli was the want of ^ood, that fnakes, lizards and other vermin, were eagerly eaten, togetlier with unripe fruits and noxious I 1;(. |i''. f ■ It: '4 ii ■ ii J ' Ii I ■ f ' '■ ? • Iv^^ i i t m I I lUlil' 11 I. 'i ' m Ui . :! ;( 106 HISTORY OF THB BOOK noxious vegetables. This unwholefomc diet '*• concurred with other circumftances to produce an epidemick dylentery, which raged like the plague. For a confiderable' time 140 men died weekly, and Sedgewicke himfclf at length peri(h- ed in the general carnage. The Protcftor, as foon as he had receivc<3 information of the diftrafted and calamitous ftate of the colony, exerted himfelf, with his ufual vigour, to afford it relief. Provifions and neccffariesof all kinds were (hipped without delay ; and Cromwell, diftruflful it is faid of D'Oyley's attachment, fupcrfcded him, by granting a com- mlffion of commander in chief of Jamaica, to Col. Brayne, governor of Lochabar in Scotland. This gentleman, with a fleet of tranfports, and a reinforcement of one thoufand recruits, failed from Port Patrick, the beginningof Oftober 1 656, and arrived at Jamaica in December following. Col. Humphreys with his regiment, confifting of 830 men, had landed, fome time before, from England ; and Stokes, governor of Nevis, with 1,500 perfons collcded in the Windward Iflands, had reached Jamaica, and begun an eftablilh- ment near to the Port of Morant, where fome of Stoke's defccndants, of the fame name, poflefs at this day confiderable property. Another regi- »ei>t, commanded by Col. Moore, arrived in 2 ■ the €^ diet iduce J the 1 died )eri(h- fo WEST INDIES. the beginning of 1657 from Ireland, and fome induftrious planters followed foon afterwards from New England and Bermudas. Brayne's firft accounts are very difcouraging. He complains that he found all things in the utmoft confufion ; that violent animofities fub- fifted among the troops ; and, above ail, that there was a great want of men cordial to the bnfmejs ; fuch is his exprefllon. He defires a remittance of ;^. 5,000, to enable him to eredl fortifications, and a further fupply of provifions for fix months j ftrenuoully recommending, at the fame time, a general liberty of trade between the ifland and all nations in amity with England j an indulgence which he thinks would fpeedily encourage planters enough to fettle in, and improve, the. country. But Brayne, though a man of fagacity and penetration, wanted firmnefs and fortitude. The troops ftill continued unhealthy, and fickncfs fpreading rapidly amongft the new comers, Brayne, alarmed for his own fafety, became as little cordial to the bufinefs of fettling as the reft. He prayed moft earneftly for permiffion to re- turn to England. In the mean while, by way (as he writes) of precaution againft a fever, he weakened himfelf to a great degree by copious bloodletting j a praAice which probably proved fatal to him; for he died at the end of ten months after his arrival. A few days before his dciUh, m I ! I. K \. .( i 1 V. r\ Ml !!■ n MrSTORY OF TH£ death, finding lu.nfelf in imminent danger, lie fent to D'Oyley, and formally transferred his authority to ; i f 1 officer. D'Oyley happily pof- feffed all thoie qualifications in which Brayne was deficient ; yc t he entered on his charge with reludlance ; for having already been roughly fu- perfeded by 'le Proteftor, he expefted perhaps fuch another difmiffion. In the letters which he addreffed to Cromwell and Fleetwood, on the event of Brayne's deceate, he exprefles him- fclf with propriety and dignity. " Your high- nefs," he obferves to Cromwell, " is not to be told how difficult it is to command an army without pay, and I tremble to think of the dif- contcnts I am to ftruggle withal, until the re- turn of your commands i though I blefs God I have the atledion of the people here, beyond any that ever yet commanded them; and a fpirit of my own not to fink under the weight of unreafonable dilcontents." To Fleetwood he writes, " I would have refufed to accept of this command, if I could have quitted with honour and faithfulnefs to my country; but I am now refolvcd to go through, until I receive further orders from his highneis, or a difcharge from him, which I humbly defire your lordfliip to effeft for me. Honours and riches are not the things I aim at. 1 blefs God I have a foul much above them. Fray, my lord, decline your grcatnefs, and com- * niand if I gre gen I figm tedtc oft] nianc and f under fefted this d ture w of the ofgreai the diff exertioi relief, the gov( was thej country, dominio of Mex received fte made and app h'ho had Vol. his pof- lync with y fu- rhaps chhc •n the him- high- ; to be \ army :he dif- the re- 5 God I ond any rit of my jafonable 1 would land, it' I [tbfulnefs ;d to go from his which I for me. 1 aim at. )ve them, and com- mand III. WEST INDIES; 909 mand your fecretary to ^'ive me an anfwcr j for chap. if I were difrobed of all my titles of honour and great command, yet you know that I am a gentleman, and a faithful friend to my country." It was fortunate for his country that his re- fignatlon was not accepted, and that the Pro- tedor, fenlible at Icnpf of the ability and merit of this brave man, )nfirm. d him in his com- mand. To the exer of D'Oyley, feconded and fupported by the .ct^tion which his foldiers, under all their difficulties and diftreflcs, mani- ' fefted on every occafion towards him, we owe at this day the pofleffion of Jamaica j the recap- ture whereof by the Spaniards, towards the end of the 5'^ear 1657, became to them an objeft of great national concern. Its defencelefs ftate, • the diflatisfaftion of the Englifh troops, and the exertions making by Cromwell to afford them relief, as well as to augment thei'r numbers, led the governor of Cuba to believe, that the jundlure was then arrived for retrieving the honour of his country, by the reftoration of this ifland to its dominion. Having communicated to the viceroy of Mexico, a fcheme built on this idea, and received the fanftion and fupport of that officer, he made preparations for a formidable invafion, land appointed Don Chriftopher Safi Arnoldo, |v\ho had been governor of Jamaica at the time Vol. I. P of U ill m 11 ! i i M m tv 'C^'?^. IMAGE EVALUATrON TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 m ■^" Mm ■^ iiii 122 :!f u£ 12.0 ft' ImlHBl iJ& 1 1:25|U|,.6 < — 6" ► '>. ... ^ 4W HiolDgraphic Sciences Corporation ^ •SJ ;\ \ 33 WiST MAIN STRUT WIBSTM.N.Y. USIO (716)«72-4S03 i\ m. i : ^ ! ii ii- N ' f * ! ' : t 1 : i ' i^ ■•' ' t ^ II. fio HISTORYOFTHE BOOK of Its capture, to take the conduft aftd com- mand of the enterprize. On the eighth of May 1658, thirty companies of Spanifh infantry landed at Rio Nuevo, a fmall harbour on the north fide of the ifland. They were provided with provifions for eight month'^, with ordnance and amniiinition of all kinds, and they brought engineers and artificers for eredting extenfive fortifications. Twelve days had elapfed before D'Oyley knew of their landing, and fix Weeks more intervened by the tiiLe that he was able to approach them by fea. During this in- terval, the Spaniards had eftablilhed themfelves in great force ; but D*Oyley at length reaching kio Nuevo, with fcven hundred and fifty of his beil-difciplined foldiers, attacked them in their entrenchments ; carried by aflault a ftrong for^ trefs which they had eredted on an eminence over the harbour i and conipelied the late unfortunate governor to get back as he could to Cuba, after the lofs of all his flores, ordnance, ammunition and colours, and of one half the forces which he had brought with him. Few viftories have been more decifive; nor does hiflory fiirnifh many inflances of greater military ikill and intrepidity, than thofe which were dilplayed by the Englifli on this oec.afion. ' ' , After fo fignal a defeat, the Spaniards made 1 no com- ipanies a fmal^ They [ids, and erefting dclapfed ;, and fix at he was g this in- themfelves ti reaching fifty of his ;m in their ftrong for' inence over infortunatc [cuba, after ammunition ;s which he ;s have been irnilh many intrepidity> the English ' ^niards made' noi WEST INDIES. ho eftbrt of confequencc to reclaim Jamaica. A party of the ancient Spanifh inhabitants, however, ftill lurked in the woods, and Safi, their governor, had returned to ihare their fortunes ; bat a body of their fiigitive negroes having fur- rendered to D'Oyley on the promife of freedom, thefe wretches informed him where their late maimers were fheltered ; and joined fome troops that were fent in purfuit of them : thus the poor Spaniards were entiifely routed, and the few that furvived, by efcaping to Cuba, took their laft farewel of a country, on their fond attachment to which, it is not poffible to refled without emotions of pity. By the wife, fteady and provident adminiftra- tion of D'Oyley, the affairs of the iHand begah at length to wear a more promifing afpeft. The army was now become tolerably healthy. Some fuccefsful efforts in raifing Indian corn, caffavi, tobacco, and cacao, had given encouragement to a fpirit of planting. The arrival of feveral merchant (hips, for the purpofe of traffick, con- tributed ftill further to the promotion of induftrj', and, on the whole, the dawn of future profperity began to be vifible* BuTj. as iiath been truly obferved by a well- informed author (a), nothing contributed fo •1 ' jfl 811 (a) European Settlements. Pa i»M H* i s'4' ) n • much w > I^'hI I 1 i li Sl« HISTORY OF THE much to the fettlement and opulence of this iiland in early times, as the refort to it of thofe men called Bucaniersj the wealth which they acquired having been (peedily transferred to people whofe induftry was employed in cultiva- tion or commerce. Of that iingular alTociation of adventurers it were to be wiflied that a more accurate account could be obtained than has hitherto been given : I will juft obferve ia this place, that fuch of them as belonged to Jamaica were not thofe piratical plunderers and publick robbers which they are commonly reprefented. A Spanifli war, commenced on the jufteft grounds on the part of the Englifli, ftill prevailing in. the Weft Indies, they were furniftied with regular letters of marque and reprifal. After the re- ftoration of Charles II. the king ordered that they (hould receive every encouragement and protedion j nor, if we may believe Sir William Beefton (b)^ did his majefty difdain to become a partner in the bucaftiering expeditions. It is in- deed related, that he continued to exadt and re- ceive a ihare of the booty, even after he had publickly iflued orders for the fuppreffion of this fpecies of hoftility (c). People ( %.}Q\itva\ penes me, (c/ A\c favour extended by the king to Henry Morgan, the inoll celebrated of the Engliih Bucaniers (a man indeed of an elevated! :tUofc 1 they red to ;ultiva- 3ciatior\ a more ban has re ia this , Jamaica \ publick prefented. ft grounds ling in. the ith regular er the re- :dered that ement and Sir William become a IS. Itisin- :aa and re- [fter he had )preffion of People [nry Morgan, the I laix indeed of an elevated WEST INDIES. People of all profeflions, and from all parts of the Britilh empire, now rcfortcd to Jamaica. The confufions which overfpread England after the death of Cromwell, impelled many to feck for fafety and quiet iu the Plantations. Some of thofe men who had diilinguifhed themfelves by their a<%ivity, in bringing their unhappy monarch to the fcaflfold, confidered this ifland as a fure place of refuge. Forefeeing, from the temper which began to prevail amongft all ranks of people in England, efpecially towards the begin- ning of the year 1660, that the nation was united in its wiflies for the re-eftablifliment of the ancient frame of government, they hoped to find thfit fafety in a colony compofed of Crom- well's adherents, which they were appreheniive would (hortly be denied them at home ftij. But elevated mind and invincible courage) arofe doubtlefs, in a great meafure, from the geoJ vndtrjiand'ing that prevailed be- tween them in the copartnerfliip that I have mentioned. When the Earl of Carlifle returned from Jamaica, Morgan tvas appointed deputy-governor and lieutenant-general in his abfence; and, proceeding himfelf, at a fubfequent period, to England, he was received very graciouflyi and had the honour of knighthood conferred on him by his fovereign. I hope, therefore, and indeed have good reafon to believe, that all or moft of the heavy accufations which have been brought againft this gallant commander, of outrageous I cruelty towards his Spanifli captives, had no foundation in I truth. (d) Some of thofe men who had fat as judges at the trial P 3 of 213 ii ' V:\ \ I i,' il ! } ■• ai4 r IIISTOI^Y OF THE But although men of this flamp were filently permitted to fix themfelves in the ifland, the general body both of the army and people caught the reviying ilame of loyalty, and fincerely par- ticipated in the national triumph on the king's return. The reftored monarch, on his part, not only overlooked their paft tranrgredions, but pru^ dently forebore alfo to awaken their jealoufy, by enquiring after any of thofe obnoxious cha- rafters to whom they had afforded proteftion. To conciliate the affections of the colonifts, whofe valour had annexed fo important an ap- pendage to his dominions, the king even con- firmed their favourite General in his command ; '[- of Charles I. are faid to have become peaceable fettlers here, and to have remained after the Refloration unnoticed and unmolefted. Waitc and Blagrove are reckoned of the number, and General Harrifon was earneilly preiTed to follow their e? being a pleafant and moft fertile foyle, and fcituate comodioufly for trade and commerce, is likely, through God's bleffing, to bee a greate benefitt and advantage to this, and other our kingdomesand dominions, have thought fitt, for encouragcing of our rubjeAs,as wellfuch as are already upon the faid ifland, as all others that fhall tranfport themfelves thither, and refide and plant there, to declare and publifti, and wee doe here- by declare andpublifli, that thirtie acres of improveable lands (hall bee granted and allotted, to every fuch perfon, male or female, being twelve years old, or upwards, who now refides, or within two vears next cnfuing, fliall refide upon the faid wit tlVE HALL , AND LS, TO S OUR > } and ^, with- jmfelves goods, any of ;he faid B impor- tant legni Regit ttiof cf PlatHers •Indies. WEST INDIES. tant declarations have always been juftly con- fidered, by the inhabitants of Jamaica, as a folemn recognition and confirmation by the crown, of thofe rights which are inherent in, and unalienable from, the perfon of a fubjedt of England, and of which, fo long as he preferves his faid ifland, and that the fame fliall bee afligned and fett out by the governor and councell, within fix weekes next after notice ihall bee given, in writing, fubfcribed by fuch planter or planters, or fome of thenn in behalfe of the reft, to the governor or fuch officer as hee fliall appoint in that behalfe, (ignifying their refolutions to plant there, and when they intend to bee on the place ; and in cafe they doe not goe thither, within fix months then next enfuing, the faid allotment fliall be void, and free to bee affigned to any other planter, and tliat every perfon and perfons to whom fuch aflign- ment fliali bee made, fliali hold and enjoy the faid lands, foe to bee afligned, and all houfes, edifices, buildings and in- clofures thereupon to bee built or made, to them and their heirs for ever, by and under fuch tenures as is ufual in other plantations fubjedl to us. Neverthelefle they are to bee obliged to ferve in armies upon any infurre£tion, mutiny, or forraine invaflon, and that the faid aflignments and allotments fliall be made and confirmed under the publique feale of the faid ifland, with power to create any manner or mannors, and with fuch convenient and fuitable priveledges and imuni- ties as the grantee fliall reafonably defire and require, and a draught of fuch aflignment fliall bee prepared by our learned councell in thelawe,and delivered to the gorvernor to that pur- pofe, and that all fifliings and pifcharies, and all copper, lead, tin, iron, coales and all other mines (except gold and filver) within fuch refpedive allotments fliall hee enjoyed by the grantees thereof, refcrving only a twentieth part of the pro- dud of the faid mines to our ufe. And wee doe fxirther pub- liOi 217 . .( i . . 'l! ■■'i; . i 1 I si8 y. 4 Mi ; 1 ■ i' !• 1 ■, 'f !i' ' \ ti' ! '"^ i; i j ' ; 1 ; ! \ it it HISTORY OF THE his allegiance, emigration for the benefit of the (late cannot, and furely ought not, to divcft him. Purfuant to, and in the fpirit of the pro- clamation, the governor was inftrudcd to call an affembly, to be indififerently chofen by the people at large, that they might pafs laws for their own internal regulation and government j a privilege, which being enjoyed by fuch of their fellow fubjefts as remained within the realm, it i% prefumed they had an undoubted right to exer- cife, with this limitation only, that the laws which lifli and declare, that all childrenof any of our naturall-borne fiibjei^s of England^ to bee borne in Jamaica^ fliall ftom theur rtfpetflive births, bee reputed to bee, and fliall bee, free Denizens of England i and fliall have the fame priveledges, to all intents and purpofes, as our free-borne fubjefts of Eiiglatid, and that all free perfons fliall have libertie without interruption, to tranfportthemfelvesjand their families and any their goods (except onley coyne and bullion) from any our dominions and territories to the faid ifland of Jamaica. And wee doe flriAly charge and command all planters, fbldiers and others, upon the faid ifland, to yield obedience to the lawfull commands of our right trufly and u elbeloved Thomas Lord fVitiiifirj now our governor of our faid ifland, and to every other governor thereof for the tymc being, under paine of our difpleafure and fuch penalties as may bee infliifted thereupon. Given at our courte at Whitehall, the fourteenth day tf December. P\ ipm\ Regtm. This is a true eopyof tJie original record remaining in the Chappie of the Rdlsy having been examined By me Henry Rooke, C/' of the Rolls. FERA-COPIA. . . they "the iveft pra- call f the }/% for ent i a ' their n, it i* excr- i which •all-born* from their , bee, free riveledgeSj fubjefts of tie without lies and any im any our taica. And •rs, foldiers lencc to the ed Thomas md, and to under paine ,ce inflifted ourteenth day the Chappie fthe Rolls- they III. WEST INDIES. 319 they (hould pafs, were not fubverfive of their c h a ii. dependance on the parent ftate (/). To thefe feveral teftimonies of royal juftice and favour towards the new colonifts, may be added the additional fecurity obtained for them by the American treaty, concluded and figned at Madrid in the month of June 1670. For, after the reftoration, doubts were raifed by the partizans of royalty, whether, as the elevation of CromweH was adjudged an ufurpation, the conquefts which had been made under the fandkion of his authority, could be rightfully maintained by a kingly government ? Although nothing could well be more futile than thefe fug- geftions, it was neverthelefs thought neceifary to guard againft the conclufions which Spain might deduce fix)m them. This precaution partly gave rife to the feventh article of the treaty above re- ferred to, which is conceived in the words follow- ing, viz. " The King of Great Britain, his ** heirs and fuccelTors, (hall have, hold and poffefs, for ever, with full right of fovereign « C/J His Majefty was llkewife pleafed to favour the ifland with a broad feal with the following arms, viz.. a crofs gules charged with five pine- apples in a field argent ; y?//>^or/^rj, two Indians plum'd and condoled ; erejlj an alligator vivant. The iofcri])tion in the orb, Eccealiiim Ramos porrexit in orbem Nee fterilis eft crux. " dominion. »■ ft {•' 1 it [■i ■' \ H' !ii aao s, (till keep up jirctcnfions to Jamaica, or clainn pro- perty thtrciii, as not haviiig been formally cedeti to the trow n of KujiiLiid. broke sai 'ions any }rcat ifcnt, of, or >thing quef- g the at the in dc- and in oymcnt irks II. )Out the e having for fub- home, leges en- ive been lich, en- lunabcrs. \i the very ne of their claim pyo- \ct\ to the broke WEST INDIES. broke out at length into adts of open hodility chap. and violence towards them. ni. In the beginning of 1678, the ilorm fell on Jamaica. A new fyftem of Icgiflation was adopted for this ifland, founded nearly on the model of the IriHi conftitution under Poynings*s ad i and the Earl of Carlifle was appointed chief goyernor for the purpofe of enforcing it. A body of laws was prepared by the privy council of England, among the refl a bill for fettling a perpetual revenue on the crown, which his lord- Ihip was direded to offer to the affembly, re- quiring them to adopt the whole code, without amendment or alteration. In future the heads of all bills (money bills excepted) were to be fu^efted in the firft inftance by the governor and council, and tranfmitted to his majefly to be approved or rejedted at home ; on obtaining the royal confirmation, they were to be returned under the great fcal in the fliape of laws, and paifed by the general affembly ; which was to be convened for no other purpofe than that, and the bufinefs of voting the ufual fupplies ; ui^lefs in confequence of fpecial orders from England. If we reflect only on the diftance of Jamaica from Great Britain, we may pronounce, with- out hefitation, that it was impoffible for the colony to exifl: under fuch a conllitution and fyftem of government. What mifcondud on the ,. part ! I. • '," i 1 !' i!'i n \i' • I t\' ' T'l 222 HISTORr 6F THE part of the inhabitants, or what fecrct expeftation on the part of the crown, originally gave birth to this projedt, it is now difficult to determine. The moft probable opinion is this. — In the year 1663, the affembly of Barbadoes were prevailed on, by very unjuftifiable means, as will hereafter be Ihewn, to grant an internal revenue to the crown, of 4 f per cent, on the grofs exported produce of that ifland for ever. It is not un- likely that the fteady refufal of the Jamaica planters to burthen themfelves and their pofterity with a fimilar impofition, exciting the refent- ment of the king, firft fuggeftedthe idea of de- priving them of thofe conftitutional franchiles which alone could give fecurity and value to their pofleffions. Happily for the prefertt in- habitants, neither fecret intrigue nor undifguifed violence were fuccefsflil. Their gallant anceftors tranfmitted to their pofterity their eftates unin- cumbered with fuch a tax, and their political rights unimpaired by the fyftem of government attempted to be forced on them. " The affem- bly (fays Mr. Long) rejeded the new conftitu- tion with indignation. No threats Could frighten, no bribes Could corrupt, nor arts nof arguments perfuade them to confent to laws that would enflave their pofterity." Let me add, as a tribute of juft acknowledgment to the noble efforts of this gentleman's great anceftor. Col. ition birth mine, eyear ivailed ireafter to the sported notun- Jamaica pofterity 5 refent- ta cf de- franchifes value to refertt m- tidifguifed t ancellors ■ates unin- ,r political overnment "he affem- conftitti- lats could ^or arts nof it to laws Let me lent to the it anceftor> CoU WEST INDIES. i«3 Col. Long, that it was to him^ Jamaica was prin- chap. cipally indebted for its deliverance. As chief ^^'* Judge of the illand, and member of the council, he exerted, on this important occalion, the powers with which he was inverted, with fuch ability and fortitude, in defence of the people, as to baffle and finally overpower every effort to enflave them. The governor, after difmiffing him from the pofts which he had filled with fuch honour to himfelf, and advantage to the publick, con- veyed him a ftate prifoner to England. Thefe delpotick meafures were ultimately produdlive of good. Col. Long, being heard before the king and privy council, pointed out with fuch force of argument, the evil tendency of the meafures which had been purfued, that the Englilh miniftry reludantly fubmitted. The aflembly had their deliberative powers reftored to them, and Sir Thomas Lynch, who had pre- fided in the ifland as lieutenant-governor from 1670 to 1674, very much to the fatisfaftion of the inhabitants, was appointed captain-general and chief governor in the room of Lord Car- aHe (h). (hj I have fubjoined, as an appendix to this book, "• an hif- " torical Account of the Conftitution of Jamaica," wherein the particulars of Lord Carlifle's adminiilration are detailed at largc-^This hiftorical account is now publiflicd for the firft time, and cannot fail of proving extremely acceptable to tlie reader. , . ! I W' f \ W r ■ 1 1 224 HISTORY OF THE It might have been hoped that all poffible caufe of future contell with the crown, on the quef- tion of political rights, was now happily obviated; but the event proved that this expeftation was fallacious. Although the aflembly had recover- ed the ineftimable privilege of framing fuch laws for their internal government as their exigencies might require, of which doubtlefs themfelves alone were competent to judge, and although it was not alledged that the laws which they had pafled, as well before, as after the re-eftablifh- ment of their rights, were repugnant to thofe of the mother-country, yet the rdyal confirmation of a great part of them had been conftantly re- fufed, and ftill continued to be withheld. It was indeed admitted, that the Englifli who cap- tured the ifland, carried with them as their birth- right, the law of England as it then flood ; but much of the Englifli law was inapplicable to the fituation and condition of the new colo- niftsj and it was contended that they had no right to any ftatute of the Britifli parliament, which had pafled fubfequcnt to their emigration, unlefs its provifions were fpecially extended to the colony by n^me. The courts of judicature within the ifland, had however, from neceflity, admitted many fuch ftatutes to be pleaded, and grounded feveral judgments and important de- terminations upon them ; and the afliembly had pafTed caufe quef- WEST INDTES. paffed bills adopting feveral of the Englii[h fta- tutes which did not othenvife bind the iflandj but feveral of thofe bills, when fent home for the royal confirmation, and thofe judgments and de- terminations of the courts of law, when brought by appeal before the king and council, though not difallowed, remained unconfirmed j and in this unfettled ftate, the affairs of Jamaica were fufferr ed to remain for the fpace of fifty years. The true caufe of fuch inflexibility on the part of the crown, was no other than the old ftory of revenue. For the purpofe, as it was pretended, of defraying the expence of ereding and repairing fortifications, and for anfwering fome other pub- lick contingencies, the minifters of Charles II. had procured, as hath been related, from the affem- bly of Barbadoes, and indeed from moft of the other Britifti Welt Indian colonies, the grant of a perpetual internal revenue. The refufal of Ja- maica, to confent to a fimilar eftablifliment j the punifiiment provided for her contumacy, and the means of her deliverance, have already been ftated i but it was found that the lenity of the crown in relinquiftii. g the fyftem of compulfion, was expefted to produce that effed: which tyranny had failed to accomplifh. The Englifh govern- ment claimed a return from the people of Ja- maica, for having dropt an oppreflive and pernici- ous projed, as if it had adually conferred upon Vol. I. Q them 225 !'s:M I'? . ■■' M i -t t r ^ !■■ ', ■ . r"" S26 m i ! HISTORY OF THE them a pofitive and permanent benefit ; a claim in which all the Britifh minifters, from the refto- ration of King Charles, to the reign of George II. very cordially concurred. The aflembly however remained unconvinced. Among other objedtlons, they pleaded that the money granted by the Ifland of Barbadoes was notorioufly appropriated to purpofes widely dif- ferent from thofe for which it was exprefsly given j and they demanded fome pledge, or fecurity, againft a fimilar mifapplication, in cafe they Ihould fubjedt their country to a perrhament and irrevocable tax. The minifters refiifed to give any fatisfaftion in this particular; and finding that the aflTembly were equally refolute to pafs their fupply bills from year to year only, as ufual, they advifed the fovereign, from a fpirit of vin- didive policy, to wave the confirmation of the laws, and to fuffer the adminiftration of jufticc in the illand, to remain on the precarious foot- ing that I have defcribed. Such was- the aftual fituatioft of Jamaica until the year i728,.when a compromife was happily effeded. In that year, the Aflembly confented to fettle on the crown a ftanding irrevocable revenue of ^. 8,000 per annum, on certain conditions, to which the crown agreed, and of which the follow- ing are the principal : I ft. That the quit-rents arifing within the ! - '■" ■ ifland !' f ! claim refto- >rge 1I« vinced. :hat th& oes was iely dif- ,y given i fecurity, ;afe they ment and d to give d finding te to pafs r, as ufual, rit of vin- ion of the of juftice rious foot- \aica until ;as happily mfentedto )le revenue iditions, to the follow- within the ifland WEST INDIES. ' ifland (then eftimated at ;^. i)46o per annum) fljould conftitute a part of fuch revenue, zdly. That the body of their laws (hould receive the royal alTent. And, 3dly. That " all fuch laws ** and ftatutes of England, as hnd been at any " time efteemed, introduced, ufed, accepted, or " received, as laws in the iiland, Ihould be and '* continue laws of Jamaica for ever." The re- venue aft, with this important declaration therein, was accordingly pafled ; and its confirmation by the king, put an end to a conteft no lefs dif- graceful to the government at home, than in- jurious to the people within the ifland. I HAVE thus endeavoured, with as much bre- vity as the fubjeft would admit, to trace the political conftitution of Jamaica from infancy to maturity ; but although its parentage and prin- ciples are Britifli, it has been modified and occafi- onally regulated by many unforefeen events, and local circumftances. In its prefent form, and ac- tual exercife, however, it fo nearly refembles the fyftem of government In the other Britilh Weft Indian Iflands, that one general defcription (which I referve for a fubfequent part of my work) will comprehend the whole. A minute detail of local occurrences and internal politicks, Wftuld not, I prefume, be interefling to the general reader. The following are the only circumflances which ap- pear to me to merit diflinft notice, and I have Q 2 referved aft7 '*;i?'l 11 ■! ? ^ '' h\ 5 ^li ' :',!, i-. '^ iBi asS 111 f ^ ' ' M^ HISTORY OF THE referved the recital for this place, that the thread of the preceding narrative might continue un- broken. • In the year 1687 Chriftopher Duke of Albe- marle was appointed chief governor of Jamaica. This nobleman was the only furviving fon Jlnd heir of General Monk, who had reftored Charles II. and I mention him principally as exhibiting a fbriking inftance of the inftability of human great- nefs. The father had been gratified with the higheft rewards that a fovereign could beftow on a fubjedt ; a dukedom, the garter, and a princely fortune ; and the fon, reduced to beggary by vice and extravagance, was driven to the neceffity of imploring bread from James II. The king, to be freed from his importunities, gave him the go- vernment of Jamaica j where, dying childlefs, a fliort time after his arrival, his honours were ex- tinguilhed with his life. The noble duke lived long enough, however, to colleft a confiderable fum of money for his creditors ; for entering into partnerlhip with Sir William Phipps, who had difcovered the wreck of a Spanilh Plate (hip, which had been ftranded in 1659, on a fhoal to the north-caft of Hifpaniola, they fent out (loops from Jamaica, provided with fkilful diver's, to fearch for the hidden treafure, and are faid to have adlually recovered twenty-fix tons of filver. The condudt of this noble governor, on his arri- val, i thread lue un- of Albe- Jamaica. ; fon and i Charles hibiting a nan great- with the beftow on a princely rarybyvice. neceffity of king, to be liim the go- r childlefs, a urs were ex- ; duke lived confiderable >ntering into [ps, who had Plate (hip, ,n a Ihoal to ■nt out (loops ful divers, to are (aid to [tons of filver. ■, on his arri- val, WEST INDIES. val, affords many curious inftances of the arbi- trary principles of the times : — Having called an affembly, his grace difTolved them abruptly, be- caufe one of the members, in a debate, repeated the old a.d&gey fa/us populifuprema lex. His grace afterwards took the member into cuftody, and caufed him to be fined ^. 600 for this offence. With his grace came over Father Thomas Chur- chill, a Romifli paftor, fent out by James II. to convert the ifland to popery j but his grace*s death, and the revolution in 1688, blafted the good father's projedt. The duchefs accompanied her hufband ; a circumflance which the fpeaker of the Affembly, in his firfk addrefs, expatiated up- on in a high ftrain of eloquence. " It is an ho- nour (faid he) which the opulent kingdoms of Mexico and Peru could never arrive at, and even Columbus's ghojl would he appeafedfor all the in- dignities he endured of the Spaniards ^ could he but know that his own beloved foil was hallowed byfuch footfeps /* On * Having mentioned this lady, the reader, I am perfuad- ed, will pardon ine for adding the following particulars of her hiftory. On the death of the duke, her firft huftand, his grace's coadjutors in the diving bufinefs (many of whom had been bucaniers) complained that they had not receiv- ed their full (hare of the prize-money, and her grace, who had got pofleffion of the treafure, refufing to part with a lUilling, rhey formed a fcheme to feize her perfon in the king's iioufe in Spanifli Town, and carry her off. Luckily Ihe rc- (i.3 ceivcd 889 1! ' :-,l :m m '!- A i:k m ife :k^ *30 HISTORY OF THE On the feventh of June 1692, happened that tremendous earthquake which fwallowed up great part of Port Royal. A defcription of it, dread- fully minute, may be found in the Philofophical Tranfacflions j but it is not generally known that the town was ciiiefly built on a bank of fand, ad- hering to a rock in the fea, and that a very flight concuffion, aided by the weight of the buildings, ceived fume intimation of the plot a day or two before it was to have been carried into execution, and communicated her apprchenfions to the Houfe of Aflembly, who thereupon appointed a formidable committee of their ableft bodied mem- bers to guard her perfon by day and night, until (he was fafely enibarked in one of the king's fhips. She arrived in England, in the Affiftance man of war, with all her treafurc,the begin- ning of June 1688, and fome years afterwards fell into a ilate of mental imbecility, in the progrefs of which (lie pleafed he»- felf with the notion, that the Emperor of China having heard of her immenfe riches was coming to pay his adure(res to her. She even made magnificent preparations for his reception. As (lie was perfeftly gentle and good-humt)ured in her lunacy, her attendants not only encouraged her in her folly, but con- trived alfo to turn it to good account, by perfuading a needy peer (the (irft duke of Montague) to perfonate his Chinefe majefty, and deceive her into wedlock, which he actually did ; and with greater fuccefs than honefty, or, I (liould imagine, even the law would warrant, got po(reffion by this means of her weahh, and then confined her as a lunatick. Gibber, the comedian, who thought it a good jeft, introduc- ed the circumflance on the flage, and it forms a fcene in his play, called the S!ci Lady Cured. Her grace furvived her huf- band, the pretended emperor, for many years, and died in 1 754, al the great age of 98. Her frenzy remained however to the la(l,and (lie was ferved on the knee as Emprefs of China to the day of her death. ■-■■ V : . , would :d that p great , dread- fophical )wn that and, ad- .jy (light >uildings, before it t»mun»cated thereupon aocliedmcm- Ihewasfafely 1 In England* ,re,thebegm- •eU'mtoaftate lepleafedher- 1 having heard diireflcstoher. his reception, in her lunacy, [folly, but con- Ldinganeedy ,ate his Chinefe lich he aaually L or, I fl^o"^'' offeffion by this Us a lunatick. d jeft,introduc- Isafceneinhis [urvivedherhuf- jars, and died in mained however mprefs of China WEST INDIES. would probably have accompliftied its deftruc- tion. I am inclined therefore to fufpedt that the dcfcription of the (hock is much exaggerated^. The inhabitants were fcarcely recovered from the terrors occafioned by the earthquake, when they were alarmed with an account of an intend- ed invafion by an armament from Hifpaniola, commanded by Monf. Du Cafle, the governor of that ifland, in perfon. Accordingly, on the 1 7th of June 1694, a fleet of three men of war and twenty privateers (having on board i ,500 land forces) appeared off Cow Bay, where eight hun- dred of the foldiers were landed, with orders to defolate the country as far as Port Morant. Thefe barbarians obeyed their inftrudions to the full extent. They not only fet fire to every fettle- ment they came to, but tortured their prifoners in the moft (hocking manner, and murdered great numbers in cold blood, after making them be- hold the violation of their wives by their own ne- groes. Such at lead is the account tranfmitted by Sir William Beefton, the governor, to the fecretary of ftate. Unfortunately, the militia of this part of the country had been drawn off to guard the capital j whereby the French continu-. ed their ravages without refiftance, and having fet fire to all the plantations within their reach, * Thefeventhof June is declared, by an aft of the Aflembly, to be eftabilhed as a perpetual anniverfary faft, in comme- moration of this calamity. • ' Q 4 and 331 \ \ wm If ^ ii m w 2}2 i ') HISTORY OF THE and feizcd about one tlioufand negroes, Du Cafle failed to leeward, and anchored in Carlifle Bay, in the parifh of Vere. This place had no other for- tification than an ill-contrived brcaft-work, man- ned by a detachment of two liundred men from the militia of St. Elizabeth and Clarendon, which Du Cafle attacked with all his force. The Eng- lifli made a gallant refiftance ; but Colonel Cley- born, Lieutenant Colonel Smart, Captain Vaflal, and Lieutenant Dawkins being killed, and many others dangeroufly wounded, they were com])e!- led to retreat. Happily, at this moment, arrived five companies of militia, which the governor had fent to their afllftance from Spanifli Towir. Thefe, though they had marched thirty miles without refrefliment, immediately charged the enemy with fuch vigour, as entirely to change the fortune of the day. The French retreated to their (hips, and Du Cafle foon afterwards return- to Hifpaniola with his ill-gotten booty. In 1 71 2, on the 28th day of Auguft, and again on the fame day of the fame month, in the year 1722, Jamaica was fliaken to its founda- tions by a dreadful hurricane. This day, there- fore, as well as the feventh of June, the Colonial Legiflature has, by an aft of Affembly, pioufly fet apart for failing and humiliation, and I wiih I could add, that its commemoration annually, is as exemplary among all ranks of people as the oc* cafion was fignal. •, .■.:;,«,; " - ■■: ' ''■- The a(fe r, in for- nan- from ^hich Eng- Cley- imany jmpel- arrived jvernor TowiT. y mile* ged the nge the ated to return- WEST INDIES. The next important occurrence in thehiftory of this ifland, was the pacification, concluded in 1738, with the hoftile negroes called Maroons-, but the refpite which this treaty afforded the in- habitants from intcftine commotion was of (hort duration. In 1 760, the very exiftence of the co- lony was endangered by a revolt of the enflavcd . ;egroes. As, however, fome particulars of this af- fair will be given in a fubfequent part of my work, when I come to treat generally of negro flavery, and of the condition and character of the newly imported Africans, it is unneceflary for me, in this place, to enlarge upon the fubjeft. The co-operation of the people whom I have juft mentioned, the Maroons, in fupprefllng the revolt of 1 760, was confidered, at the time, in a very favourable point of view ; and the fafety of the country was attributed in fome degree to their fervices on that occafionj but the writer of this was convinced by his own obfervations on the fpot, that no opinion could be more ill- founded: he was perfuaded that the Maroons were fufpicious allies, and that, whenever they fliould come to feel their ownftrength, they would prove very formidable enemies. Recent events have unhappily confirmed the judgment he then formed of them. Soon after the publication of this work, thefe people began a mod unpro- voked war againft the white inhabitants, which has a3S i!»r (!';' ■ \\ '■ .; 1 y M tl J- 1 " j !• 11 ll i ll •34 HISTORY OF THE has ended in their total defeat, and the final cxpulfion of mod of them from the ifland. The circumftanccs attending this revolt requiring par- ticular dilcuHion, I have accordingly given it fall confidcration, in a dillindl narrative of its origin, progrcls, and termination, and refcrved it for the concluding part of thefe volumes : totljat there- fore the reader is referred. The year 1744 was diftinguiflied by another dedrudivc conflid of the elements; and in 1 780, after a long refpite, began that dreadful fucceflion of hurricanes, which, with the exception of 178a and 1783, defoiated this, and fome of the neigh- bouring iflands, for fcvcn years together*. Op the whole feries of thefe awful vifitations, the firfl was undoubtedly the moft deftruftive ; but in Jamaica, the fphere of its acflivity was chiefly confined to the weftern parts of the ifland. The large and opulent difl;ri<5ls of Weftmoreland and Hanover prefented, however, fuch extent anil variety of defolation from its effeds, as are fcarccly to be equalled in the records of human CAlanilty. Weftmoreland alone fuftained damage to the amount o( £. 700,000 fterling, and Han- "<'Mf 1760 hurricane 3d Oaober. 1781 - - . I ft Aiiguft. 1784 - - - 30th July. 178s - - - 27th Augufl. 17S6 - - - aoth October. over TUe g par- it f aU for the t thcrc- anothcr in 1780, ucceflion L of 178* he neigH- r*. vifitations, eftruftive ; c^ivity was the ill and. jftmoreland uch extent ;eas, as are Is of human net! damage •, and Han- WEST INDIES. over nearly as much. The fad fate of Savanna la Mar (a fmall fea-port in the former parilh) can never be remcmberal vvithout liorror. The fea, burfting its ancient limits, overwhelmed that un- h.ippy town, and fwcpt it to indant dellmdlion, leaving not a vedige of man, bead, or habitation behind i lb fudden and comprehenfive was the ftroke, that I think the cataftrophe of Savanna la Mar was even more terrible, in many refpeds, than that of Port Royal. The latter, however, was in its effedts more lading j for to this hour the ruins of that devoted town, though buried for upwards of a century beneath the waves, are vifible in clear weather from the boats which fail over them, prefcnting an awful monument or memorial of the anger of Omnipotence I Dread end of human ftrength, and human ikill, Riches, and triumph, and domain, and pomp, And cafe and luxury ! Dyex. What has thus frequently happened, will probably happen again ; and the infolencc of wealth, and the confidence of power, may lean a leflbn of humility from the contemplation*. • Mr. Long, in the third volume of his Hiftory of Jamaica, has enumerated the following prognofticks, as the ufual pre- ciirfoi^ of a hurricane :— " Extraordinary continuance of ex- treme dry and hot weather. On the near approach of the ftoni), a turbulent appearance of the (ky: the fun becomes unufually •JJ 1* m III |:i i ;l Hi ^ t i III i-ii ;lif ( , w\ k ■1; j ? at6 I HISTORY OF THE unufually red, while the air is perfe£lly calm. The higheft mountains are free of clouds, and are feen very diftinftly. The flky towards the north looks black and foul. The fea rolls on the coaft and into the harbours with a great fwell, and emits, at the fame time, a very ftrong and difagreeable odour. On the full moon, a haze is feen round her orb, and fometimes a halo round the fun." To this enumeration, I M'ill add a remarkable circumftance which happened in Ja- maica in 1 780. Upwards of twenty hours before the com- mencement of thegreatflormin that year, a very uncommon noife, refenibling the roar of diftant thunder, was heard to iffue from the bottom of all the wells in the neighbourfiood of Kingfton. There was, at that time, in Port Royal har- bour, a fleet of merchant fliips, which were to fail the next morning. The commander of one of thefe veflels, was a wit- nefs to the circumftance I have mentioned ; and having been informed that it was one of theprognofticks of an approach- ing hurricane (though none had happened in Jamaica foir near forty years) he haftened on board his fhip, warped her that evening into the inner harbour into fhoal water, and fe- cured her with all the precautions he thought neceflary. At day-break the hurricane began, and this fhip was one of the very few that efcaped deflrudion from its fury. -.■■i ■-■r "1 1 - --• ■i.ff; igheft naiy. he fca fwell, reeable rb, and ation, 1 I In Ja- tie cotn- :ommon heard to jourhood oyal har- 1 ihe next wasawU- ivingbecn approach- imaica foir warped her ter, and fe- icffary. At i one of the WEST INDIES. CHAP. IV. Situation and climate. — Face of the Country. — Moun* tains f and advantages derived from them. — Soil. — Lands in Culture. — Lands uncultivated, and ^bfervations thereon. — fVoods and Timbers. — Rivers and Medicinal Springs. — Ores. — Vegeta- ble Clajfes. — Grain. — Grajfes. — Kitchen-garden produce, and Fruits for the Table, ^c. i£c. Jamaica is fituated in the Atlantick Ocean, in about 1 8* I z\ north latitude, and in longitude about 77* 45' weft from London. From thefe data the geographical reader will perceive that the climate, although tempered and greatly mitigat- ed by various caufes, fome of which will be pre- fently explained, is extremely hot, with little vari- ation from January to December j that the days and nights are nearly of equal duration j there be- ing little more than two hours difference between the longeft day and the fliorteft ; that there is very little twilight ; and finally, that when it is twelve o'clock at noon in London, it is about ieven in the morning in Jamaica. The general appearance of the country differs greatly from moft parts of Europe ; yet the north and fouth fides of the ifland, which are feparated ■^ . . by 837 i 1 ill i; i!^ if 1" u 1 III 1 i T II 1 s . ' fj'^i tHI ■ - * mm r r '■;^- 1 1 lit ? ■■■'. t; 1 1 • i i -rA ;, i i . ;■ " -1 i ',. ' ' I >/v ■ •X'f \\ ■ ■ ! -^ 1,1 ■ 1:1 \ ■ ul % '■ ^ I W* If* ''' .ils liil ■J? ;'. ■' ;, '- ! i I 1. 1 ! I 'JasjftL'jHiMww w^tenwD' : 23S HISTORY OF THE I ; lis BOOK by a vail chain of mountains extending from eaft ^^' to weft, differ at the fame time widely from each other. When Columbus firft difcovered Jamaica, he approached it on the northern fide j and be- holding that part of the country which now con- ftltutes the parilh of vSt. Anne, he was filled with delight and admiration at the novelty, variety, and beauty of the profpedl. The whole of the fcenery Is indeed fuperlatively fine, nor can words alone (at leaft any that I can feleft) convey a juft idea of it. A few leading particulars I may perhaps be able to point out, but their combinations and features are infinitely various, and to be enjoyed muft be feen. The country at a (mall diftance froni the fhore riies into hills, which are more remarkable for beauty than boldnefs j being all of gentle acclivity, and commonly feparated from each other by fpa- cious vales and romantick inequalities ; but they are feldom craggy, nor is the tranfition from the hills to the vallies oftentimes abmpt. In general, the hand of nature has rounded every hill towards the top with Angular felicity. The moft ftriking circumftances however attending thefe beautiful fwells are the happy difpofition of the groves of pimento, with which moft of them are fpontane- ouily clothed, and the confummate verdure of the turf underneath, which is difcoverable in a thou- fand openings j prefenting a charming contraft 4 to V neaft 1 each iiiaica, ndbe- iw con- id with ety,and ; (cenery ds alone juft i^e^ erhapsbe tions and e enjoyed li the (bore arkable for [le acclivity, [her by fpa- j but they ,n from the In general, hill towards loft ftvil^"^i^§ •fe beautiful [he groves of \re fpontane- srdureofthe Aq in a thou- ^ing contraft . to WEST INDIES. i)9 to the deeper tints of the pimento. As this tree^ chap, which is no lefs remarkable for fragrancy than ^v- beauty, fuffers no rival plant to flouriih within its fliade, thefe groves are not only clear of under- wood, but even the grafs beneath is feldom lux- uriant. The foil in general being a chalky marl, which produces a clofe and clean turf, as fmooth and even as the fined Englifh lawn, and in colour infinitely brighter. Over this beautiful furface the pimento fpreads itfelf in various compart- ments. In one place, we behold extenfive groves ; in another, a number of beautiful groups, fome of which crown the hills, while others are fcatter- ed down the declivities. To enliven the fcene, and add perfeftion to beauty, the bounty of nature has copioufly watered the whole diftridt. No part of the Weft Indies, that I have fecn, abounds with fo many delicious ftreams. Every valley has its rivulet, and every hill its cafcade. In one point of view, where the rocks overhang the ocean, no lefs than eight tranfparent waterfalls are beheld in the fame moment. . Thofe only who have been long at fea, can judge of the emotion which is felt by the thirfty voyager at fo enchanting a pro- fped. Su c H is the foreground of the picture. As the land rifes towards the center of the ifland, the eye, palling over the beauties that I have recount- ed. !:"»«WW*WW1WMR"»'.' 240 HISTORY OP THE ?? BOOK cd, is attraded by a boundlefs amphitheatre of ^^' wood, Infuperable height of loftieft fliade. Cedar ; and branching palm : MiLTOW. An immenfity of foreft; the outline of which melts into the diftant blue hills, and thefe again are loft in the clouds. On the fouthern fide of the illand, the Teener)^, as I have before obferved, is of a different nature. In the landlcape I have defcribed, the prevailing charafterifticks are variety and beauty : in . that which remains, the predominant features are gran- deur and fublimity. When I firft approached this fide of the ifiand by fea, and beheld, from afar, fuch of the ftupendous and foaring ridges of the • bliie mountains, as the clouds here and there dif- ^ clofed, the imagination (forming an indiftinft but awful idea of what was concealed, by what was thus partially difplayed) was filled with admira- i tion and wonder. Yet the fenfation which I felt \\ as allied rather to terror than delight. Thoush the profped before me was in the highefl degree magnificent, it feemed a fcene of magnificent de- folation. The abrupt precipice and inacceffible j cliff, had more the afped of a chaos than a crea- 1 tioni or rather feemed to exhibit the efFeds of| ■ ' . " ■ ' fome m itre of ich meUs in ate loft aefcenen^ >nt nature. . pi-evailing fesaregran- roacbed tbis 3 from afar, ,ridges of the ^ndthevedif- indiftinabut jy what was with admira- ls which 1 felt rht. ThouoU .Agheft degree lagnificer^t de- [ndinaccefliblel ^sthanacrea- It the effeas of forne WEST INDIES. a4« fome dreadful convulfion, which had laid nature c rf a p> in ruins. Appearances however improved as we ^^** approached j for, amidft ten thbufand bold fea- tures, too hard to be foftened by culture, many a fpot was foon difcovered where the hand of in- duftry had awakened life and fertility. With thefe pleafing intermixtures, the flowing line of the lower range of mountains (which now began to be vifible, crowned with woods of majellick growth) combined to foften and relieve the rude folemni- ty of the loftier eminences ; until at length the favannas at the bottom met the fight. Thefe are vaft plains, clothed chiefly with extenfive cane- fields J dilplaying, in all the pride of cultivation, the verdure of fpring blended with the exuber- ance of autumn, and they are bounded only by the ocean; on whofe bofom a new and ever-moving picture ftrikes the eye j for innumerable vefllels are difcovered in various directions, fome crowding into, and others bearing away from, the bays and harbours with which the coaft is every where in- dented. Such a profpeft of human ingenuity and induftry, employed in exchanging the fuperfluities of the Old World, for the productions of the New, opens another, and, I might add, an almoil un- trodden field, for contemplation and refledion. Thus the mountains of the Weft Indies, if notj in themfelves, obje(fls of perfect beauty, contri- bute greatly towards the beauty of general na- Vol. I. R turej •. /,■ ,t. I r ■j ! 5;,! \W '11 I ;Ji ' 1 i'l f } f . a4> I n Is 'I HISTORY OF THE turc i and furely the inhabitants cannot refleft but with the deepeft fenfe of gratitude to Divine Providence, on the variety of climate, fo condu- cive to health, fcrenity and pleafure, which thefe elevated regions afford them. On this fubjed I fpeak from adual experience. In a maritime fitua- tion, on the fultry plains of the fouth fide, near the town of Kingfton, where I chiefly refided dur- ing the fpace of fourteen years, the general me- dium of heat during the hotteft months (from June to November, both inclufive) was eighty de- grees on Fahrenheit's thermometer (aj. At a villa eight miles diflant, in the highlands of Liguanea, the thermometer feldom rofe, in the hotteft part of the day, above fevcnty. Here then was a dif- ference of ten degrees in eight miles j and in the morning and evening the difference was much grea,ter. At Cold Spring, the feat of Mr. Walleri, a very high fituation fix miles further in the coun- try, poffeffed by a gentleman who has tafte to re- lifli its beauties and improve its productions, the general ftate of the thermometer is from ^^ to 65°. It has been obferved fo low as 44'} fo that a fire fa J In the other months, viz. frOm December to May,the ther- mometer ranges from 70 to So". The night air in the months of December and January is fometlmes lurprifingly cool : I have known the thermometer fo low at fun-rife as 6q', even in the town of Kingfton ; but in the hotteft months, the dif- ference between the temperature of rici>n«;:y and midnight 5s not more than 5 or 6**. ^ there, reflefl: Divine condu- h thefe xbjed I de, near led dur- eral me- hs (from ighty de- jVtaviUa Liguanca, Dtteft part I was a dif- and in the was much Ir. Walleii, n the coun- tafte to re- uftions, the :n 55 to 65°. fo that a fire WEST INDIES. 843 there, even at noon-day, is not only comfortable chap. but neceflary, a great part of the year ^^^. It may '^* be fuppoled, that the fudden tranfition from the hot atmofphere of the plains, to the chill air of the higher regions, is commonly produdtive of mif- chievous effefts on the human frame j but this, I believe, is feldom the cafe, if the traveller, as pru- dence (b) Cold Spring is 4,200 feet above the level of the fea. The foil is a black mould on a bruvvn marl ; but few or none of the tropical fruits will flouriih in fo cold a climate. Neither the nelberry, the avocado pear, the ilar apple, nor the orange, will bear within a confiderable height of Mr. Wallen's garden ; but many of the Englifli fruits, as the apple, the peach, and the ftrawberry, flouriih there in great perfection, with feveral other valuable exoticks ; among which I obferved a great number of very fine plants of the tea-tree and other ori- ental produClio.ts. The ground in its native ftate is almoft entirely covered with different forts of theyi r I ! m f! ii I fl :,. ■■ '(, mily to ftray. The breed is remarkably hardy, but fome- what rcftive from their wild nature. The air of this country (particularly at Tophill, which approaches to mountainous) is wonderfully falubrious.— As one proof o'" this, there wa» living fo late as 1780'a negro man, namfd John Comelaft', who had refided on this fpot as (hepherJ for upwards of 30 years. He had formerly been the coachman of a Mr. Wood- Aock, who had given him permiflion in his old age to go where he pleafed. At the time I faw him his woolly hah* had become perfectly white, and his body was (brivelled beyond any thing I had ever beheld ; but at the fame time his muf- cles were full and firm, ano hu could run down any fheep in the Savanna ; for he had nr> dog to affift him. We took him as our guide down to the fea : he ran before us, keeping our horfes on a hand-gallop, to the beach, and he maintained the fame pace on our return (though iip-hill) a diftance of about 10 miles. Of one family of the name of Ebcnks, who lived on thefe plains, there were threefcore perfons living, all de- fcended from one man, who was himfelf living in 1780. The air of this diftrift, though not cold, is wonderfully dry and elaftick, and fo temperate withal, that even a European fportfman may follow his game the whole day without feeling any oppieffion from the heat ; and he will meet with good fport in purfuing the galena or wild Guinea-fowl, which is found here in great numbers. — The mutton raifed here is equal to the fined down mutton in England, and the fruits and vegetables of all kinds are exellent. — The w«ter-meIon in particiiLir ranks with the firft of fruits. Its coolnefs, crifp* nsfs and flavour arc rivalled only by the beauty of the rind, .■- which % in pro- hat has and re- Viberal- ivour, it we but Come- his country ntatnous) is there wai n Comclaft, )wards of 30 \ Mr. Wood- old age to %o ooUy hair had veiled beyond time his muf- ti any Iheep in We took him js, keeping our [maintained the fftance of about inks, who lived living, all de- lUvingin ^l^^' wonderfully dry ren a European without feeling meet with good Lfowl, which is ]n raifed here is ,,\, and the fruits phc r)»«iter-melon •s coolnefs, crifp ■autv of the rimi, WESTINDIES. §47 We compare Jamaica with many other iilands chap. of nearly the fame extent (with Sicily, for in- *^* ftance, to whicli it was compared by Columbus) it mud be pronounced an unfruitful and labo- rious country, as the following detail will dc- monflirate. ■ Jamaica is one hundred and fifty miles in length, and, on a medium of three meafurements at different places, about forty miles in breadth. Thefe data, fuppofing the ifland to have been a level country, would give - 3,840,000 Aaes, But a great part confifting of high mountains^ the fuperficies ' tof which comprife far more land thai! the baCe alone, it has been v thought a moderate eftimate to allow oh that account -^ more, ' » which is - - The Total is - 240,000 - 4,080,000 Acres* Op thefe, it is found by a return of the clerk of the patents, that no more than i ,907,589, were, which is mottled id Hiades of green, and bears a glofs like the polifti of marble. On the whole, for beauty of profpeft,— forpurity and drynefs of air,— and a climate exempt from either extreme of heat and cold, Pedro Plains may vie with any fpot on the habitable globe. r i- .c „ / Vol. I. R 4 . ui \V \: w W f II W ' 1 ' 11 '^m t (, \ ] % «4t HISTORY OF THE in November 1789, located, or taken up, by grants from the crown, anil as no grants have been iflued fince that time, it appears that up- wards of one half the country is confidered as of no kind of value. The lands in cultivation may be diflributed nearly as follows : .*, , In fugar plantations (Including the land referv- cd in woods, for the ])urpofe of fupplying timber and fire-wood ; or appropriated for common paf- turage, all which is commonly two-thirds of each plantation) the number of acres may be ftated at 690,000 ; it appearing that the precife num- ber of thofe cftates, in December 1 791, was 767, and an allowance of 900 acres to each, on an aver- age of the whole, muft be deemed fufficiently liberal. Of breeding and grazing farms (or, as they are commonly called in the illand, pens) the num- ber is about 1,000; to each of which I would allow 700 acres, which gives 700,000, and no perfon who has carefully infpected the country, will allow to all the minor produdlions, as cotton, coffee, pimento and ginger, &c. including even the provifion pla^itations, more than half the quantity I have affigned to the pens. The refult of the whole is 1,740,000 acres, leaving upwards of two millions an unimproved, unprodudlive wildernefs, of which not more than one-fourth V • I part U ,* I have at up- d as of jnmay \ referv- r timber non paf- 5 of each oe ftated ife nuni- was 767* n an aver- iifficiently as they are the num- I would ,0, and no le country, I, as cotton, iding even half the The relult ig upwards [iprodudive one-fourth part IV. WEST INDIES. fl4f pnrt is, I imagine, fit for any kind of profitable chap, cultivation i great part of the interior country being boui impradicable and inaccefllblc. But, notwith (landing that fo great a part of this ifland is wholly unimprovable, yet (fuch is the powerful influence of great heat and continual moifture) the mountains are in general covered with extenfive woods, containing excellent tim- bers, fomc of which are of prodigious growth and folidity J fuch as the lignum vita, dog-wood, iron- wood, pigeon-wood, green-heart, braziletto, and bully-trees ; mod of which are fo compaft and heavy as to fink in water. Some of thefe are neceflary in mill-work, and would be highly valu- able in the Windward Iflands. They are even fo, in fuch parts of Jamaica as, having been long cul- tivated, are nearly cleared of contiguous woods ; but it frequently happens, in the interior parts, that the new fettler finds the abundance of them an incumbrance inftead of a benefit, and having provided himfelf with a fufficiency for immediate ufe, he fets fire to the reft, in order to clear his lands J it not anfwering the expence of con\''cy- ing them to the fea-coaft for the purpofe offend- ing them to a diftant market. Of fofter kinds, for boards and fliingles, the fpecies are innume- rable ; and there are many beautiful varieties adapted for cabinet-work, among others the yoL. I. R 5 bread r I.!* ' I I ^i 1 1 i ¥ 1< ; I tf ! 1 i .^J»*^ tjd m '11 :^'i 'I I'll? HISTORY OF THE bread-nut, the wiid-lemon, and the well-khbwil mahogany*. As the country is thus abundantly wooded^ foj on the whole, we may affert it to be well watered. There are reckoned throughout its ex- tent above one hundred rivers, which take their' tife in the mountains, and run, commonly with great rapidity, to the fea, on both fides of the ifland. None of them are deep enough to be na- vigated by marine veflels. Black River in St. Elizabeth's parilb, flowing chiefly through a level country, is the deepeft and gentleft, and admits flat-bottomed boats and canoes for about thirty tniles. * Mr. Beckford (formerly of Weflmoreland in Jamaica) Vhofe elegant taftc for the beautiful, leads him to fek£V the fi^iufe/que, rather than the u/^ul, in woodland fcehcryj thus . defcribcs tlic rural features of this richly furniflied ifland s " The variety and brilliancy of the verdure are particularly •* ftriking, and the trees and Ihrubs that adorn the face of the *•* country, are fingular for the richnefs of their tints, and the "depth of their fliadows. The palm, the Coco-nnt, the *' mountain-cabbage, and the phntain, when aflbciated with *' the tamnrind, the orange, and other trees of beautiful growth *' and vivid dyes, and thefc commixed with the waving plumes ■ of the Baiiiboo cane, the fingular appearance of thejerufdlem •' thorn, the buftiy richnefs of tiie Oleander and African rofe, ** the glowing red of the fcarlet cordium, tlie verdant bowers •' of the jeflamint and grenadill;i vines, all together compofe *• an embroidery of colours which few regions can rival, and " vvhich, perhaps, none can furpr.fs." Deicriptivc Account of Jamaica, vol. i. p. 32. ; ^ ■ ' .i .4- Of l-knowrt wooded* , be well )Ut its ex- take theit" lonly with ides of the I to be tia- iver in St. )ughalevel and admits iboiat thirty ,d in JamaicaU imtofekathe ,d fcehcry, thus umthedinand: are particularly 1 the face of the pir tints, and the coco-ntit, the affociated with .eaiitiful growth waving plumes .ofthejerufalem ,nd African rofe, , verdant bowers fgether compofe \s can rival, and ;nptive Account WEST INDIES. Of the Tprings, which very generally abound, even in the higheft mountains, fome are medici- nal ; and are faid to be highly efficacious in difor- ders peculiar to the climate. The moft remark- able of thefe, is found in the eaftern parifli of St. Thomas, and the fame of it has created a village in its neighbourhood, which is called the Bath. The water flows out of a rocky mountain, about a mile diftant, and is too hot to admit a hand be- hg held underneath : a thermometer on Fahren- heit's fcale, being immerfed in a glafs of this water, the quickfilver immediately rofe to 113°. It is fulphureous, and has been ufed with great advan- tage in that dreadful difeafe of the climate called the dry-belly-ach. There are other fprings, both fulphureous and chalybeate, in different parts of the country; of which, however, the properties are but little known to the inhabitants in general. In many parts of Jamaica there is a great ap- pearance of metals ; and it is aflerted by Blome, and other early writers, that the Spanifli inhabi- tants had mines both of filver and copper : I be- lieve the faft. But the induflry of the prefent polTeflbrs is perhaps more profitably exerted on the furface of the earth, than by digging into its bowels. A lead mine was indeed opened fome years ago, near to the Hope eftate, in the parilh of St. Andrew, and it is faid, there was no want ' ■ ■ .^'^ -,V^-> " of aS« MliJi llr , ■'.■■•'■/ hhrnti z5» HISTORY OF THE if I ^ J' *i ii' i .::iii! 'A f -ii;!? i^; i m BOOK of ore, but the high price of labour, or other ^^' caufes with which I am unacquainted, compelled the proprietors to relinquifli their projed. Of the moft important of the prefent natural produdbions, as fugar, indigo, coffee and cotton, I (hall have occafiontotreatat large, when thecourfe of my work (hall bring me to the fubje **'"g fifty-, ■I HE Other kind call^H r> • ' "nfide«d as next to fr "'"'^"e'^^' "'^y "e importance; as mlft of h!"""'"'' " P°'"' <>' &«"». or pens tW 1 "'"S>^"'g «d breeding »%Ut'edi:f''°""''-«»<'.we„origi'. "'--fthisintrafcr'^''''^?^ P'««y of horned cattle h„ThT' "™"=" '^e ""d planter, is fuch Z V ''"''''" 4 '""'" ^^ marlcets in Europe fumifh r H ■ h II. 1 ' I ■ ;||i .... ' ! ^'1 ? !■ Ul-V\:'' !jfl!| ■» illl HISTORY OF THE tto"h btroduaiou of this excellent grafs, .,e feeds Uavln^^en^-uS^f^^^^^^^^^ Guiney, as food for lome vu rented to Mr. EUU ff^^^f,^^.,^.. Fortunately the b>rds d.d not hve toco ^ .hole ftocW, and the ren«.nd..b^gy thrown into a fence, grew ^"^ ^y the „asnotlongbeforetheeage™rfd.^y^^.V^„. S:^itthHveinfo.e^---S ^rdSthSrSe^orthc- *'t"'feveral kinds of kitchen-gatden produce ,1 The {hecp of ''^ «""°";"?sT*n.tr:V^eior-.gi»aU, Aft-. but very f«eet meat. The lw.ne ^,^ j,„, confJrably imato .tan ''-f' "' ^^Sand tweeter tha. pointed ean. Their «efl. '» "^°' '^'j^ wild fort, of «»» . ;hepo,kofGreatBr«m,ndAa»,^ ^^^^^^_ tbetearegreatnumbersmthewooas, ^^ ,1 < < ■ i- quality, ; (ettle- ; wholly nt grafs, ears ago; ; coaft of vere pre- he ifland. ifume the carelefsly rilhed. It yed by the Ellis's no- jpagate the moft rocky and fertility ; worth cul- The ftveep of doriginaUyAfri- ,1, and in genera^ They are fmall, .ft Indies are alfo ., and have (hort r and fweeter than ,Udfort,ofwbich )etter. anu WEST INDIES. and the markets of Kingfton and Spani(h-Town are fupplied with cabbages, lettuce, carrots, tur- nips, parfnips, artichokes, kidney-beans, green- peas, afparagus, and various forts of European herbs, in the utmoft abundance. Some of theni (as the three firft) are I think of fuperior flavour to the fame kinds produced in England. To my own tafte however, feveral of the native growths, cfpecialiy the chocho, ochra, Lima-bean, and In- dian-kale, are more agreeable than any of the efculent vegetables of Europe. The other indige- nous produdions of this clafs are plantains, bana* nas, yams of feveral varieties, calalue (a fpecies of fpinnage) eddoes, caflavi, and fweet potatoes. A mixture of thefe, ftewed with falted fifli or falted meat of any kind, and highly feafoned with Cay- enne-pepper, is a favourite olio among the ne- groes. For bread, an unripe roafted plantain is an excellent fubftitute, and univerfally preferred to it by the negroes, and moft of the native whites. It may in truth be called the ftaff of life to the former J many thoufand acres being cultivated in different parts of the country for their daily fup- Port (f). Of the more elegant fruits, the variety is equal- led (f) It is faid by Oviedo that this fruit, though introduced into Hifpaniola at a very early period, was not originally a native of the Weft Indies, but was carried thither from the Canary «5$ I .■ * r- = ■\ ■: , ■ lllfr « « n ■: {•iS ijo m HISTORY OF THE led only by their excellence. Perhaps no country on earth affords fo magnificent pi deflertj and I conceive that the following were fpontaneoufly beftowed on the ifland by the bounty of nature ; — the annana or pine-apple, tamarind, papaw, guava,fwcct-fop of two fpecies,cafliew-apple, cuf- tard-apple (a fpecies of chirimoyal"^^ ; coco-nut, ftar-apple, grcnadilla, avocado-pear, hog-plum and its varieties, pindal-nut, nefbury, mAmmee, mammee-fapota, Spanifh-goolberry, prickly-pear, and perhaps a few others. For the orange, civil and china, the lemon, lime, fliaddock, and its nu- merous fpecies, the vine, melon, fig and poinegra- nate, th« Weft Indian iflands were probably in- debted to their Spanilh invaders. Excepting the peach, the ftrawberry, and a few of the growths of European orchards (which however attain* to no great perfedion, unlefs in the higheft mountains) Canary iflands by Thomas de Berbnga, a friar, in the year 15 16. The banana is a fpecies of the fame fruit. Sir Hans Sioane, whofe induAry is commendable whatever maybe thooght of his judgment, has, in his Hiftory of Jamaica, col- leAed much information concerning this production ; and from fome authorities which he cites, it would feem that Ovi- edo was mi(informed, and that every fpecies of the plantain is found growing fpontaneoufly in all the tropical parts of the earth. (g) This fruit is the boaft of South America, and is reckon- ed by Ulioa one of the fincft in the world. I have been ih- formed that feveral plants of it are flourifliing in Mr. Bail's princely garden, at the foot of the Liguanfca mountainst the WEST INDIES. l»d added much toTh^ . ^"S''* '"''"% the laft twen ; : "'"f '^ °g-, u„,il within ^^o.nic.g.J/::-Ji'eKar^^^^ ^lonoftheAfTf^mKi u • ""^^'^ the lane- a French fhin h. "7°"^"^°^ of Lord Rodney, found to have oTh! ^°°'""'S°' «'"ch was "uine cinna:::^;::l^4^p^-^^^ produaions. his lord(hip ftoLthl °™"''' t.-aliey which he ^\«J' c^' ^'"'"''''f'''- -di.si„habi;:';^fe„';^,"'f«^f^-j»-ca „ vourite iflandi-thufi^W " P'""*' '° '"^ f"" ' richln^H "°"''j'°™am':ntineanden ncliiiig the country his vil™,,!, i 6 ""u en- eftabhfl,ingp,an.ationsof t'»d 1 '"'? "" has fet out fifty .houfa„dlf°'?S^"''-» become almoft as commofaT ,1 """^° '' for want of attention n„ """'™g'= > »>«. ,' nal varieties Z, f m '"'° " "'°'^'=""' '"^i" ,, • I SHALL foliage J! 1 1 • if f t 20 il lli ! !i HISTORY OF THE I SHALL conclude this chapter, with an au- thentick catalogue of the foreign plants in the publick botanical garden of this ifland ; lament- ing, at the fame time, that I am not able to gra- tify the reader with a more copious and extenfivc difplay.from the magnificent colledtion of my late friend Hinton Eaft, Efquire, who had promifed to favour me with an Horttts Enjfevjisy to be pre- pared, under his own immediate infpeftion, pur- pofely for this work j— but much greater room have I to lament thecaufe of mydifappointment, and mourn over the feverity of thait fate which fuddenly fnatched a moft amiable and excellent foliage irom the very bottom of the trunk, which furniflies an opportiTiiity of obtaining plenty of layers, and facilitates the propQgatiort of the tree, as it does not perfeft its feeds in any quantity under fix or feven years, when it becomes fo plentifully loaded, that a fingle tree is almoft futBcient for » colony. When planted from layers, it is of a pretty quick growth, reaching in eight years the height of fifteen or twenty feet, it is veryfpreading,andfurnlflied with numerous branches of a fit fize for decortation. The feeds are long; in comin? wp. The fmall branches of about an inch diameter yield the beft cinnamon, which is itfelf the Umier or inner bark of the tree, and it requires fome dexterity to feparate the outer barks, which would vitiate the flavour. Specimens of the inner bark, tranfmitvtd by Dr. Dancer, the ifland botanift, to the Society of Arts, were found fully to pofiefs the moma and tafte of the true cinnamon from Ceylon, and indeed to be fuperior to any cinnamon imported from ilolland ; and in nil other refpeft'; to agree perfectly with the defcriplion of the oriental cinna- mon given by Burman. See their ri-fohitions of the 1 4th Dc • • Cembcr 1790. 2 * ' '. citizen 4i' m an ail- * 5 \n the latnent- £ to gra-, extenfive promvfed to be pre- •Vion, pur- later room pointment, fate which id excellent ,hich furniftKS , and facilitates feft its feeds hi n it becomes fo futlicient for » a pretty quic^ .ifteen or twenty Lerous branches long in coming iaroeter yield the inerbarkofthe the outer barks, ,f the inner bark, t, to the Society andtafteofthe e fuperior to any r.ll other refpefl'^ |e oriental cinna- Loflhei4tl»^'^" ; WEST INDIES. tjf citizen from his friend* ^nd the publick, and hur- chap. ried him to an untiuieiy grave. — Such is the vanity i v. iiiirted, /\ m rl •r 4 •; . ' 11 1; .P! W II s % n ' ' ; \ iJ' ■r i < 4 ! % ! •6« HISTORY OF TIIK > M •l,n- !•; IM'M . C H A p. V. Topographical defcription. — Tcwm^ vll/ageSy and parijftes. — Churches^ chwch-liviup^ aud vejlries. • ' , ■ — Governor or Commander in cliief. — Courts of . Judicature. — Publick offices. — Legijlature and laws. — Revenues. — Taxes. — CoinSy and rate of exchange. — Militia . — Number of inhabitants of all conditions and complexions, — Tradeyjliipping, exports and imports. — Report of the Lords of Trade in I J ^^. — Prefent fate of the trade with SpaniJJi America. — Origin and policy of the a5l ■ for eftabHJliing free ports. — Difplay of the progrefs • . , t>f the ijland in cuitivationy by comparative fate- . ments of its inhabitants and produ6is at different periods. — Appendix N' I. N" II. BOOK The Ifland of Jamaica is divided into three counties, which are named Middlefex, Surry, and Cornwall. The county of Middlefex is compofed of eight parifhes, one town, and thirteen villages. The town is that of St. Jago-^e-la-Fega or Spanijh Toivny the capital of the ifland. Moft of the vil- lages of this and the other counties, are hamlets of no great account, fituated at the different har^ bours and fliipping-places, and fuppojrted by the trafRck carried on there. St. Jago-de-la-Vega is fituated on the banks of the river Cobre, about fix miles . II , ' ' ntrts of ire rtju/ d rate of itants of flnpim-' Lords of rade 'With of the a£l he progrefi itivepte- it different WEST INDIES. miles from the fea, and contains between five and fix hundred houfes, and about five thoufand inha- bitants, including fi-ee people of colour. It is the refidence of the governor or commander in chief, who is accommodated with a fuperb palace j and K is here, that the legillature is convened, and the Court of Chancery, and the Supreme Court of Judicature, are held. The county of Surry contains feven pariflies, two towns, and eight villages. The towns are thofc of Kingfton and Port-Royal j the former of which is filuated on the north-fide of a beautiful harbour, and was founded in 1 693, when repeated dt relations by earthquake and fire had driven the inhabitants from Port-Royal. It contained in 1788 one thoudxnd fix hundred and fixty-five houfes, bcfides negro-huts and warehoufes. The number of white inhabitants, in the fame year, was fix thoufand five hundred and thirty-nine : of free people of colour three thoufand two hundred and eighty : of Haves fixteen thoufand fix hundred and fifty-nine j — total number of inhabitants, of all complexions and conditions, ]twei)ty-fix thoufand four hundred and feventy-eight. It is a place of great trade and opulence. Many of the houfes in the upper part of the town are extremely mag- nificent ; and the markets for butcher?* meat, turtle, fifli, poultry, fruits and vegetables, &c. are inferior to none. I can add tod, from the infor- 2€l mation HISTORY OF THE mation of a learned and ingenious friend, who kept comparative regifters of mortality, that fincc the furrounding country is become cleared of wood, this town is found to be as healthful as any in Europe (a). PoRT-RoYAL, once a place of the grcatefl wealth and importance in the Weft Indies, is. now reduced, by repeated calamities, to three ftreets, a few lanes, and about two hundred houfes. It contains, however, the royal navy yard, for heav- ing down and refitting the king's flilps; the navy hofpital, and barracks for a regiment of foldiers. The fortifications are kept in excellent order, and vie in ftrength, as I am told, with any fortrefs in the king's dominions. (a) The number of the white inhabitants in Kingflon, hacj increafeu in 1791 to about 7,000. In that year the burials were 15 r white men (including 45 from the publick hofpital) 33 white women, and ao white children. Total 194. Of the men, the whole number from the hofpital, and a great many of the others, were tranficnt perfoiis, chiefly difcardcd or vagabond fcamen; but without making any allowance for extraordinary mortality on that account, if this return, which is. taken from the Parochial Regifter, be compared with the bills of mortality in themanufafturing towns of England, the refult will be confiderably in favour of Jamaica, in the In.rge and opulent town of Manchefttr, for intlance, the whole number of inhabitants in 1773, comprehending Sal- ford, was 29,151, and the average number of burials (diflen- ters included) for five preceding years was 958. If the mortality in Manchefler had been in no greater proportion than in Kingfton, the deaths would not have exceeded 813. Cornwall 1, who At ftncc arctl of I as any grcateft s, 15. now c ftreets, mfes. It for beav- ; the navy jf foldiers. order, and ' fortrcfs in WEST INDIES. CoRNWAL L contains five pariflKS, tlircc towns, and fix villages. — The towns are Savanna- la-Mar on the fouth faic of the iHard, and Montcgo Bay and Falmouth on tiic north. The former was dc- llroycd by a dreadful hurricane and inundation of the fca in 1780, as I have elfewhere related. It. is now partly rebuilt, and may contain from tixty to fevcnty houfcs. Montego-Bay is a flourifliing and opi.dcnt town: confiding of two hundred anJ twenty-five houfcs, thirty-three of which are capital (lores of warehoufes. The number of top-fail veflels which clear annually at this port are about one hundred and fifty, of which fevcnty are capital fliips ; but in this account arc included part of thofe which enter at Kingllon. Falmouth, or (as it is mpre commonly called) ihe Point, is fituatcd on the fouth-fide of Martha- Prae harbour, and, including the adjoining vil- lages of Martha-Brae and the Rock, is cornpofed of two hundred and twenty houfes. The rapid increafe of this town and neighbourhood within the laft fij^teen years is aflonilliing. In 1 7 7 1 , the three villages of Martha-Brae, Falmouth, and the Rock, contained together but eighteen houfes j and the veflels which entered annually at the port of Falmouth did not exceed ten. At prefent it can boafl of upwards of thirty capital ftationcd S 4 fliips, •Al :'f ^^' iti i I i. }l 264 i.M HISTORY OF THE fhips, which load fof Great Britain, exclufive of floops and fmalter craft. Each parifli (or precinft confifling of an "union of two or more parifties) is governed by a chief magiftrate, ftyled Ciifios Rotulortim, and a body of juftices unlimited by law .as to number, by whom feflions of the peace are held every three months, and courts of Common Pleas to try aftions arifmg within the parilh or precind, to an amount not exceeding twenty pounds. In matters of debt not exceeding forty fliillings,a fingle juftice is au- thorized to determine. \ \ The whole twenty parilhes contain eighteen churches and chapels*, and each pariih is provided "with a redor, and other church officers ; the rec- tors livings, the prefentation to which refts with the governor or commander in chief, are feverally as follows, viz. St. Catherine ;^. 300 per annum ; Kingfton, St. Thomas in the Eaft, Clarendon, and i Weflmoreland, £. 250 per annum; St. David, St. George, and Portland,;^. 100 per annum, all the refl;^. 200 per annum. Thefe fums are paid in lieu of tythes by the churchwardens of the feveral pariflies refpedively, from the amount of taxes levied by the vellries on the inhabitants. Each parifli builds* and repairs a parfonage houfe, or allows the rector ;^. 50 per annum in lieu •' • Two or thr.ee mpre have been ere£ted fince this account was written. ■ , . . ■ ,1,. . • ■ - ■■'.-■ .' , ■:;•■ . • of ufivc of m union J a chief I body of by whom ; months, 3ns arifing nount not fs of debt ^ftlce is au- in eighteen I is provided rs; therec- ;li refts with |are feverally [per annum ; irendon, and St. David, [r annum, all ims are paid [dens of the Le amount ot [habitants. a parfonage [nnuminheu (ce this account WEST INDIES. of one ; bcfides which, many of the livings have glebe lands of very confidcrable value annexed to them, as the parilh of St. Andrew, which alto- gether is valued at one ihoufand pounds flerling per annum fbj. The bilhop of London is faid to claim this ifland as part of his dipcefe, but liis jurifdidion is renounced and barred by the laws of the country ; and the governor or commander in chief, as fuprcme head of the provincial church, not only indudts into the feveral redtories, on the requifite teftimonials being produced that the can- didate has been admitted into prieft's orders ac- cording to the canons of the church of England, but he is likewife veiled with the power of fuf- pending a clergyman of lewd and diforderly life ab officio^ upon application from his parilhioners. A fufpenfion ab officio is in faft a fufpenfion a be^ neficioy no minifter being entitled to his llipend for any longer time than he fliall adlually officiate; unlefs prevented by ficknefs. The veftries are compofed of the cuftos, and two other magiftrates j the redlor and ten veftry- men; the latter are eledled annually by the free- holders. Befides their power of aflefllng and ap- propriating taxes, they appoint way- wardens, and (h) In the year 1 788, the afleinbly paflTed a law to prohibit the burial of the dead within the walls of the churches ; and as by this regulation feveral of the reclors vvere deprived of a perquifite, an augmentation of J^. 50 per annum was mad« tomoftof theliviags. .' ' allot a65 ! 5 -u j :i » U ■r » c66 ii ! 1-1 r ii! -■ |t U \i HISTORY OF THE allot labourers for the repair of the publick high- ways. They likewife nominate conftables, for the colledtion both of the publick and parochial taxes. The fupreme pourt of judicature for the whole illand (commonly called the Grand Court, as pof- fefling fimilar jurifdiftion in this country to that of the feveral courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer, in Great Britain) is held in the town of St. Jago-de-la-Vega, the capital of the county of Middlefex, on the laft Tuefday of each of the months of February, May, Auguft, and November, in every year. In this court, the chief juftice of the ifland prcfides, whofe falary Is only £. 1 20, but the perquifites arlfing from the office make it worth about £. 3,000 per annum. The affiftant judges are gentlemen of the ifland, commonly planters, who receive neither falary nor reward of any kind for their attendance. Three judges muft be prefent to conflltute a court j and each term is limited in duration to three weeks. From this court, if the matter in difpute in a civil adtlon be for a fum of ^. 300 fterling, or up- wards, an appeal lies to the governor and council, as a court of error ; if fcntence of death be pall- ed for felony, the appeal is to the governor alone (c). ^ ^ Assize (c) By an early law of this ifland (pafled in 1681) free- holders of known refiilence are iiotfubjeft to arrell, and be- ing held to bail in civil procefs. The mode of proceeding is • w les, for ivoclVial ve whole :,aspoC- y to that Common i) is l^eld capital of I Tuefday y, Auguft, court, tlic ofe falary is ^g from tbe ,f the ifland, ^er falary nor nee. Three . court ; and three weeks. cVifpute in a ^erling,orup- and council, Icath be palf- [thQ governor Assizt 1 to an-eft, a"d ^^• : of proceeding!^. WEST INDIES. Assize courts alfo are held every three months, in Kingfton for the county of Surr}', and in Sa- vanna-la-Mar for the county of Cornwall. The Surry court begins the laft Tuefday in January, April, July, and Odober. The Cornwall court begins the laft Tuefday in March, June, Septem- ber, and December ; each affize court is limited to a fortnight in duration. Thus have the inha- bitants law-courts every month of the year, be- fides the courts of chancery, ordinary, admiralty, and the feveral parifli courts (dj. The judges of the to deliver the purty a fummons (leaving it at his houfc is deemed good fervice) together with a copy of the declaration, fourteen days before the court, whereupon the defendant is bound to appear, the very next court, or judgment will pafs by default. Twenty-eight days after the firft day of each court execution ilfues ; for which there is but one writ, com- preliending both z. fieri facias zn^z capias aJfatisfaciendum; but as no general imparlance is allowed before judgment, it is enafted that the eflFefts levied on, (liall remain in the defen- dant's hands until the next court, to give him an opportunity of difpoling of them to the beft advantage ; and if he then fails paying over the money, a venditioni exponas illues to the marflial, to fell thofe, or any other goods, and tal:e his perfon. The modern practice is to make no levy on the execi.tion, whereby the debtor obtains the mdulgence of one term, or court, after which both his perfon and goods are liable under the writ of veiulitioni exponas, (d) Soon after this was written an aft was pafled (I think in i7go) by which the Auguft term in the fupreme court was abolilbed, and a long viication eilabliflied as in England, with ' > • • ■• . Cmilar ^67 ' . ' ! »:l' \H. r ■ ! ji:.;i|.it^'^ !. ' '' 1 > I ' I! i'l 2<>S HrSTORY OF THE s:,;{i BOOK the aflize courts aft without falary or reward, asr ^^' well as the affiflant judges of the fupreme court, any one of whom, if prefent, prefides in the affize court. No appeal from the latier to the former is allowed, but judgments of the aflize immedi- ately following the fupreme court, are confidered as of one and the fame court, and have an equal right, in point of priority, with thofe obtained in the grand court. In this ifland, as in Barbadoes, the departments of council and attorney are diftin6t; and although in the ifland lail-mentloned, barrifters have been admitted by licence from the governor, it is other- wife in Jamaica J the colonial laws exprefsly requir- ing, that no perfon fhall be allowed to pradice who has not been regularly admitted in the courts of England, Ireland, or Scotland ; or elfe (in the cafe of an attorney) who has not ferved as articled clerk to fome fworn attorney or folicitor in the ifland for five years at leaft. The governor, or commander in chief, is chan- cellor by his ofRce, and pcefides folely in that high department, which is adminiftered with great form and folemnity. He is alfo the fole ordinary for the probate of wills and granting letters of admi- niflration. From the firft of thefe offices, he de- fimilar regulations for the aflize courts, to the great relief of jicnous attending as jurors. > • rivcs ard, as court, e affize former mmcdi- nfidered an equal tained in )artment5 I although have been it is other- jfslyrequir- to pra£t'^<^e n the courts elfe (in the tl as articled citor in the [-iicf,ischan- in that high Ih great form ordinary for [lers of admi- ^ffices, he de- le great relief of — ;^ .5,000 — 150 — 1,400 — 1,000 WEST INDIES. 269 rives extenfive authority* and from the latter con- c h a pj fiderable emolument (e). . v. As (e) The profits and emoluments arifing annually from the government of Jamaica may, I think, be flated nearly as follow^, vizi . Salary k^ .ik. m. Fees in Chancery — — Fees of the Court of Ordinary — — Share of Cuftom Houfe Seizures — The aflembly have piirchafed for the governor's wfe, a farm of about 300 acres, called the Govern- ment Penn, and built an elegant villa thereon. Likewife a polink or. provifion fettlement in the mountains (which is alfo provided with a comfort- able manfion-houfe) and flocked both properties with 50 negroes, and a fufiiciency of catile, flieep, &c. From thefe places (which are exclufive of the king's houfe in Spanilh Town) the governor is, or ought to be, fupplied with hay and corn, mutton, milk, poultry, and provifions for his domeflicks, creating a faving in his houlhold expences of at leaft .^ .— — _ 1,000 Total iii currency — —;C. 8,550 Being equal to jf. 6,100 fterling; and this is altogether ex- clufive of fees received by his private fecretary for militia commiifions, &c. &c. &c. xohich are not eafly a/cert air.ed. It tifuppofed alfo that money has fometimes been made by the faleof church livings ; and vaft fums were formerly raifed by efcheats. N. B. A governor of Jamaica may live very honourably jfor £. 3,000 flerling per annum.— Since the former editions lof this work were publiftied, the aflembly, at the requeft of the governor, have pa.Ted an aft for the. fale of both the Govern* 1. 1 itilHM ;r. ii'lij 'I'l ^^mi !;, 1 i f 4 ' ^ :1 *y r hIstoAy of the As append^es of the fupreme Court, the fevcral great offices, viz. the office of enrollments, or fe- cretary of the ifland, provofl-marftial-general, clerk of the court (or prothonotary, cuftos-bre- vium, &c.) are held and fituated in Spanifli Town. The firft is an office of record, in which the laws pafled by the legiflature are preferyed ; and copies of them entered into fair volumes. In this office all deeds, wills, fales, and patents, mull be regiftered. It is likewife required that all per- fons (after fix weeks refidcnce) intending to depart this ifland, do affix their names in this office, twenty-one days before they are entitled to receive a ticket or let-pafs, to enable them to leave the country. In order to enforce this regulation, mailers of veflcls are obliged, at the time of entry, to give fecurity in the fum of ;^. i,ooo not to carry off the ifland any pcrfon without fuch ticket or let-pafs. Truflees, attornies and guardians of or- phans, are required to record annually in this! office accounts of the produce of eflates in their] charge j and, by a late aft, mortgagees in poflef-i fion are obliged to regiller not only accounts of the j crops of each year, but alfo annual accounts cur- rent of their receipts and payments. Tranfcriptsj of deeds, &c. from the office, properly certified,! trvent Penn and Mountain Polink, and in lieu thereof havel fettled an additional falary of ;^. 2,000 currency on theConi«j mauder Li Chief for the tlnie being. • ' ■ . arel ii ' ; fevcral s, or fe- .general, ,ftos-bre- in which preferyedi lumes. 1>^ tents, muft Lhatallper- :ig to depart this office, ed to receive to leave the s regulation, time of entry, 30 not to carry fuch ticket or jardians of or- bually in thM eftatesintheirl ftgees in poffeH [accounts of tbel accounts cur- 1 •5, TranfcriptsI ^ jperly certifiedl L lieu thereof H [trencyonthcCot«.| atti WEST INDIES. are evidences in any court of liw, and all deeds muft be enrolled within three months after date, or they are declared to be void as againft any other deed proved and regiftered within the time limited ; bu*^ " r. ond deed is on recc '' ..len the fame are valid, tnough regiftered after the three months. It is prefumed that the profits of this office, which is held by patent from the crown, and exercifed by deputation, exceed ^. 6,000 fterling/>«- annum. The provcft-marflial-general is an officer of high rank and great authority. — ^The name de- notes a military origin, and the office was firft in- llituted in this iilund in 1 660, by royal commif- fion to Sir Thomas Lynch. It is now held by pa- tent from the crown, which is ufually granted for two lives, and the patentee is permitted to a6t by deputy, who is commonly the higheft bidder. The powers and authorities annexed to this office are various : and the afting officer is high^lherifF of the whole ifland during his continuance in of- fice, and permitted to nominate deputies under Imn for every parifli or precindt. His legal re- ceipts have been known to exceed £. 7,000 fter- ling per annum^ and it is fuppofed that fome of his deputies make nearly as much. The office of clerk of the fupreme court is like- lv;ifeheld by patent and exercifed by deputation. I'vidence was given to the houfe of aflembly fome [years ago, that its annual value at that time ex- .. ^' ■ cceded , ■> S71 :--|l . i i^ f. ■ ) :i* r; * »■ t 1 i . ! ^%'W HISTORY OF THE nf Kte I believe it Kceeded£.9.ooo currency Of lat. I isconf.dcrablydUn,n.n.cJ. Of the other great l""^''^<=f '''^" J,-„er. f:;::;i:ic«ao.s.rr,.^^^^^^^^^ ftoa. AUthefeappo—S «^J«^^^^^J. patent or comm.ffion,ar. l''^^^™'^ " ^^^jj^rg 'o'^'-r*T:rprl">-vho>: '" «'-^^'"„r3= 00 fterling-.s remitted '""tthrdtpttU in office within the CI; their princU in the motl>er-coun- try(7J. 1 ,(,„t to t'.ie reMcnt inliaWtants to ff, ,. i. not very platot » t .__ ^^^^ „bferve, tta. almoft » ' f Jo „o.oriou(1y and avo-^e.!!)- „W„ t>-'»>r'"r:r 1^ -aloin and nothmg i^ fomc of Item have l«n l™ / , ,i,„f, leafts, than the ct- „„,e commo,,, at > ""l^^^" ^ U„g hta employer (,h cumftanee of a„ '"f^^^ ^°, .„ „■„ "lace. 1. »ay be refident deputy) and fteppmg ._^ j^^^ „fes ate , doubted whether both the '"'^''^'l^^;^ »„, 6 Edw. VI. i not tobjea to the ^"'Xlk<^^oIlrJ.^ 'o .he admini- ' „,U,ft the (ale and P"'*''^ ?'",„, |,„„.cver, which paM if„uonofJufllce.Bya,,exce™l»- .^^^^^ mthead.nanftr.t.onofthepre. j^^^^^^p„. Earl of Shelbnrne tlK 8 nc _--; i^^ ^^^ j„ ^ ,. ■ vented in fature, lor >t u a>a«e y^ .^^ ^^^^ ^^|^„„. ,„„ f„„ *--f°f,'"';"^ , ," fo, any longer term .■» i^.iii '■ ii eve it iceWer- officcv, Df King- held by Ccd to af- 5 refidu^g he whole, s vemltted witWvn tbe ,ther-coun- . inbabUants to ia the co\ome« , and avowedly afcs for years ot and nothing '« V.s en^ployer (th« ^. It may ^« ,; («ch cafes arc and 6 Bdw. VI. lcver,vvUkhpaffed lofLanfdowna^ert be Ld Geo 111. c. 7 5- fedintheplan^^ \one,ef term ibaa WEST indie;s. The legiflature of Jamaica is compofed of the captain-general or commander in chief, of a coun- cil nominated by the crown, confifting of twelve gentlemen, and a houfe of affembly containing forty-three members, who are eleded by the freeholders, viz. three for the feveral towns and parithes of St. Jago-de-la-Vega, Kingfton, and Port Royal, and two for each of the other pariflies. The qualification required in the ele6tor, is a free- liold of ten pounds per annum in the parifli where the eledtion is made j and in the reprefentative, a landed freehold of three hundred pounds per an- num, in any part of the ifland, or a perfonal eftate of three thoufand pounds. In the proceedmgs of the general affembly, they copy, as nearly as local circumftances will admit, the forms of the legif- lature of Great Britain ; and all their bills (thofe of a private nature excepted) have the force of laws as foon as the governor's affent is obtained. The power of rejedion however is Hill referved in the crown ; but until the royal difapproba- tion is fignified, the laws are valid. Of the laws thus paffed, the principal relate chiefly to regulations of local policy, to which the law of England is not applicable, as the flave fyftem for inflance (gj. In this and other ... cafes, (g) Thus the evidence of a (lave is not admiffible againft la white perfon. Again, although by a very early law of this |;(land, (laves are conlidered as inheritance, and are according* Vol. I. -— T -■ • ■ - ■ r 273 M' ■H ti f ^ '' 1 ' 1 ' i ii^:- ^''' \ I i' w ■ * j^. :; \ \. \l ^ y:- i ■( ■i L S ' I ti \ ■ ' t. ■ ■is \\^ iii ilti an (; ■f si ' HISTORY OF THI cafes, the Englifh laws being filent, the colonial legiflature has made, and continues to make, fuch provifion therein, as the exigencies of the co- lony are fuppofed to require; and on fome oc- cafions, where the principle of the Englifli law has been adopted, it has been found neceflary to alter and modify its provifions, fo as to adapt them to circumflances and fituation. Thus, in the mode of fetting out emblements, the pradicc of fine and recover}'-, the cafe of infolvent debtors, the repair of the publick roads, the maintenance of the clergj^ and the relief of the poor, very great deviations from the pradlice of the mother-coun- try have been found indifpenfably requifitc (h). The ly fvibjetft to the Incidents of real property (for as they go to the heir, fo may the widow have dower of them, and the fiir- viving hufband be tenant by courtefy ; and this holds equally whether Haves are pofl'eflbd in grofs, or belong to a planta- tion) yet in refptiT: of debts, flaves are confidered as chattels, and the executor is bound to inventory them like other chat- tels. (h) An outline of the law of infolvency may not be unac- ceptable to the reader. — A debtor, after three months continu- ance in a6tvial confinement, may obtain his liberty under the following conditions ; three weeks previous to the next fitting of the fupreme court, he is to give notice by publick advertife- ment, that he means to take the benefit of the aft, and to that end, hui lodged all h'ss books of account in the hands of the marflial or keeper of the gaol, for infpeftion by his creditors. He fliall then, on the firll day of term, be brought by petition before the court, where lie is to fubfcribe and deliver in a fche- dule of his whole eflateand efFefts, and fubmit, if any one of bi& creditors require it, to an examination, viva voce, upon oath, i\on\a\ make, the co- me oc- to aUer them to ■\ic mocic ;c of fine Dtors, the Lcnance of very gi^eat ,ther-couiv ,uifitc (h)- The r as tbey go « and the fur- vsUds equally „„ to a P^auta- L ec\ as chattels, l\ke other chat- LnotbeMnac Lonthscontmu- luberty under the Lthenextfutins LbllcMdvertit^ ^aa,andtoth 1 the hands of the L by his creditors. I uthv petition WEST INDIES. The revenues of this ifland may be divided into two branches; the one perpetua/y by an adb of the year 1728, called the revenue law, of the origin of which I have alreudy fpoken, and of which re- venues the quit-rents conftitute a part j the other amiuaf^ by grants of the legillaturc. The revenue onth, in open court. To this fchediile he muft annex an affi- davit, ttrtifying that it contains a juft account of all his pro- perty, debts, and efFerts, except clothing, bedding, and work- ing tools, not worth more than 10 1.; that he has given no preference to any particular creditor, for three months pre- vious to his confinement, nor conveyed away nor concealed any part of his cftate or efFefts. The court thereupon, being fatisfied with the prifoner's examination, fliall appoint one or more of the creditors to be aflignees for the benefit of the whole ; and order them pofleflion of the property and ttfe(fts, and difcharge the party from confinement. Gaol fees of thofe who are unable to pay them, are paid by the publick. There arc various regulations for the prevention of fraud, and it is declnred, that if any perfons claiming the benefit of the aft, Ihall knowingly forfwear themfelves^ and be convifted of perjury in confequence thereof, they fliall be adjudged guilty of felony, without benefit of clergy, and futfer death accordingly. It is alfo provided, that no «lebtor fliall have the benefit of the aft more than once, and that the future efbte and effefts of perfons discharged under it (but not their perfons or apparel) fliall llill be liable to make up the former defici- ency. By a fubfequent law, however, which the Author of this work had the honour to propofe, as a member of the af- fembly, a debtor may be difcharged a fecond time on the fame conditions, provided he had fully paid his former credi- tors before his fecond infolvency j and e/en if he has not paid the debts on which he before took the benefit of the aft, he (liall be difcharged, after an aHual covfinemcttt of t'xo yems \ the court being utisfied that he has fairly furrcndered all his ellate and effcfti to the ufe of his creditois, .;.,.< - • T a ■ ' law ^75 i> > ■; ( •7^ ■{■ HISTORY OP THE lar/ may raifc about 1. 1 2,000 per annum^ of which £. 8,000 is particularly appropriated, as I have clfewhere obfcrved, and the furplus is applica- ble to the contingent expences of government, in aid of the annual funds. The governor re- ceives £, 2,500 p'e,' annum out of the (^. 8,000 fund. A further falary of {,. 2,500 is fettled upon him during his refidence in the ifland by a fpecial ad of legiflature, paflcd the beginning of his adminiftration, and is made p.ayable out of fome one of the annual funds provided by the affembly. Thefe at this time may amount to £. 70,000, of which about ;^. 40,000 is a provi- fion for granting an additional pay to the officers and foldicrsof his majefty's forces ftationed for the proteftion of the ifland. Every commiflioned of- ficer being entitled to 20 s. per week, and every private to 5 j. : An allowance is alfo made to the wives and children of the foldiers ; which, with the Britilh pay, enables them to live much more com- fortably than the king's troops generally do in Europe. The ufual ways and means adopted for raifing the above taxes are, firft, a duty of 20 s. per head on all negroes imported j fecondly, a duty on all rum and other fpirits retailed and confumed with- in the ifland j thirdly, the deficiency law : an aft which was intended originally to oblige all pro- prietors of flaves to keep one white perfon for every thirty blacks j but the penalty, which is fomctimes bave pWca- itnent, lor rc- .8,000 fettled nc\ by a le out of d by the mount to s a provi- tbe oflicers ned for tbe iffioned of- ., and every made to the icb,wit^tbe 1 more com- lerally do in ■yi WEST INDIES. tjj fometimes £. 1 3, at other times £. 26 per annunit chap. for each white perfon deficient of the number re- quired, is become fo produftive a fourcc of re- venue, that the bill is now confidered as one of the annual fupply bills : fourthly, a poll-tax on all Haves, and flock, and a rate on rents and wheel- carriages. Befides thefc, occadonal tax-biljs are pafled by the legiflaturc, as necefllty may require. I have fubjoined in a note the eftimate of th^5o To h I (Hi. ill I hi\ H. If- ' it! f; ; \ 178 HISTORY OF THE The current coins are Portugal pieces of gold, called the half-johannes, valued in England at 36 j. each; Brought over To the Officers of the Troops for private Lodgings - - - Supplying the Forts with Water To the Commiffioners of the Forts To the Kiiigllon Hofpital Sundry Demands on the Publick for Official Fees, Medical Care and Gaol Tees of Prlfoners, Repairs of th<* Pub- lick Buildings, &c. &c. - - Charges of collefting; viz. CoUeAing Conftable's and Receiver General's Commiflions, Reliefs, &c. 1 5 per cent. 52,*5o 1,430 1,089 — — 5,600 500 — — .4»359 7 9 9,783 6 — jf. 75,01 1 13 9 Ways a«^. 5. 5 J. each, and piftoles at 26 j. 3 ^. Silver coins are Spanilh milled dollars at 6 j. 8 d. and fo in proportion for the fmaller parts of this coin ; the lowed coin is called a ^///, equal to about 5 d, fterling. Aguinea paflesfor 32J. 6^. This, how- ever, is confiderabiy more than the ufual rate of exchange, by which £. 100 fterling gives £. 140 currency. From the fituation of this ifland amidft potent and envious rivals, and the vaft difproportion be- tween the number of white inhabitants and the flaves, it may be fuppofed that the maintenance t)f a powerful and well-difciplined militia is among ofraifing and maintaining all which (above the number of 3,000) is thrown upon the ifland. Among thefe is a regiment of light-dragoons, which is mounted on horfe& bred in the country. N. B. The fituation of Jamaica, in refpeft to the expences of its internal government and finance?, has been ftrangely al- tered fince the firft publication of the preceding eftimates. Its publiclc debt and contingent expences for 1796, came to no lefs than £. 298,333. 11, id. currency ; and this fum was altogether exclufive of the expences incurred by the war with th: Maroon Negroes, of which an account will hereafter be given, amounting to no lefs than j^. 52o>i98. 14J. -jj. currency. The committer of the Aflembly by whom thefe eftimates were reported, declare, at the fame time, that they find it imprafticable todevife the means ofanfwering a debt of fuch magnitude, and an application was made (but J believe without fuccefs) to the Britifli government for a loan of £,< 200,000 fterling, T 4 tha Hi M;''i| " ' ■ ;i 't ■■m. !■ • fi h, ill- V I'i !'•', m ';.■ t P ' I H • \ 1 a^o HISTORY OF THE 'i| !l J the firft objects of the policy of the legiflature : accordingly all perfons, from fifteen to fixty years of age, are obliged by law to enlill themfelves either in the horfe or foot, and to provide at their own expence the neceffary accoutrements ; but this law, I doubt, is not very rigidly enforced, as the whole militia, which is compofed of three regiments of horfe and fourteen regiments of foot, does not confift of much more than 8,000 effec- tive troops J neither do the ufual employments and habits of life, either of the officers or privates, conduce very much to military fubordination*.— -However, in times of adual danger, whether from the revolt of flaves, or the probability of invafion, no troops in the world could have (hewn greater promptitude or alacrity in fervice, than has been difplayed by the militia of Jamaica. In fuch emer- gencies, the commander in chief, with the advice and confent of a general council of war (in which the members of the affembly have voices) may • The following is a return of the cavalry and inf.intry on the 13th January 1792: Cavalry. Infantry. Total. County of Surry • 336 2,141 2.477 Middlefex 375 2,647 3,022 Cornwall 368 2,305 2,673 Effe£llves - 8,17a Free ncgrces and men of colour included; their number was 1 ,889, The Maroons were not comprehended. • proclaim ature : y years mfelves at their Lts i but 3rced, as of three ts of foot, 300 effec- ployments )r privates, nation*.— lether from of invafion, ,ewn greater lan has been [nfuchemcr- [th the advice rar (in which voices) may and infantry on Total. »,477 3,022 2,675 >5 - 8,174 Idedi their number Iprehended. proclaim WEST INDIES. roclaim martial law. His power is then di<5ta- torial ; and all perfons arc fubjcd to the articles of war. From the given number of men able to bear arms in any country, it is ufual with political writers to eftimate the inhabitants at large j but , their rule of calculation does not apply to Jamaica, where the bulk of the people confifts of men with- out families. Europeans who come to this ifland have feldom an idea of fettling here for life. Their aim is generally to acquire fortunes to enable them to fit down comfortably in their native country ; and, in the meanwhile, they confider a family as an incumbrance. Marriage, therefore, being held in but Uttle eftimation, the white women and children do not bear the fame pro- portion to the males, as in European climates. From thefe, and other caufes, I have found it dif- ficult to afcertain with precifion the number of the white inhabitants. I have been informed, that a late intelligent chief governor (General Campbell) computed them, after diligent rcfearch,at 25,000; and I am induced to believe, from more than one mode of calculation, that General Campbell's efli- mate was near the truth. — This computation was made in 1780, fince which time I am of opinion, from the many loyal Americans who have fixed themfelves in Jamaica, and other caufes, this number is confiderably inj:reafed. Including the troops aSi T h i >{ Hi!-- fi^' i.i'p^ii; mu ?• ^Pl ■1 5 ■\\ I ' ' ' ii% HISTORY OF THE troops and fea-faring people, the white populate tion may, I think, be fixed at 30,000. The freed negroes and people of colour are computed, in a report of a committee of the houfe of affembly of the 1 2th of November 1788, at 500 in each parifh, on an average of the whole; which makes 1 0,000, exclufive of the black people called Maroons, who enjoy freedom by treaty f/). Of negroes in a flate of llavery in this ifland, the precife number in December, 1787, as afcer- tained on oath in the rolls from which the poll- tax is levied, was 210,894; and as it may anfwer more ufeful purpofes hereafter than the mere gra- tification of curiofity, I fliall diftinguifli the num- bers in each parifli, which are the following : Ml' 11' f ! ' ' St. Dorothy — St. Catherine — St. John — St. Thomas in the Vale — 3'129 5*304 5,S8o 7'459 Vere — St. Mary — St. Ann — Kingfton — — 7'487 i7»H4 ^3*324 6,162 St. Andrew — — 9'6i3 St. David -- 2,881 :' ) i* - Carried over •— 73,3^3 fIJ See tbe hiflorical account of the Maroons in the third volutiie. J St. Thomas lour are . ot the lenv^S, :k people :eaty (0- his illand, ,,asafcer- X the poll- nay anfwer s mere gra- [\ the ivum- wing •• 5,88a 7 '459 7.487 17,^4 i3»324 6,162, 9,61s 2,88i 78,323 toons m the thud St. Thomas WEST INDIES. •n Brought over • — 78,383 CHAP. St. Thomas in the Eaft — 20,492 V. Portland — — 4.537 St. George — ^ 5.050 - St. Elizabeth — — 13,280 Hanover -^ — 17,612 St. James — — 18,546 Trelawney — r — 19.318 p Port-Royal — — 2,229 ^ ■ Weftmoreland — . — 16,700' Clarendon — — 14.747 • Total — 210,894 Ir'appears, however, from the report of the com- mittee of the affembly above cited, that in mod of the parishes it is cuftomary to exempt perfons not having more than fix negroes, from the pay- ment of taxes on ilaves, whereby many of the negroes, efpecially in the towns frnj^ are not given in to the different veftries, and the returns of a great many others are fraudulently conceal- ed j thus the tax-rolls do not contain the full (mj In Kingfton, forinftance, the real number is 16,659, inftead of 6,162, the number of the tax-rolls. On an average cf the whole number ofpariflies, the negroes not given in or returned may be reckoned at one-feventh part of the whole. number 'i! h ] ' ; If ' E i^f ( • II. a84 HISTORYOFTHE BOOK number of flaves, which in the opinion of the com- mittee, were at that time 240,000, at the leaft ; and there is not a doubt that upwards of 10,000 have been left in the country from fubfequent importations, exclufive of decreafe. The whole number of inhabitants therefore, of all com- plexions and conditions, at this time (1791) may be ftated as follows : Whites - - - - 30,000 Freed negroes, and people of colour - - - - Maroons, about - - ; Negro flaves 10,000 1,400 Total 291,400 S' The trade of this ifland will beft appear by the quantity of fliipping and the number of fea- men to which it gives employment, and the nature and quantity of its exports. The follow- ing is an account, from the books of the Infpeftor General of Great Britain, of the number of veiTels of all kinds, their regiftcred tonnage and number of men, which cleared from the feveral ports of entry in Jamaica in the year 1787, exclufive of coafting floops, wherries, &c. viz. C") Tliefe arc iiicreafed at this time (1797) to at leaft 300,000. .. ■' ■' For . .IS ■ :he corn- he leafti f 10,000 ibfequent he whole all com- le (1791) aOjOOO 10,000 1,400 250,000 Ck/ :ft appear by trnber of fea- int, and the The foUow- the Infpeftor iber of veiTels and number ;veral ports of ,, exclufive ot WEST INDIES. •8i For Great Britain - Ireland - - - American States Britilh American Colonies - - Foreign Weft In- dies - - - Africa - - - Number of Veffels. 24Z 10 ^33 66 22 I Tonnage. 63*47 I 1,231 i3»<^4i ^y^3S 1.903 109 449 8 Total - 474 85,888 9,344 It muft, however, be obferved, that as many of the veffels clearing for America and the foreign Weft Indies make two or more voyages in the year, it is ufual, in computing the real number of thofe veffels, their tonnage and men, to dedudt one-third from the official numbers. With this correftion the total to all parts is 400 veffels, con- taining 78,862 tons, navigated by 8,845 "^^"* Th e exports for the fame year are given on the fame authority, as follows : ^ ' . V Infpedor- ' t. i t i ; i •i-M M ii ufi^^^ '! s irii i 1 „ I. ^1* (■ ill' ■\- ^ '■ i ■■ I M \IV:\ i IH M^ r-H'l:' i' tl ', I ll 1' I ; ( !U it6 "^ •a u CO *-» •2L J3 it .S ca < W3 *. 3 o > 4-1 a> O j3 ;^ QD HISTORY OF THE [Book II« C3 S Ci *i 1C I I I i I I I I O m m o fA n o H cl * 1 1 1 1 N el t^ ? t-. VO o sr* o\ kn 1 o I 1 t Irt M to o 00 o> H M 1 " oo 1 OS 1 1 «n 1 1 C*l vo in HI M «o 3; •3 OOK IL Chap, v.] WEST INDIES. V "U o H aS; i -^ 2 1 1 irt 1 1 .. , A t^ o 00 M o\ 1 > ■* ao \r, CO «J^ o n t-- o> CA iri VD •+ I oe v3 1^ HI cn 00 ^ fT » T:- * s » w tn c jy 5i ou 1 1 1 1 1 1 r ^ ^1 , • M ^ *4 i 1 o 1 I I 1 1 5 f ^ •* , •♦ u M tn 1 1 1 1 00 § 2 M o\ t^ *§ 5 1^ 00 2 i;s »n o ^ 3- 5- ^ :S M 1 1 1 1 1 00- H M M *-? lO vr( :3 M w • S ," g. m 1 1 1 1 1 »n U i «« M 00 eo o ll m T 1 1 1 «- • 1 00 • ♦ 1 M 1 M VO o w^ M rr» M J a^ »<1 00 « h ^ 1 i 1 I 1 I •• 1 Id 1 t o 1 u g < is 8 < "1 n J ' 1 H •■^•■^••' t. Bur t • ^1* ^''td ( ! . ' I \ 1 ■\ 1( : , ■ Bj* N i 1 \ f I i ■ i i . ,' ^ ■ • • ■ ^' ■■' fi^' >88 »< If. ' i • HISTORY OF THE But It mud be noted, that a conficlcrablc part: of tlic cotton, indigo, tobacco, mahogany, dye- woods, and mifcellancous articles, included in the preceding account, is the produce of the foreign Weft Indies imported into Jamaica, partly under the free-port law, and partly in fmall Britilh vef- fcls cmjjloycd in a contraband traflick with the Spanilli American territories, payment of which is made chielly in Britifh manufaftures and ne- groes ; and confiderable quantities of bullion, ob- tained by the fame means, are annually remitted to Gieat Britain, of wliich noprccife accounts can be procured *. ' The General Account of Imports into Ja- maica will ftand nearly as follows j viz. ill' * The preceding accoiint having been made up for 1787, It may reafonabty bcfuppofed that the jfl;ind has greatly in- creafed its produce in the fpace of 10 years ; and, it is true, that at this period (1 797) the amount of its exports, accord- to their marketable value, would greatly exceed that of 1 787, perhaps nrarly one third ; but it is conceived, that the dif- ference aiifcs more from an advance of price in the feveral articles, than iVom any excefs in the quantity produced, coffee excepted. This increafe of price has been chiefly owing to the dtftruftion of mod of the French iflands, particularly St. Domingo: the Britifli planter, on the other hand, ha s to fet againrt it the incicaie of their internal taxes, for tJie fupport of a war eftablifljment (befides additional infurance, freight, and other charges) to an amount never before known; thofe of Jamaica, in particular, have been fubjeft to burthens to which this augmentation in the v;:!ue of their exports was by no means commcufurate. See pt 279, note at foot. IMPORTS ,y, ayc- ;d in the ti foreign ;^y under ■\i\(\^ vef- witb the of which :s and nc- uUion, ob- iy vemittcd :counts can TS iz. deupfrtf J7S7» I has greatly in- I and, it is true, exports, accord- :ed that of 1787. ,ed, that the dif- ce in the feveral produced, coffee chiefly owing to inds, pavticulaily other hand, ha s ,al taxes, for the itional uifurance, rer before known; ibjcft to burthem their exports was note at foot. IMPORTS Chap. V.] WEST INDIES. IMPORTS INTO JAMAICA. From Great Britain," 'aiH,\ direA, according 1. /. J. » 3 3 « r ,,- \ Britifli manufactures 616,6 c 7 for 1 787. - -) ftomlrelanJy I allow a moiety of the wliole im] rt from that kingdom to the Britifli Weft Indies, coiuuting of inanufaif^ures and fulted provifions to the amount of jf. 277,000 - - . - - From Africa, 5,345 neeroes (i), at £. 40 fterling each— (This is wholly a Britifli trade carried on in fliips from England) - - - . From the Britijk Colonies in America (including about ao,ooo quintals of faUed cod from Newfoundland) From the United States, Indian corn, wheat, flour, rice, lumber, ftaves, &c. imported in Britifli fliips From Madeira and Tmerife, in ftiips trading circuitoufly from Great Britain, 500 pipes of wine (exclufive of wines for re-exp>ortation) at £. 30 fterling the pipe From the Foreign Weft Indies, under the free-port law, &c. calculated on an average uf three Years (k) . Total - £. 1,496,232 aSo / 758,934 S 4 138,500 — — 213,800 — « 30,000 — — 190,000 — — 15,000 — — 150,000 — — 5 4 (i) Being an average of the whole number imported aftd retained in the ifland for ten years, 1778 to 1787, as returned by the InfpeAor-General. The import of the lad three years is much greater. (kj From returns of the InfpeAor'General. The following are the particulars for tht year 1787. Cotton Wool - - - 194)000 lbs.- Cacao - _ - _ 641750 lbs. Cattle, via. AHes - - . . Aorfes - - . Mules . - - . Oxen ... , Sheep - - - - Dying Woods - - Gum Guiacum - • Hides Indigo - - Mahogany — ' - Tortoife Shell Dollars 43 435 ■ .' 1 58s , • »43 " , 98 ..-1- 1,201 No. 5,077 Tons. 79 Barrels. 4,5?7 No. 4,h63 lbs. 9,09^ Planks. «S5 lbs. 53>85o No. ' I i I * 1 >, \ Vol. I. U ' - Ot>'. HISTORY OF THE Some part of this eftlmate, however, is not fo pcrfeft as might be wiflied ; inafmuch as in the accounts made up at the InfpcAor-Generars office of goods exported from Great Britain, they reckon only the original coft, whereas the Britilh mer- chant being commonly the exporter, the whole of his profits, together with the freight, infurance, and fadtorage commiflions in the ifland, (hould be taken into the account, becaufe the whole are com- prized in one charge againft the planter. On the Britifli fupply, therefore, 1 calculate that twenty per cent, (hould be added for thofe items j which make the fum total £. 1,648,018. 14 J. 4. J. fter- ling-money. -J After all, it is very poffible that fomc errors may have crept into the calculation, and the ba- lance or furplus arifing from the excefs of the ex- ports, may be more or lefs than appears by the ftatement which I have given j but this is a con- fideration of little importance in a national view, inafmuch as the final profit arifing from the whole fyftem ultimately refts and centers in Great Britain ; a conclufion which was well illuftrat- ed formerly by the lords commiffioners for trade and plantations, in a report made by them on the flate of the Britifli fugar colonies in the year 1 734 i an extradb from which, as it ferves likewife to point out the progrefs of this ifland during the lafl fifty years, I Ihall prefent to the reader. «^ «■ ,3 not fo x& in the al's office ;y reckon titb mer- :he whole infurance, ,(houldbe le are com- r. On the hat twenty :ms i which : fomc errors , and the ba- efs of the cx- ppears by the this is a con- lational view, rom the whole ;rs in Great well illuftrat- mers for trade y them on the the year 1734; res likewife to during the lall lader. « The W B S T I N D 1 E S. 191 " The annual amount (fay their Lord(hips)of chap. our exports to Jamaica, at a medium of four years, from Chriftmas 1728 to Chriftmas 1732, as it ftands computed in the cuftom-houfe books, ap- pears to have been - £. 147,675. 2. 3 J. The medium of our im- ports (/) from Jamaica, in the '.' fameyear,is - - ^. 539,499- *8. 3{. So that the annual excefs of our imports, in that period, isnolefsthan - ;^. 391,824. 15. 11 J. " But it muft not be imagined, that this ex- cefs is a debt upon Great Britain to the ifland of Jamaica ; a part of it muft be placed to the ac- count of Negroes, and other goods, fent to the Spanifh Weft Indies, the produce of whirh is re- turned to England by way of Jamaica ; another part to the debt due to our African traders from the people of Jamaica, for the Negroes which are purchafed and remain there for the fervice of the ifland i a third proportion muft be placed to the account of our Northern Colonies on the conti- nent of America, who difcharge part of their balance with Great Britain by confignments from Jamaica, arifing from the provifions and lumber with which they fupply that ifland j the remain- (IJ TheCuftom Houfe prices of goods imported, are con- fiderably Icfs than the real or mercantile prices— perhaps, in general, about one-third. V Z ing * !. I;M, I ) '1'' I . I af i!'f itr «?■ ill ^H iTIfffS a ^n^ Ir^'lr ^^n f B I ' ■ ^^^HS'*r 1 ^Hii ^^^^nl 1 1 ^ Bfj'j; *■ H^iiJ < 1 W'l \ ,, ^H f ; ^^^B t ^H ri . 1 i ir ^ \' ^'^ H|( :■■ •tii- Vi 1 1 , < f 1 ! m 1 ; V ;! 11 ^ \ ' !■ li ™ r 1 ' i' If , fill I 1 ;^ 1 i ' ihj 1 JM 291 HISTORY OF THE ing part of the excefs in our importations from this colony, is a profit made upon our trade, whether immediately from Great Britain, or by way of Africa ; and lafVly. if is a confideration of great importance in the geneial trade of Great Britain, that part of the fugar, and other mer- chandize which we bring from Jamaica, is re-ex- ported from hence, and helps to make good our balance in trade with other countries in Europe." Ha VI KG mentioned the trade which is carried on between this ifland and the Spanifli territories in America, fome account of it in its prefent' ftate, and of the means which have been adopted by the Britith parliament to give it fupport, may not be unacceptable to my readers. It is fufficiently known to have been formerly an intercourfe of vaft extent, and highly advantageous to Great Britain, having been fuppofed to give emploj*- ment. about the beginning of the prefent century, to 4,000 tons of Englifti Ihipping, and to create an annual vent of Britifti goods to the amount of one million and a half in value. From the wretched policy of the court of Spain towards its American fubjefts, by endeavouring to compel them to trull folely to the mother-country, for almofl: every article of neceffaryconfumption, at the very time that (he was incapable of fupplying a fiftieth part of their wants, it is not furprifing that they had recourfe, under all hazards, to thofe nations of /■' ' ■ Europe WEST INDIES. Europe which were able and w.li;„» . r '" fheir demands. It wa. ■„ .*'"'"g *" ^n^ of <-.«> own, f„™7hed S 11/: fo ^ ^f " quamted w.Vh ,he fevend creeks^ K *'■ »Wed then, to profecute th f ^^'' "^ '"■ Poffibieencou^geLnttl: f*r:f t""^ » vvrtre tnat the Spaniards had \itt\e t^ ;«, port befides bullion, but horned catH. , horfes, (fo neceflarv M .h ? * """^^'^ ^"^ » ^ « ucceuary to the agriculture ofth^ r . c*n.es) connived at ,Ik encoun,.eme^f .tf"^ ' jS-nthem. The tn.de. however 'tr hyy-s.onthedech-ne.SinceX^:';;;- * and n,o ,i,,,^ p„,,^^ ^^^ J - ^74 . . ^-luiiu , and the contraband tr-^m^} t. -emegulationshasbeen relaxed. N^, f , p. (he intercourfe with this lfl.,„^ • V^"''^" ' t;^;as«ilUe, i;r^':« ■ "*' '704. About that n^r.'^^ j- o- " Med by the Fncrn -f * ^"'^^lons were I oy the J^nghHi miniftry toenforce rh. i ^-vieation uMfi ^L J' '"^ ^'"orce the Jaws gation With the utir.ofl ftridncis; and . •^ cuftom- 4>^': Hmm '">xi' »94 ii f HISTORY OF THE cuftom-houfe commiflions were given to the captains of our men of war, with orders to feize all foreign veffels, without diftindion, that fliould be found in the ports of our Weft Indian illands j a meafure which in truth was converting our navy into guar da-cojas^ for the king of Spain. la confequence of thefe proceedings, the Spaniards, as might have been expedted, were deterred from coming near us, and the exports from Great Britain to Jamaica alone, in the year 1 765, fell fliort of the year 1763, j^. 168,000 fterling. A WISER miniftry endeavoured to remedy the mifchief, by giving orders for the admiflion of Spanifli veffels as ufual ; but the fubjed matter being canvaffed in the Britilh parliament, the nature and intent of thofe orders were fo fully ex- plained, that the Spanifli court, grown wife from experience, took the alarm, and immediately adopted a meafure, equally prompt and prudent,] for counteracting them. This was, the laying openi the trade to the iflands of Trinidad, Porto-Rico, Hifpaniola, and Cuba, to every province in Spain, and permitting goods of all kinds to be fent thither,] on the payment of moderate duties. Thus tkl temptation of an illicit commerce with foreign m] tions, being in a great meafure removed, therJ was reafon to believe that the effcft would ceali with the caufe. Such, however, is the fupcriority or companj ■ m to tVve to fciz.e it (hould ^"lilandsi rting o^^ spain. ^^ Spaniards, erred from reatBntam ft^ortoftbe ) remedy tbe admiff^o^ of abjed matter ivliament, tk ere Co fuUy ex- fown wife from \mmed'vate\y i ,t and prudent, t\ielay"mg«P^1 id, Porto-RitO'l ov\nce \n SpainI obe fent tWukij .ties. Thustkl with foreign w] removed, tkti ffed would ceaJ jtity or compi^l WEST INDIES. tlve cheapnefs of Britifh manufaftures, that it is probable the trade would have revived to a certain degree, if the Britilh miniftry of 1765, after giving orders for the adiiiiffion of Spanifh veffels into our ports in the Weft Indies, had proceeded no further. But, in the following year, they obtained an ad of parliament for opening the chief ports of Jamaica and Dominica, to all foreign veffels of a certain de- fcription.The motives which influenced theframers of this law, were undoubtedly laudable; they juft- ly confidered the recovery of the Spanifh trade as a matter of the utmoft confequence, and conclud- ed that the traders would naturally prefer thofe ports, in which their fafety was founded on law, to places where their prefervation depended only on the precarious tenure of connivance and favour. Other oftenfible reafons were affigned in ypport of the meafure ; but the jealoufy of Spr.U: was awakened, and the endeavours of the Briti'ii par- liament on this occafion, fervcd only to Cijcrcaft the evil which was meant to be redrelftd. .^y an unfortunate over- light, the colledors .-t the leveral Britifh free-ports were initrudled to keep regular viccounts of the entry of all foreign veffels, and of the bullion which they imported, together with the names of the commanders. Thefe accounts having; been tranfmitted to the commiffioners of the cuftoms in England, copies of them were, by fome means, procured by the court of Spain, and U 4 the 295 m I M 1. ^! fl s I S96 HISTORY OF THE BOOK the abfolute deftrudtion of many of the poor ''• people who had been concerned in tranfporting bullion into our iflands, was the confequence. This intelligence I received foon afterwards (hav- ing at that time the direction of thecuftom-houfe in Jamaica) from a very refpeftable Scanilh mer- chant, who produced to me a letter from Cartha- gena, containing a recital o*^ the fadV, accompani- ed with many (hocking circumftances of unrelent- ing ftv^erity in the Spanifli government. Infor- mation of this being tranfmitted to the Britifh miniftry, the former inftruftions were revoked, but the remedy came too late; — for what eife could be expefted, than that the Spaniards would naturally flmn all intercourfe with a people, whom neither the fafcty of their friends, nor their own evident intereft, was fufficient to engage to con- fidence and iecrecy ? The little trade, therefore, which now fubfifts with the fubjeds of Spain in America, is chiefly carried on by fmall vcfTels from Jamaica, which contrive to efcapc the vigilance of the gitarda- cojias. But although, with regard to the revival of this particular branch of commerce, I am of opinion, that the free-port law has not fo fully anfwered the expectation of its franiers, as might have been wiflied ; its provifions, in other refpeft.^ have been very beneficial. It has been urged ia^ainft it, that it gives occafion to the introduc- tion, c poor jporting quencc. ds (hav- liih mer- 1 Cartha- compani- unrelent- t. Infor- be Britifli ; revoked, • what elfe ards would ople, whom )r their own ^age to con- now fubfifts :a, is chiefly -naica, which the gnarda- to the revival erce, 1 am of Ls not fo fully nets, as might other refpea^:, vs been urged the introduc- tion WEST INDIES. 197 tion of French wines, brandies, foap, cambricks, chap, and other prohibited articles from Hifpaniola j ^* and there is no doubt that fmall veffel? from thence frequently claim the benefit of the free- ports, after having fmuggled afhore, in the various cieeks and harbours of this ifland, where no cuf- tom-houfes are eftablifhed, large quantities of brandy (to the great prejudice of the rum-market) and other contraband goods. It may be urged too, that the permiffion given by the aft to the importation of certain of the produds of the foreign iflands, is hurtful to the growers of the fame commodities in Jamaica. All this is admit- ted ; but on the other hand, confidering the re- venues and commerce of the empire at large, as objedts of fuperior concern to local interefts, it cannot be denied, thai the woollen and cotton ma- nufaftories of Great Britain are of too great im- portance not to be fupplied with the valuable materials of indigo and cotton-wool, on the eaHeft and cheapeft terms poffible. The quantities of thefe articles, as we'l as of woods for the dyer, im- ported in foreign bottoms into the free-ports, are very confiderable. This fubjed was thoroughly inveftigated by the Biitilh Houfe of Commons in 1 7 74 (when the ad would have expired); and it be- ing given in evidence that thirty thouiand people about Mane hefter were employed in the velvet ma- jiufadorj', for which the St. Domingo cotton was beft II I '! 'H \i w^- M r i'j Ik !^ ;■(, f ■4 •.'^'asti»< asW«tW'an»&>> , . ( -, S98 HISTORY OF THE bed adapted ; and that both French cotton and indigo had been imported from Jamaica at leaft thirty per cent, cheaper than the fame could have been procured at through France — the Houfe, difregarding all colonial oppofition, came to a re- folution, " that the continuance of free-ports in Jamaica would be highly beneficial to the trade and manufadtures of the kingdom." The aft was thereupon renewed, and has fmce been made per- petual. But the main argument which was originally adduced in defence of the eflablilhment of free- ports in Jamaica, was founded on the idea that thofe ports would become the great mart for fup- plying foreigners with negroes. It was faid, that in order to have negroes plenty in our own illands, every encouragement muft be thrown out to the African merchant, to induce him to augment his importations, and that no encouragement was fo great as that of an opportunity of felling part of them to foreigners for ready money ; a temptation, it was urged, which would be, as it heretofore had been, the means that a number would be import- ed fufficient both for the planter's ufe and for the foreign demand j and it was added, that at all events t'le French would deal with us, if the Spaniards would not. ■ m s: ^^ . Whether it be a wife and politick meafure at any time to permit Britifli fubjeds. to fupply ' , • foreigners ir %\\ :on and atleaft lid have Houfe, ; to a re- -ports in the trade le a^ was node per- originally nt of free- idea that irt for fup- s faid, that ,wn iflands, out to the ugment his nent was To ling part of temptation, retofore had 1 be import- and for the , that at all ti us, if the itick meafure as. to fupply foreigners V. WEST INDIfiS. OH foreigners with African labourers, is a queftion chap. that may admit of difpute (m) . I mean, at prefent, to confine myfelf only to a recital of fafts ; and it is certain that the very great demand for negroes in the Ceded Iflands, for fome years after the adt took place, afftfted the Jamaica import in a high degree; and in 1773, a circumftance occurred which was thought to render a renewal of the free-port law a meafure of indifpenfable neceffity. In that year the Spanifli Affiento Company at Porto-Rico obtained permiffion to remove their principal factory to the Havanna, and to purchafe Haves in any of the neighbouring iflands, tranf- porting them to their own fettlements in Spanifli veflels. It was eafily forefeen, that Jamaica, from its vicinity to the chief colonies of Spain, in which negroes were moft in demand, would engage a preference from the purchafers ; wherefore, that (mj The re-export of negroes from the Britifli Wefl Indies, for the laft twenty years, for the lupply of the French and Spanifli plantations, has not, 1 believe, exceeded one-fifth of the import. It was greater formerly, and during the ex- iftence of the Affiento contraft, exceeded p«? //4/r<^.— Perhaps it would be found on tht whole, that Great IJritain has, by this means, during the laft century, fupplied her rivals and enemies with upwards of 500,000 African labourers ; a cir- cumftance which fufficiently juftifiei the doubt that I entertain concerning the wifdom and policy of this branch of the Afri- can commerce. =.-. :--■!' '^^ . v.; ■- . ' - ' ' - -'-' .' encouragement (illi i 0X 300 K ff i i ll ] :_' 1' 1 1 ' I ^ V-i ■ V i , ( m ^ ■ : i •hill 1 / 1 Hi \ 1 1 : 1 ( ! ■ 1 ,1 ' 1 :i'. t I HISTORY OF THE encouragement might not be wanting, the BritiOi parliament not only renewed the free-port law, but alfo took off the duty of thirty (hillings fter- ling a head, which, in the former aft, was exafted on the exportation of negroes, and laid only a duty of two (hillings and fix-pence, ir> lieu of it. The refult was — that th6 import for the next ten years, exceeded that of the ten years preceding, by nolefs than 22,213 negroes : and the export fur- pafled that of the former period, to the number of 5,952. Such part, therefore, of this encreafed export, as went to the fupply of the Spani(h colo- nies, we may attribute to the free-port law j for it is probable, from the circumftances ftated, that the ancient contraband fyftem is nearly at an end. In like manner it may be faid of the importation of foreign indigo and cotton, that if it be not made in foreign veflels, it will ceafe altogether ; and thus, i-nftead of infringing the navigation-aft, as fome perfons contend, the meafure of opening the ports is ftriftly confonant to the fpirit of that celebrated law ; for, by furni(hlng an augmenta- tion of freights to Great Britain, it tends ultimate- ly to the encreafe of our (hipping. Having now, to the beft of my judgment and knowledge, furniflied my readers with fuch par- ticulars as may enable them to form a tolerably correft idea of the prefent trade and produftions of !^^l1 ( fitiftl v,but I fter- only a Li of it. ext ten Jing,by )ort fur- number increafed lilh cok)- w ; for it ited, that at an end. aportatlon it be not Uogether > ttion-af^, ^f opening \\x\t of that augmenta- Is ultimate- Igment and Ih fuch par- a tolerably Iprodudions '^ of WEST INDIES. of Jamaica, I fliall conclude with a concife dif- play of its progrefs in cultivation at different periods, for a century pad. By a letter, dated March the 29th, 1673,^001 the then governor, Sir Thomas Lynch, to Lord Arlington, the Secretary of State, it appears, that the ifland at that time contained 7,768 whites, and 9,^*04 negroes ; its chief produitions were cacao, indigo, and hides. " The weather (ob- ferves the governor) has been feafonable, and the fuccefs in planting miraculous. Major-General Bannifter is now not very well, but by the next, he fends your lordjliip a pot ofjugar^ and writes you its Jlory." It would feem from hence, that the cul- tivation of fugar was then but juft entered upon, and that Blome, who afferts there were feventy fugar-works in 1670, was mifinformed. So late as the year 1722, the ifland made only eleven thoufand hogfheads of fugar, of fixteen hundred weight. From that time I have no authentick account until the year 1734, when the ifland contained 7,644 whites (njy 86,546 negroes, and 76,011 head of cattle. The value of the imports from jthis ifland to Great Britain, about this period, (nj The circumftance of the decreafe of the white inhabi- lants for the firft fixty years, may appear ftrange. It was Vving, without doubt, to the decline of the privateering trade, jhich gave full employment to the firft adventurers. , were 301 . \ HI J- I ■ I m j - i I; ! 1 i\. HISTORY OF THE I, > 744. the """^^'^ i,,,d of cattle. ^ be .vofth £• 600,000 fte^^^^g- ^^.^ebeen T ,.^fi the whites were fuppoled to na "'" f le^-Ie of which could not be lefs a. . exports (the value 01 . > ^^ jhefe ; that time than .,40o.o»»ft"'"'8>''" r' •1-. •' --^ ,' 'JfJTf ! . S , .^^F -|. < < < ■ '. It ExpohtsI '! li' tbc Commvf- lount 9,640 >^^'^^^;' head of cattle. je about 35'°°° ^uncbeonsofrum, Che wbo^e tnigVt .pofcdtobavebeen « the tax-rous W^i >■, I •i Mj '- i"-"- 00 s v> Expotii WEST INDIES. o o Mifcella. neous Articles. a i a J4 • W s 1 t 00 ^1 s 1 M 3 .ii 1 T. g" 1 5 > ^ 1 1 S .5? M ° 1 2 1 3 III n 0; 00 1 8 1*. U 1 u^ f* ^ Bags of Coffee, of 100 lbs. 1 H M ? 1 Bags of Cotton, of 200 lbs. •a M (4 Bags of Ginger of 70 lbs. 1^ Bags of Pimen- to, of 100 lbs. NO M 00 00 N M Hhds. of Sugar, of 16 cwt. 00 >o m m .'•• •i' II • 7,1 ■9 "S e < •3 s 1 -a ; 30$ CK AP. t T Cultivation, ■ 1 i i' I 'I i : i 1 s^. //^.*^i^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 Sf Bi 122 us u u Wtou UO 12.0 1 li^ ||i4|l.6 < 6" » V Pholiograiiric Sciences Corporatton 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WnSTIR,N.Y. 14510 (716) t72-4S03 »* ^ ^ !^M 304 HISTORY OF THE Cultivation, in all parts of Jamaica, was now making a great and rapid progrefs . In 1 7 74, the exports were confiderably encreafed: The following account of them is extrafted from the books of office, kept within the ifland. ' i'n:'} U M o PS U4 0» H Pi O M II 0^. V .Mar: LV i 1 X ve 00 ? ^ lit 8 m M p« s i Mi 00 M 1 S >i$ B> ^ s m & <» ■ 8 s H i=I^M 5f Bagaof Pimen- to, of icolbs. ? en M M in 00 M 0^ Barrels oflndi- go, of 300 Iba. M OS Bagsof Coffee, of 100 lbs. 1 It 1^ "gi| a. tf S 1 N en M CO V i 1 1 The WEST INDIES. 1?HE amount of the fum total, according to the prices current, including the fame allowance for mifcellaneous articleSj of which noprecife account can be obtained^ as was allowed by the Infpedtor- General for the year 1787, may be fairly flated at two millions of pounds fterling* But Jamaica had now nearly attained the me- ridian of its profperity (n) j for early in the follow- ing year, the fatal and unnatural war which has terminated in the difmemberment of the empire, began its deftruftive progrefs j in the courfe of which, the blamelefs inhabitants of this and the reft of the Britifh fugar iflands, felt all its effeds without having merited the ilightefl imputation on their condudt. Their fources of fupply for plantation neceiTaries were cut off, and protection at fea, if not denied, was not given j fo that their produce was feized in its way to Great Britain, and confifcated without interruption or mercy. To fill up the meafure of their calamities, the anger of the Almighty was kindled againft them j — no lefs than five deftrudive hurricanes in the (pace of feven years, as I have elfewhcre obferved, fpread 305 m- (tt) The greateft improvement which Jamaica has mani* felled fiace 1 774, has been in the encreafed number of its jcolfee plantations. In that yeat', the export of coffee, as we have feen, was 654,700 lbs. In 1 780, the crop having been ihipped before the hurricane happened, the export was 735,39s lbs. For the laft ten years, fee the Appendix, N* II. Voj.. I. X ruin »t;f i $o6 ':". ' . V'l i f 'K HISTORY OF THE ruin and defolation throughout every ifland ! The laft of thcfc terrible vifitations in Jamaica, hap- pened in 1786. Since that time, however, the icafons have been favourable j and the crops oi' 1788, 1789 and 1790, were confiderable. May the inhabitants be thankful, that it has thus pleaf- ed the Divine Providence to remember mercy in judgment ; and may pad misfortunes teach them thofe leffons of fortitude, frugality, and forefight, which always alleviate afflidions, and fometimes even convert them into bleffings. Nothing now remains but to ftate the value of this ifland, confidered as Britifh property ; of which the eftimate is formed as follows : — 250,000 negroes at fifty pounds fterling each, make twelve millions and a half j. the landed and perfonal pro- perty to which thefe negroes are appurtenant (in- eluding the buildings) are very fairly and mode- rately reckoned at double the value of the flaves themfelves ; making twenty-five miUions in ad- dition to the twelve million five hundred thoufand pounds I have Hated before j and in further ad- dition, the houfes and property in the towns, and the veflels employed in the trade, are valued at one million five hundred thoufand pounds; amounting in the whole to thirty-nine millions ofpc fterling. «^ t\iu : IN WEST INDIES. 307 m I Tlie I, hap- •er, the rops oi May as pleaf- nercy in ,ch them ibrefight, )metimes the value iperty; of -250,000 ake twelve rfonal pro- tenant (in- and mode- the flaves [ions in ad- id thoufand further ad- townsy and e valued at ^d pounds i line millions IN this delightful Ifland, thus variegated by the hand of nature, and improved by the induftry of man, it was my fortune to pafs the fpring of my life, under the protcdion and guidance of men whofe wifdom inftrudted,whofe virtues I hope im- proved me, — and whofe tendernefs towards me ex*- plred only with the laft figh that deprived me of them for ever. Towards perfons whofe memories are thus dear to me, — who were at once a bleffing and an ornament to the country of which I write, — my readers will I hope allow me to offer in this place a tribute of affectionate and refpedful re- membrance. One of thofe perfons devoted fome years to the improvement of my mind in the pur- fuits of knowledge. From the precepts and in* ftruftions, and ftill more from the beautiful com- pofitionsj of I s A A c Te A L E, I imbibed in my youth that relilh for polite literature, the enjoy- ment of which is now become the folacc of my de- clining years. If the publick has received my writings with favour, it becomes me to declare that, whatever merit they poffefs is due to the leffons inculcated, and the examples fupplied by my revered and lamented friend. He was a cler- gyman of the Church of England, and having for twenty years difcharged the paftoral duties of U ■ ' ii ■ ! > i\ IM !. Xi acoun- S6« HiStORY 6F TttE *i ■ '■ I' B o o k a country curacy in an obfcure part of Kenfy ^^' was reluftahtly prevailed on, at the age of forty- five, to exchange his ftipend of ;^. 40. per annum, for preferment in Jamaica. Here, his virtues, learning and talents attraded the notice of my diftinguiftied relation and bountiful benefaftor, Zachary Bayly j by whofe kindnefs he was enabled to fpend the remainder of his days in leifure and independency. In the fociety of thefe valuable friends, chiefly under the fame roof, I paffed the days of my youth, until my amiable preceptor in the firft place, and my generous be- tiefaftor a few years afterwards (neither of them having reached his 50th year) funk into an un- timely grave ! Of Zachary Bayly, the renown is familiar to ever)' one who has refided in Jamaica at any time during the laft forty years. I endea- voured to delineate his character on the flione which I infcribed to his memory j and fondly hoping that my book will be read where the ftone cannot be infpedted, I transfer to this page what his monument imperfedly records : . f IM I <*:' i'i,.*' V -'' ^» INSCRIPTION >rty- tues» [ my iftor, e was lys in fthefe roof, I miablc )us be- fthem i an un- sown is Jamaica [ endea- LC ftone fondly :he ftone ige what RlPTlON WEST INDIES. 309 CHAP. INSCRIPTION IN THE PARISH CHURCH OF y. ST. ANDREW, JAMAICA. Near this place lie the remains of Zachary Bayly, Cuftos and Chief Magiftrate of the preciniSk of St. Mary and St. George, and one of his Majefty's Hon: Council of this Ifland, "Who died on the iS"* Dec. 1769, in the 48th year of his age. He was a Man To whom the endownients of Nature rendered thofe of Art fuperfluous. He was wife without the aiTiftance of recorded wifdomt And eloquent beyond the precepts of fcholaftick rhetorick, He applied, not to Books, but to Men, And drank of Knowledge, not from the flream, but the fource. To Genius, which might have been fortunate with-r out Induftry, He added Induftry, which, without Genius, migh( have (:ommanded Fortune. He acquired Wealth with Honour, And feemed to pofTefs it only to be liberal, His Publick Spirit was not lefs ardent than his Private Benevolence } He confidered Individuals as Brethren, And his Country as a Parent. , May his Talents be remembered with refpeft, His Virtues with emulation ! X Her? ] \ ;) •'! '>m ! I::n .ft , Hf ^ 8 ■- f i 11 1 .1 u 1 ■) !■ ■ if III; W .*Si liw I s m If 1^ 310 HISTORY OF THE Here alfo lies (mingled witli the fame earth) the duil of Nathaniel Bayly Edwards, his Nephew : In whom diftinguilhed abilities and an amiable difpofition, affiftcd by fuch an example, gave the promife of equal excellence ; When, on the aS"* of January i77i» in the 21" year of his age, He paid the debt to Nature : His furviving Brother, Bryan Edwards, Infcribes tliis Stone as a memorial of his Gratitude, AfF«£lion, and Efleem. .^1l! . ir^ ♦ . - t ' WEST INDIES. APPENDIX TO BOOK II. 311 No. I. A general Jiate of agriculturey ani Negro popU" ^ Jation in the ijland of JamaicOy at the clofe of 1 7 9 1, /row the report of a Committee of the Houfe ofAfembly. Number. Sugar plantations, - - 767 - Coftee plantations - - 607 - Grazing and breeding farms called penns i>o47 " Of fmall fettlements for the" growth of cotton, ginger, pimento, corn and other provifions, the number is not afcertained : they are fuppofed (including the Negroes in the feveral towns) to give employment to Negroes employed thereon. 140,000 21,000 31,000 58,000 Total number of enflaved Negroes in Jamaica in 1791 ..-."■" - . X4 ■/ \ 250,000 ;'> f i ft \ m% n Ik I H^ty: 4 I., tl if , I'ff at w I iil 11 i ' ■ 1 I i; ■ !' III -ml M 'I:^(^- 3i» HISTORY OF THE No. II. f 'i An account of the number, of fugar plantations in the ifland of Jamaica in 1772, and again in 1 79 1, dijiinguifliing the parifJiei\ alfo the number in each parifli which were fold, in the interim^ for the payment of debts; — the number remaining in 1791 in the hands of mortgagees, truflees or receivers; — the number thrown up and abandoned, or converted into other cultivation between the tzvo periods : — and the number of new plantations recently fettled, or which wwtf fettling, at the end of the lajl period. P A I^ I S H £ S. iol 2% Sold for t' ment of fince 1772 In the h mortgagee tees. or re< > r r w c.r S M e< 'Sff t, S-ti S 4&- A 1- ??• ?PS. 1 1 Voro WV«M k^y^ Weftmorland - - 39 - • 7 - 16 - II - 4 Hanover - - - 40 - 22 - 9 - 4 - 8 St. James - ► - 49 - • 13 - 15 - 3 - 6 St. Elizabeth - - 10 - 2 - 3 - II - z Trelawny - - .65- . 14 - 4 - I -r 7 Total m the County I209 - of Cornwall - - ■ 58 - 47 - 30 - 1^ m St. Mary ations again fo the in the number gagees, up and livation nber of :h weve I 9 4 8 6 2 I - 4 - 3 - II - I - 7 3° -■ *7 St. Mary WEST INDIES. r A R I S H E S. St. Mary - Clarendon • Vere - St. Dorothy 22- 3- I- I- 6- 6- o- o- St. John - 13 - 3 - 3 - I - St. St. Katharine Thomas the Vale St. Anne - m } 2- I- o- 3- 17 - >3 - 3 - 3 - ' ^5' 9 - 6 - 2 - 2 e 3 3 o I o I Totalin the County 1 ofMiddlefcx -. ^^^ " 74- 23 - 11 - 12 St. Andrew - - 14 - 8 - 2 - I - Port Royal - - 3 - Portland - - 15 - - 6 - - 1 - I - 4 - 2 St. George - - 7 - St. Thomas in 7 theEaft - -J " 4« - 3 - 23 - 4 - 14- 3 - 5 - 5 St. David - - - 6 - 5 - I - - I Kingfton - - . - - - - I'otal in the County of Surry ---J 93 - 45 - 22 - 14 - 8 GRAND TOTAL - 45I - '77 - 92 - S5 - 47 Summary 'I 1 , [ 1 1 1 1' ^ . i, I ii m . 1 1 g'' If I ill 5 .1 f I ..ill' 1 ft I iU HISTORY OF THE Summary. Exifting plantations in 1 79 1 - - - - 720 Plantations then recently fettled or fettling - 47 Total number of fugar cftates ini79i - - 767 ml i b'-;;! Obfervations. From the preceding table it is fufficiently ob- vious, that in the courfe of twenty years ending 1 79 1, the planters of Jamaica (however profita- bly employed in the fervice of the mother -coun- tr}') were labouring to little purpofe for them- fclves : it appearing that no lefs than 177 fugar plantations had been fold, during that period, for the payment of debts ;— that ^^ had been abandoned b}' the proprietors, and that 92 others remained in the hands of creditors ! Since the year 1791, a favourable change has taken place, and it is prefumed that at this time (December 1797) near 200,000 negroes are employed folely in the cultivation of fugar ; but the moft rapid improvement which this ifland has experienced is a vaft encreafe in the growth of coffee. The following is an authentick return from the naval officer : — viz. \ '•' ,. ■■;'■'' \' ' -^r ■ Account M WEST INDIES. 9»S 720 - 47 tly ob- ending profita- ir-coun- ►r them- 77 fugar ,t period, had been ^ a others Since the en place, jcember [yed folely loft rapid srienced is fee. The the naval Account of Coffee exported from tlie Ifland of Jamaica for 10 Years, viz. 1 787, to 1 797 : Ibi. to lbs. to Great-Britain. America. From ift Augtift 1787, ' »—,-»/ v-»-v^«*y to ift Auguft 1788 808,528 393»273 1789 1,204,649 382,489 1790 1,412,241 427»i3o 1791 2,114,326 291,764 1792 2,708,548 144.849 >793 3.543»oo3 ^9.657 1794 4,314,290 457,103 1795 4,452,611 1,479,961 1796 5.*73.8i4 i»757.444 1797 6,708,272 1,223,349 Total - 32,540,282 6,427,019 *^* In the former edinons cfthis work wasfuh- joined to this appendix, an Hiftorical Account of the Conftitution of Jamaica, which being foutid , by the printer too long for the firjl volume of this - edition, is now transferred to volume the third. .CCOUNT , I If Si6 ) ' ;;■?■. ) . 'i-^^t THE HISTORY, CiriL AND COMMERCUL, O F The Britifh Colonies in the Weft Indies. BOOK III. SNGLISH CHARAIBEAN ISLANDS. C H A P. I. BARBADOES. Firji arrival of the Englijh, at this ijland. — Origin^ progrefsyandterminatiottof the proprietary govern- merit. — Revenue granted to the crown of 4! pet centum on all produce exported — how obtaineds — origin of the aSi of navigation. — Situation and extent oftheifland. — Soil and produce. — Popula- tion. — Decline, and caufes thereof. — Exports and imports. BOOK ^ I ^ M E iiland of Barbadoes, of which I now 111. jL propofe to treat, was probably firft dif- covered by the Portuguefe in their voyages from Brafil i and from them it received the name whicli ■'..'-» ■ . . ^ Indies. IS. \ry govern' of 4^ P^^ btaineds — \uation and , — Popula- xports and ich I now firft dif- yages from lame which WEST INDIES. ftill retains fa). It was found without occu- pants or claimants. The Charaibes, for reafons ahogether unknown to us, had deferted it, and the Portuguefe, fatisfied with the fplendid regions they had acquired on the continent, feem to have confidered it as of Httle value. Having furnilhed it with a breed of fwirie for the benefit of fuch of Iheir countrymen as might navigate the fame track, they left the ifland in all other refpedts as they found it. Of the Englilh, the firft who are known to have landed in this ifland, were the crew of a fliip called the 0/ive Blojfom, bound from London to Surinam, in 1605, and fitted out at the expence of Sir Olive Leigh, whom Purchas ftiles * a wor- * fliipful knight of Kent.' Finding it without inhabitants, they took poflfeffion of the countr5% by fixing up a crofs on the fpot where James- town was afterwards built, with this infcription, " James king of England and this ifland ;" but they began no fettletnent, nor made any confider- able ftay in a country entirely uninhabited and overgrown with woods j yet it furnifhed them with frefli provifions. They found pigs, pigeons, and parrots, and the fea abounded with fifh. Some years after this, a fhip of Sir William Courteen's, a merchant of London, returning (a) It is faid not to have been noticed in any fea-chart be* fore the year 1 6o9. from i%i- ji; ill. V- . ( ■ 1 •i lil'i 1 I.MS] II '■ 1 : f f i • f|!i ;> ;■-. i' B ' ' ' ij|' (; |ji fl \ . 1 ll i ' I'i i ; ^^:' 1 ■■ ; 1 :■ ■ ' ; ■ V ' 1 fRS'Elh -^ . , ■• :!li|:5 i i f ' a ' ' i / ■'. n h \ ;■ f ^ !!■ H"! \ k ■{• ! ■ ■ ■ \ ; U> i' ^ir ', y '•'■' ;■ ,■ '{'i? \ ' : J ; i,r ;■ ' =: ■iim. ' ' * ' I I ' ' ?1 ' ?M!tl:;iii 1 ■ J mi 1 ■" "' ' ^i ■\ ^i! 1 .. '} ( »■■':, '-:-' ■ <,i 1:! • \ ■ ! ii' ¥ '' • :\\ • ■ 1 ■ 1 : ! ' , ",' ':!':: J li l: ■J !■■ ■:■■ ■U: ■■1 k' ^ 1' sir ^5 i-i IB^ Is • I: '\ HISTORY OF TH£ from Brazil, was driven by ftrefs of weather into this ifland, and finding refrefhments on it, the mailer and feamen, on their arrival in England^ made fo favourable a report of the beauty and fertility of the country, that Lord Ley (afterwards Earl of Marlborough, and Lord High Treafurer) immediately obtained from King James the Firft a grant of the ifland to himfelf and his heirs in perpetuity. CouRTEEN hinifelf was a man of extenfive views and mj^nificent projedls. He immediately began (probably under the patronage of Marl- borough) toformideasofeftablifhinga colony iij the diftant but promifing territory. Having en- gaged about thirty perfons to fettle in the ifland, and furniflied them with tools, provifions, and neceffaries of all kinds for planting and fortifying the country, he appointed William Deane their governor, and fent them away in a fl;jip called the fViUiam and John, commanded by John Powell. They arrived fate in the latter end of the year 1624, and laid the foundations of a town, which, in honour of the fovereign, they denomi- nated James-Town J and thus began the firtt Englilh fettlement in the ifland of Barbadoes. For fome time previous to this, it had be- come fafhionable in England, for men of high rank and diftindion to engage in fea adventures, proclaiming \ , ,f- ' ", ,ef into it, the ngland^ ity and [erwards reafurer) the Firft . heirs in extenfive mediately of Marl- colony iij laving en^ the iiland, lions, and d fortifying Deane their flVip called by John Ltter end of isofatown^ Ley denomi- ;an the firtl farbadoes. it had be- |men of high adventures^ proclaiming I. WEST INDIES. 319 proclaiming themfelves the patrons of coloni- chap. zation and foreign commerce. In the lift of thofe who contributed to the Britifh fettlements in Virginia, New England, the Bermuda iflands, and other places in the new world, may be found the names of many of the firft nobility and gentry of the kingdom. Among others who diftinguifhed themfelves in fuch purfults, at the time that Barbadoes was thus planted by a private mer- chant, was James Hay, earl of Carlifle. This nobleman was at that jundure engaged in the eftablifhment of a colony in the iiland of St. Chriftopher (as we Ihall hereafter have occafion more particularly to relate) and, either not know- ing of the Earl of Marlborough's patent, or con- ceiving that it Interfered with his own preten- fions (Ifjy he applied for and obtained, in the firft year of Charles I. a warrant for a grant, by letters patent under the great feal of England, of all the Charaibean illands including Barbadoes; but when the grant came to be adtually pafled, the Earl of Marlborough oppofed it, on the ground of priority of r'^ht. The difpute between thefe noble lords continued for a confidcrablc {i) It is faid that he had obtained from James I. a grant, or warrant for a grant, under the great feal, of all the Cha- raibean iflands, which the king erc£ted into a province by the name of Carliola, on the model of the palatinate of Dur/iam. time; < j' i!if <; i I '■ 'H* ■ 1 j! ■i . I 'i !•! 111!) I [il 1 ' - '! I , ! Il1i' \ . ;■; '■ •ik il' 1 i ; •jii ii: i H ^^ k li ' tH, .* t u-j w BOOK III. mi in! HISTORY OF THE time ; at length the contending parties thought it prudent to compromife the matter, and, on the Earl of Carlifle's undertaking to pay the annual lum of ;^.30o to the Earl of Marlbo- rough and his heirs for ever, Marlborough waved his patent, and, in confcquence of this arrange- ment, on the 2d of June 1627, the Earl of Car- lifle's patent pafled the great feal, who thereupon became fole proprietor (cj. During CcJ Among other claufes in this grant arc the following. " Further know ye, that we, for us our heirs and fucceflbrs, have authorized and appointed the faid James Earl ot Cat Iijkf '•■ and his heirs (of whofe fidelity, prudence, juftice, and wifdom, we have great confidence) for the good and happy government of the faid province, whether for the publick fe- curity of the faid province or the private utility of every man, to make, ere&f and fct forth, and under his or their iignet to publidi, fuch laws as he the faid Earl of CarliJIe, or his heirs, with the conjent, ajfetit^ and approhatim of the free inhabitants of the faid province or the greater part of them^ tlureunto to be called, and in fuch form as he or they in his or their difcretion fliall think tit and heft. And thefe laws mufl all men for the time being, that do live within the limits of the faid province, ob- ferve ; whether they be bound to fea, or from thence return- ing to EngLmdy or any other our dominions, or any other place appointed, upon fuch impofitions, penalties, imprifon- mcnt, orreflraint that it behoveth, and the quality of the of- fence requireth, either upon the body, or death itfelf, to be executed by the faid James earl of Carlfle^ and by his heirs, or by his or their deputy, judges, juflices, magiftrates, offi- cers, and miiiifters, according to the tenor and true meaning oJ tliefe prefcnts, in what caufe focver, and Vith fuch power 9& lOUgUt [\d, on lay the ^arlbo- \ waved irrange- I of Car- lereupon During following. \ fucceffors, t\oiCarl{fiet uftice, and I and happy E publick fc- if every man, heir fignet to or his heirs, inhabitants of '0 to he calleclt Ifcretion fliall for the time irovince, ob- iience returri- or any other iies, imprifon- aity of the of- itfelf, to be by his heirs, igiftratej, offi- true meaning ihfuch power ' i> mi \n\ N m j(-' .}.,. iff ''^ 1 1 i 1 1 ' i.t Mi M : , 1 i 1, WEST INDIES. Sai During this contcft about the difpofal r>f chap. countries mofl of which were at that time in ^* as to him the fald Jamit cnrl u{CarV>Jle, or his lieir, fliall fecm beft ; and to difpofe of offeiicts or r ou whatloe vcr, cither by fea or land, whether before jud;i^.nent received, or after remit- ted, freed, pardoned or foru ven ; and to do and to perform all and every thing and things, which to the fulfilling of juf- tice, courts or nKimifr ot procoeJing in their tribunal, may or doth belong or appertain, although exprefs mention of them in thefe prtfents be not made, yet we have granted full power by virtue of thefe prcfents therein to be made ; which laws fo abfohitcly proclaimed, and by flrength of right fupported as they are granted, we will, enjoin, charge, and command all and every ftibjeft and liege people of us, our heirs and Aicceflbrs, fo far as them they do concern, inviola- bly to keep r.nd obferve, under the pains therein expreflcd ; fo as notwithllandiiig the aforcfaid laws be agreeable and not repugnant unto reafon, nor againil it ; but as convenient and agreeable as may be to the laws, flntutes, cudoms, and rights of our kingdom of England.*'-—^'' We will alfo, of our princely grace, for us, our lieirs and fucceflbrs, ftraightly charge, make, and ordain, that the /aid province be of our allegiance, and tliat all and every fubjeft and liege people of us, our heirs and fucccfTors, brought or to be brought, and their children, whether there born or afterwards to be born, become natives and Aibjefts of us, our heirs and fuccefTors, and be as free as t!iey tliat were born in Eni(lar.d\ and fo their inheritance within our kingdom of England, or other our dominions, to feek, receive, take, hold, buy, and polfefs, and ufe and enjoy them as his own, and to give, fell, alter* and bequeath them at their pleafure; and alfo fretfy, quietlyy and peaeeabfyy to have andfojjefs all the liberties, franchifes, and privileges (f this kingdom^ and them to ufe and enjoy as liege people of England, whether born, or to be born, without im- pediment, moleftation, vexation, injury or trouble of us our heirs and fucceflbrs, any (latute, a£t, ordinance, or provifo, to the contrary notwithftanding." Vol. I. Y the / m.\ 'I • !:M| 1i| Pll*' I ■■ ■J i A n I M A ' H, rjl I] i i M( I 'li .1 1 ' . 1 i i 1 ( ■ 1 i^ ik 1 I ( 32» h' II ^ .'; I n I . HISTORY OF THE the hands of their proper owners, the Charaibes; the man, who alone had the merit of annexing the plantation of Barbadocs to the crown of Englanil, feems to have been fliamcfuUy ncg- leftcd. The Earl of Marlborough, having fe- cured to himfclf and his poflcrity, the gratifica- tion I have mentioned, defertcd him ; and the Lord Carlifle, having done him premeditated in- juiy, became his irreconcileable enemy. Courteen, however, found a friend in William Earl of Pem- broke, who reprcfented his cafe in fuch a light to the King, as to obtain a revocation of Carlifle's patent, and a grant to himfelf in truft for Cour- teen. ' \ But the hopes of this worthy citizen were of fliort continuance. The Earl of Carlifle was, at ■ that junfture,abfcnt from the kingdom, a circum- ftance which gave fome colour to his charge of in- judice and precipitancy in the proceeding. On his return to England, he complained that he had been condemned and deprived of his pro- perty unheard j and the monarch on the throne, who fcems, through the whole of his unfortunate reign, rather to have wanted refolution to purfue the right path, than fagacity to difcern it, trod back his ground a fecond time; for unable to re- fift the clamorous importunity of a worthlefs fa- vourite, he aftually annulled the grant to the Earl of Pembroke, and, by fecond letters patent to liaraibcs ; annexing crown of uWy ncg- laving ie- ; gratifica- . and the ditated "m- Courtecn, x:\ ofPem- h a liglit to ,f Carliile's t for Cour- zen were of rlille was, at m, a circum- chargeofin- leding. O'^ |ned that he of his pro- the throne, unfortunate ion to purfue [cern it, trod unable to re- worthlels fa- orant to the letters patent to WEST INDIES. 313 to the Earl of Carlifle, again reftorcd to him the chap. privileges of which he had himfclf, a fliort time *• before, deprived him. Thus by an acl of power, which its repug- nancy and abfurdity alone rendered illegal, the Earl of Carliflo again found himfclf lord para- mount of Baibudocsj and in order completely I ruin all the inlercfts in the colony of his com- petitor, he proceeded to diftribute the lands to fuch perfons as chofe.to receive grants at his hands on the terms propofed to them. A fociety of London merchants f(Jj accepted ten thoufand acres, on conditions which promifed great ad- vantage to the proprietor i but they were allowed the liberty of fending out a perfon to prcfide over their concerns in the colony, and they made choice for this purpofe of Charles Woolferftone, who repaired to the illand, accompanied with fixty-four perfons, each of whom was authorized to take up one hundred acres of land. These people landed on the fifth of July, 1628, at which time Courteen's fettlement was ia a very promifing condition ; but Woolferftone de- clared it an encroachment and ufurpation, and being fupported by the arrival of Sir William (l n r l^^ III. 3a8 HISTORY OF THE BOOK wealth and profperlty, began to revive his clairtiS as hereditary proprietor ; and, entering into a treaty with Lord Willoughby of Parham, con- veyed to that nobleman all his rights by leafe for twenty-one years, on condition of receiving one half the profits in the mean time ; but juftly apprehending that the refident planters might difpute his pretenfions, he very readily concurred with Lord Willoughby in foliciting a comniiflion for the latter, as chief governor, under the fane- tion of regal authority (hj» This, though an abfolute derelidtion of the proprietarylhip, was afked and obtained j and the Lord Willoughby, thus commiflioned, em- barked for his government J and, in confideration of the royal appointment, was received by the in- habitants, who were warmly attached to the King's intercft, with refpeft and obedience. It feems probable, that at his firft coming, he faid nothing of his leafe from Carlifles trufting rather to future management for the re-efta- blifhrncnt of that lord's pretenfions, than to an open avowal of them on his arrival. We are told, however, by Lord Clarendon, that he ob- tained from the planters a promife of a cbntribu- ^:i , >i -1 Bi H UMi i 1 (h) When this application was made, the King was in the hands of the parliament; the commiilion therefore, with his Majefty's | rivity and approbation, wasHgned by the Prince of Wales, at that time in Holland. tion [S claims into a Ti, con- by leaCe receiving .ut juftly ;rs migl^t concurred ^miviiflion r the fane- ion of tlie inedi and loned, eni- )nfideration d by the in- ed to the ;dience. It ng, he faid ; trufting the re-efta- than to an ^l We are that he ob- a contribu- Kingwas'mthc krefore, with his Id by the Prince WEST INDIES. tion to the proprietor j but before it was carried into effed:, the regal authority was abolilhed in England, and Barbadoes reduced to the obe- dience of the new republick, by whom another governor was appointed. On the redoration of Charles II. and the re- eftablifhment of the royal authority over all the Britifli dominions fij^ Lord Willoughby, who had eight or nine years of his leafe unexpired, applied to the King for leave to return to his government of Barbadoes. To this application no objeftion would have been made by the inha- bitants, if his lordfliip had confidered himfelf merely as reprefentative of the crown ; but his connexion and contract with the Earl of Carlille, were by this time fufficiently undcrftood by the planters, who faw with aftonifhment that they were regarded by thofe great lords as mere tenants at will of their poflefiions. They foUcited there- fore the King's fupport and protedion. " They pleaded," fays Clarendon, " that they were the King's fubjeds ; that they had repaired to Barba- (^1) On the 1 8th of February, 1661, his Majefty honoured thirteen gentlemen of Barbadoes with the dignity of baronet- age, in confideration of their fufferings and loyalty during the civil war: They were, Sir John Colleton, Sir James Modiford, Sir James Drax, Sir Robert Davers, Sir Robert Hacket, Sir John Yeamans, Sir Timothy Thornhill, Sir John Witham, Sir Robert Legard, Sir John Worfum, Sir John Rawdon, Sir Edwyn Stede, Sir Willoughby Chamberlayne. does 3«9 ';i .1 1 .1 i ! i n-^ It "i I p ttHIn 330 mm f. ' f'i'' ij ;.>i li ' HISTORY OF THE docs as to a defolate place, and had by their in- duftry obtained a livelihood there, when they could not with a good confcience ftay in England ; that if they fhould now be left to thofe lords to ranfom themfelves and compound for their eftates, they mufl leave the country, and the plantation he deftroyed, which yielded his Majefty fo great a revenue." Refpefting the charter granted to the earl of Carlifle, they infilled pofitively that it was void in law j and they made two humble propofitions to the King, either that his Majefty would give them leave to inftitute in his name, but at their own coft, a procefs in the Exchequer for trying the validity of the earl's patent j or that he would leave thofe who claimed under it (for the fecond Earl of Carlifle dying in the interim, had bequeathed his rights in the Weft Indies to the earl of Kinnoul) to their legal remedy, abfo- ?utely denying that either the late or former Lord Carlifle had fuftained the fmalleft expence in fettling the colony. Instead of confenting to either of thofe moft reafonable propofitions, the King ordered enquiry to be made into the feveral allegations and claims of the parties concerned, by a com- mittee of the privy-council j before whom fome of the planters being heard, one of them, in order more readily to induce the King to take the fo-« vereignty of the ifland into his own hands, of- fcred^ I i, ■'i,ii \ -till 4' I f J- 1 ' !■ . ' their m- hen they England ; fe lords ta ;eir eftates, plantation ;y fo great granted to vely that it ^o humble his Majefty 1 his name, Exchequer ent J or that mder it (for the interim, eft Indies to medy, abfo- former Lord expence in ler of thofe Ling ordered al allegations by a com- ; whom fome hem, in order take the fo- il hands, of- fcred^ WEST INDIES. fered, in the name of the inhabitants, to confent, in that cafe, to lay an impofition of fo much in the hundred on the produce of their eftates, out of which his Majefty's governor might be honour- ably fupported, and the King difpofe of the over- plus as he fhould think fit. To a monarch of Charles's difpofition, this was too tempting a propofition to be refifted. We are informed that his Majefty received the offer very grac'wujly ; " and the next care of the committee," adds the noble hiftorian, who was himfelfof that body, "was to make fome computation, that might be depended upon, as to the yearly revenue, that would arife upon the impofition within the ifland." But the planters, when called up the next day to give fa- tisfadion in this particular, inlifted that Mr. Kendall, the perfon who had made the offer, had no authority to undertake for them, or the inha- bitants within the ifland ; and the utmoft they could be brought to promife for themfelves was, that they would ufe their endeavours with their friends in the ifland, to fettle fuch a revenue on the crown as the circumftances of the colony would admit of, which they faid the aflembly alone was competent to determine. The profped of a revenue, though diftant and uncertain, brought forward the creditors of the Earl of Carlifle, the patentee, who was in- debted, it feems, at his death, in the fum of ^ SojOoo, «• ^ I? : , . v.; iii J ' 33» HISTORY OF THE I ■ BOOK £^. 80,000, and they had no hopes of being paid "'• but from the profits of his Weft Indian poflef- fions. The heirs of the Earl of Marlborough likevvife put in their claim for the arrearage of the annuity of ;^. 300, granted under the original compromife which I have before mentioned ; and the Lord Willoughby infifted at the fame time on receiving a moiety of whatever profits might arife during the remainder of the term yet unexpired in his leafe. The other moiety, dur- ing that time, and the whole in reverfion, was claimed by the Earl of Kinnoul. To fatisfy thefe feveral claimants, and fecure a perpetual revenue to the crown, was a work of difficul .y, and its accomplifliment feems to have been the fole aim of the King's minifters ; by whom, after a tediouF but partial inveftigation (confider- ing the colony as wholly at the King's mercy) it was finally ordered, that the Lord Willoughby fhould immediately repair to his government, and infift on the grant and eftabliihment by the aflembly of a permanent and irrevocable reve- nue of four and half per cent, to be paid in fpe- cie, on all dead commodities, the growth of the illand, (hipped to any port of the world ; the money arifing therefrom to be applied as fol- lows : First, towards an honourable and immediat« provifion for the Earl of Kinnoui, vho, it was allcdged. ng paid poflef- borough arage of : original ntioned ; the fame er profits ; term yet iety, dur- ;rfion, was and fecure a work of ms to have 5;bywhom» ,n (confider- 's mercy) it Uloughby overnment, [nent by the .cable reve- Ipavd in fpe- ■owth of the world; the hlied as fol- Id immediata .-;ho, it was allcdged. WEST INDIES, alledged, had faarificed his fortune in the King's fervice, and who covenanted, on fuch provifion being fecured to him, to furrender the Carlille patent to the crown : Secondly, towards fatisfaftion and full dlf- charge of the Earl of Marlborough's annuity: Thirdly, it was ftipulated that the furplus Ihould be divided equally between the creditors of the Earl of Carlille and the Lord Willoughby, during the term yet unexpired of his lordfliip's leafe. On the expiration thereof, the remainder, after providing £. 1,200 per annum for the King's governor for the time being, was ordered to be paid among the faid creditors till their demands were fully fatisfied and difcharged : Fourthly, on the extinction of tliofe feveral incumbrances, it was ftipulated that the whole re- venue, fubjeft to the charge of >C- 1^200 per annum to the governor, fliould be at the difpolal of the crown. On thefe terms it was underftood that the pro- prietary government was to be diflblved, and that the planters were to confider then elves as legally confirmed in pofleffion of their eftates ; and to carry into effed the important point, on which the whole arrangement depended (the grant of a perpetual revenue by the affembly) Lord Wil- loughby returned to his government in 1663. It is not wonderful that the planters, on his lordfliip's 331 C HAP. 'Ml 111 r ;■! i< !- ■: W" k I' '/ ! m HISTORYOFTHE BOOK lordfhip's arrival, though devotetf to the interefts III. of the crown, fhould have loudly murmured at the condud and determination of the Britllh government in the progrcfs and conclufion of the whole bufinefs. Clarendon himfelf confeffcs, that the grant to Carlifle was voidable by law. The King therefore laid them under no great obligation in obtaining a furrender of it. Many of the planters had been obliged to quit their native country in confequcnce of their exertions in fupport of the royal caufc during the civil war : by the late fettlcment they perceived a re- gard expreired towards every intereft concerned but their own; and the return which they met with, both for their former ferviccs, and alfo for augmenting the trade, revenue, and dominion of the parent ftate by their recent labours, was a demand of a contribution, which they ftated would amount to ten per cent, on the clear pro- fits of their ellates for ever. But their complaints, though well founded, were unavailing. The King and his governor were too deeply interefted to recede. The alfem- bly was called upon to forge ciiains for them- felvesand their children j and if perfuafion lliould fail, force was not only at hand, but was adlually employed to compel them to fubmiflion. Co- lonel Farmer, who led the party in oppofition, was urrefted and fent prifoner to England, on a charge Ir ilfe interefts murec\ at le Britllb lonoftUe confeffcs, leby law. V- no great it. Many quit their ir exertions ^g the civil ceived a re- \ concerned :hthey met and alfo for nd dominion ibours, was a I they ftatcd the clear pro- Lell founded, l\ iiis governor ;_ Thealfem- iins for them- Ifuafion n^ould ,t was adually imiflion. Co- in oppofition, Ingland, on a charge WEST INDIES. charge of mutiny and treafon, nor was he releafcd till after a tedious and fevere confinement. Awed by this example, and fenfible that no fupport could be cxpeded from the people at home, whofe privileges lay proftrate at the feet of the reftored monarch, the aflembly pafled an aft for the purpofes required of them; and their pof- terity dill bear, and it is apprehended will long continue to bear, the burthen of it fkj ! The (ij I have thought it may be fatisfaftory to the reader to have an opportunity of perufing the a£t at large, which I therefore fubjoin, premifing that the claufe which exempts the lands called the 10,000 acres, and alfo that which ftipu- lates for the building a lelTions-houfe, and a prifon, and pro* viding for all other public charges incumbent on the go- vernment, out of the monies to be raifed by the ait, have been equally difregarded by the crown. The feiCon-houfe and prifon were not finifhed until the year 1 730, and the ex- pence (upwards of ;^. 5,000) was then defrayed by a fpecJal tax on the inhabitants ; and there was raifed by other taxes no lefs a fum than j^. 19,440. is. ^d. in three years (viz. from 1745 to 1 748) for the repair of the fortifications. jln ACT for fettling the Impoji on the Commodities of the Growth of this lfland\ palled the 12th of Sep- tember, 1663.— N° 36. WHEREAS our late Sovereign Lord Charles the Firft, of blefled memory, did, by his letters patent under the great feal of England, grant and convey unto James Eirl of Car- lifle and his heirs for ever, the propriety of this ifland of Bar- badoes: And his facred Majefty that now is having by purchafe inverted himfelf in all the rights of the faid Earl of Carlifle, and in all other rights which any other perfon may claim from that patent, or any other; and thereby, more 33 I \ ' \ J ! . i ii il "i- >I i i'l I ■ ! !! / HI. 35« HISTORYOFTHE 1 o o K The condudb of the Lord Chancellor Clarcn* don in tliis affair, wlio indeed ajipcars to have been more inimediatcly and particularly, hnth t;ikcii this iflatid into his royal protertion. And liis moft cxcilicnt Mnji-fty having, l)y letters patent inuler the grer.t fcal oi L^ngland, bearing date tlie tvvelhliof June, in the fifteenth )ear of his reign, appointed his excellency Francis Lord Willoughhyof Parham, captain-general and chitfgovcrnor of Harl-adoei and all the Carihbee iflands, witii full power and authority to grant, confirm, and afTure to the inhabitants of the fame, ar.d their heirs, for ever, all lands, teivenienl;;, and heredita- ments under his Majelty's great feal appoin't-l for Barbadoes and tire reft of the Caribbee iflands, as, rtl.ition being there- unto had, may and doth more at large appear. And whereas, by virtue of the faid Earl of Carlifle's patent, divers go- vernors and agents have been fcnt over hither, with authority to lay out, fet, grant, or convey in parcels the lands within this ifland, to fuch perfons as they fiiould think fit ; which was by them, in their refpeftive times, as much as in them lay, accordingly performe(*. And whereas many have not their grants, warrants, and ether evidences for their faid lands, and others, by reafon of the ignorances of thole, want fufJi- cient and lepal words to create inheritances in them and their heirs, and others that never recorded their grants, or warrants, and others that can make no proof of any grants or war- rants they ever had for their lands; and yet have been long and quiet poflefllirs of the fame, anil bellowed great charges thereon. And whereas the acknowledgment of forty pounds of cotton per head, and other taxes and compofitions formerly raifed to the Earl of Carlifle, was held very heavy : For a full remedy thereof for all the defefts afore-nlated, and quieting the pofltflions and fettling the tenures of the inhabi- tants of this ifland ; Be it enafted by his eycellency Francis | Lord Willoughby of Parham, &c. his council, and gentle- men of the alTembly, and by the authority of the fame, that I iiotwithftanding the defeats afore*related all the now right< full r CUrcn- to bi^vc been , this ifl-^"'i cnt t^^>-<^y of Enj!,lani«, 1, year of his V\UouohV.yo( of \iarl.-a mv ■i \ J I I 1 1 ■Hi I HiStoftV 01- TH» ,f on to the clehtl. article of his impeachment , o o K oecafion to the e.& ,^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ,^67. by the Houfe ot >-onm ^^^^^^ III. L.M his heirs and lucc.ilor. lor v^. ^ ^ .^^, ^,, ^unjUly pmy your Excellency tht U a^ wiUov.?hby o . parham, captain-gencr^J »" ;^^; .^^,^, ^jiands, and by and Barhadoes. and all other the Canbb ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ' i.h the confcnt of the couna a^ th g^^^ ^^^^^ .^^ fembly, reprdcntat.ves of tin >«- • ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^ , the fame. That an .mpoft or cuftmn ; ^,^^,„,duks of Hu. lication hereof, raifcd "Pon the na ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ifland. after the ^'•'>^-"""^; i:'\hnt is to fay, «pon a 1 hereafter fct down f ,^^^2^ '.r' dnce of this -Uland, aead con.n,cdUles of the .ro^^^^^^^ «n ^^ ^^ ^,^,^ ^ove- J a half infreclc tore-ry^^-/-^^^^^^^ ,,^ ,„ , ,, And be it further '^"^^f ,''X^.^,,eutioncd, on uhich the 3forefaid,Thatifany goo^^sbdbre n u ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ faidcuftom is >7"*^Yr>«nto any boat or other vcfTei, ,,,e hereafter ^^^^^^^^.^^^^ part/ beyond the feas the to the intent to be ^•;"'^:^ "! ' ^^^^ paid/compounded for, r,i, ln,pofUion dne f- "^f , ^ols or' their deputies, or or lawfully ^--^-^'^, "^ ^In.iflioners for that purpo „ot having ajreed wuh the c" ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^.^^^^^ ,„ be appointed, oV^e.*^ J-^ ^ ^^c,, that then, and the true intent and mcango^^^^^^^f^,^ ^^^^ f,om thenceforth. «f ^ . ^^ ,he King, and the other thereof to be to o_«r Sovereign L ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ , ,„, to him that .ball ^-^^"^^^^Z -hicH. grants ere left to court of record wuhm ^^^ ;^^; ^ ' . i, f,U confidence and your Excellency's own - ^ ^ ,' /i ke fuch courfe for the aflurance tl, ' vo«r Excellency J. ,„^ colleftiugaud , .thcring of the lai ^^^^^ ^ . .ii. I Kil. Trom IMS TVIaicfty, \, aiu\ be '<■ ; amlbya"^ t^en of the ^^' . authority ot and after pub; .nodmcsof tin. r and form as ^^ 10 fay, «v:"" 7 e of this »flani»» ^,s for ever, four ',,,, or other vcff. leyond the fe*s, f^ rcompoundcdfo, ' the\r deputies, or^ L for th«^ r"^P^^ „cv, ttoithen, an^» tUeit. the moiety Kthcfc.mem-|y aTcvants r.re left to W E S T I N D I E S. 339 From his anlwer to tluit »irticlc, I have colle»^ed chap. (chiefly in liis own words) great part of the account that charge, duty or fees, as iiuiy be mod for the eafc of the lieojileof this ifland. Provided ncvcrthtlt-l's, tliat neither this a(^, nor any thing therein contained, lliall extend or be coiiHrucd to bar his Majtfty, or his faiil Excellency, from his or their ri?,ht to any land granted, or any ii\croacliments madciipoii the lea, fince tiic )ear one thoiifand fix luwuired and fifty, or to any lands iommoiilj culled or hivwn ly the name nf The Ten Thouj',in,l Acrei ; the merchants land, granted by the late i'.arl of Carlille, or his father, unf) Maimaduke Rawden, Efquire, William Perkins, Alexander Banniller, Edmund Forfler, Captain Whcatley, and otiicrs their allbciates, on certain covenants and conditions: Provided nlfo, thnt the grmvlh and protluce of the faid lands^ vtentioned in the preceding provl/o, be not liable to any tax^ impoji, or cujltitiy impofcd by this aH ; any thing in the faint frcming to the cmtrary nolviithjianding. And be it further cnafted by the authority aforefaid, Thnt one aiH: made the leventeenth day of January one thoufand fix hundred and fifty, intituled, An &&. importing the cuftoms impofed and granted by the council, and gentlemen of the alfembly, to the Right Honourable Francis Lord Willoughby of Parham, Lord Lieutenant-General of the Province of Carolina, and Governor of Barbadoes; asalfo, his Lordfliip's confirmation of the right of the inhabitants of this ifland to their fcveral cftates, with the tenure and rent thereon created, be, and is from henceforth repealed, made void, fruftrate, of none effeft, to all intents, conftruftiom, and purpofes what- foever. In 1684, the aflembly of this ifland propofed to farm the four and a half per cent, for eleven years, for the annual rent of;^.6,ooo fterling, to be paid into the exchequer; the gover* Dor and council concurred, and it was a,', reed that ^.7,000 Z a currency t Nf^ I ■ I 540 IV m II HISTORY OF THE that I have given ; and there cannot be a flronger demonftration of the tendency of power to per- vert the judgment, and cloud the fiicukics of the wifcftand vvorthieft of men, than the juftifi- cation he has offered. He even claims great me- rit in not having advifed the king to poflefs him- felf of the whole ifland of Barbadoes, without any regard to the planters or creditors concerned in theiflue. ., ^j:-;:, -^ ;ft»4-";. r -iir' The profccution of this great ftatefman, however, on this account, was of no advantage to the fuffering planters ; for in this, as in many other cafes, the redrefs of a grievance, and the punifliment of its author, were objeds of very dif- tind confideration. Thofe who fought the ruin currency per annum fliould be raifed by a tax of twenty- one pence per acre, on all lands amounting to ten or more acres. Thj towns and traders to be taxed £-Soo fterlinnj. An adl palTeil March 19th 1684, for this piirpofe, and was fent home ; but the lords of the committee for trade and planta- tions reported, that the commiffioners of the cuftoms with whom they had advifed, were of opinion that they could make no cttimate of the duty, until they had experienced the produce thereof, under the then management, for one year at leaf>''"S^.^ in 1680, that hjs U for a rcafonable WEST INDIES. of Clarendon, had nothing lefs in view than the removal of oppreffion, from fubjeds fo remote as thcfe of Barbadoes. . • . . In thus tracing the origin, progrcfs, and termi- nation of the proprietary government in this ifland, I have purpofely chofcn not to break the thread of my narration, by recording any inter- mediate events of a nature foreign to that fub- jeft. Soon after the cftabliflimcnt of the Com- monv;«alth in England, circumftances however arofe, refpefting this colony, which have produced fuch effeds on the general commerce of Great- Britain, as cannot be overlooked in an hiftorical and commercial lurvey of her Weft Indian plan- tations, and of which I fl:iall now give fome account. ^' The reader has been fulFiciently apprized of the attachment of the Barbadians towards the re- gal government. One of the firfl adls pafled by the aflembly, after the arrival of the Lord Wil- loughby for the firft time, (1647) v»'as a declara- tion of their allegiance and fidelity to the unfor- tunate Charles the Firft, at that time a prifoner to the army j and on the death of that monarch, the popular refentment againft his perfecutors ran fo high in this ifland, that the few planters who were fufpedlcd to be in the intereft of the pariiament, thought it neceflary to feck protec- tion in England. To punifli fuch ftubborn defenders of a ruined Z 3 paufe, J4I ! B i): J ' ii< n 34* HISTORY OF THE 38 o 6 It caufe, the parliament refolved, in 1651, to Tend a '"• powerful armament for the redudion of all the Engliflb colonies in America and the Weft Indies ; but particularly Barbadoes, at that time the moft important and hoftile of them all. Many, indeed, were the motives which Infti- gated the parliament to this determination. From the beginning of the commotions in the mother- Countrjs the planters, having no other means of conveying the produce of their lands to Europe, had employed in this neceflary navigation, many of the fliips and feamen of Holland j and at this juncture the Englifh government entertained very hoftile intentions towards the fubjedts of that re- publick. The redudion of Barbadoes would at once punifli the colonifts, and enable the Englilli parliament to deprive the Dutch of fo profitable an intercourfe with them; it would alfo enrich the treafury of the new^'^vernment, by the con- fifcation of many valuable (hips and cargoes in the harbours of that and the other iflands. The parliament had reafon likewife, it wasfaid, to ap- prehend that Prince Rupert, with a fquadron of the King's ftiips, was about crofling the At- lantick, to fecure all the Englifli American pof- fefiions for Charles the Second. Ayscue, who commanded the parliament's forces employed on this expedition, arrived at Barbadoes on the i6th of October 1651, and fucceedcd to Tend a )f all the ft Indies j ; the moft hich infti- on. From le mother- means of to Europe, tion, many and at this •tained very 5 of that re- es would at the Englifti (b profitable alfo enrich by thecon- 1 cargoes \n lands. The sfald, toap- a fquadron fing the Afr- merican poi- parliament's 1, arrived at ■r 1 65 1, and fuccecdcd WEST I N P I E S. lucceeded at length in bringing the ifland to ca- pitulate (/J : But this was not efFedled without great difficulty ; for he met with fo ftout a refift- ance, as determined his employers at home im- mediately to enforce a fcheme they had projedted a fhort time before, of altering the whole iyftem of the Barbadian commerc: ; liy prohibiting by an adt of the Commonweal ui, all foreign fliip- ping from trading with ihe Englifli plantations j and not permitting any goods to be imported into England, or any 01 its dependencies, in any other than Englilh bottoms; or in fliips of that European nation of which the merchandize im- ported was the genuine growth and manufa6ture, And thus arofe the famous navigation aft of this kingdom ; for, immediately after the reftoration, its provifions were adopted by Charles the Second, with this addition, that the mafter and three- fourths of the mariners, fliould alfo be Englifh lubjefts. . ' , • Whatever advantages the general commerce and navigation of England may have derived flj Ayfcue agreed, among other things, that the govern- ment fhould confift of a governor, council, and aflembly, according to the ancient and ufual cuftom of tiie ifland. The aflembly to be chofen by a free and voluntary eleftion of tlie freeholders of the idand in the feveral pariflies. That no taxes, cuftoms, imports, loans, or excife, fliould be laid, nor levy made on any of the inhabitants of this ifland, with- out tlieir confent in agtneral aflembly ; and that all laws that had been made by general alTemblies, not repugnant to the laws of England, fliould be good. . / Z /| from 343 f h^m '|:i 1:1^1 f. m 111: it J 344 :i JJi.'i .*! El I SI * '131 1 '.f fii m^ HISTORY OF THE from this celebrated law, it muft be allowed that its original framers were afluated by no better motives (as a great fmj writer hath obfcrved) than thofe of punifhing the planters, and clipping the wings of the Dutch. The inhabitants of Barbadoes, juftly confidering the law as a chaf- tifementinflided on them by the Commonwealth for their loyalty to Charles the Second, were filled witn amazement and indignation, on finding its provifions adopted and confirmed on the reftora- tion of that monarch. By the regulations of this aft, and the eftablifhment of the internal duty on their produce, of which I have fo largely fpoken, they thought themfelves treated with a rigour which bordered on ingratitude, and they predifted the decline of their population, agri- culture and wealth, from the effed of thofe mea- fures. How far their predidions have been ac- compliflied, a comparative (late of the illand at dilferent periods will demonftrate ; with which, and a few mifcellaneous obfervations, I fliall dif- mifs my prefcnt account. Barbadoes is fituatedin 13° 10' N. lat, and in longitude 59' W. from London. It is about twenty-one miles in length, and fourteen in breadth, and contains 106,470 acres of land, moft of which is under cultivation. The foil in the low lands is black, fomewhat reddifli in the Ihal- low parts J on the hills of a chalky marl, and near the fea generally fandy. Of this variety of foil, (mj Blackftone. the ed that ) better bfcrved) clipping Itants of a chaf- onwealth vera filled inding its le reftora- ons of this ;rnal duty fo largely Lted with a :, and they Ltion, agri- ; thole mea- e been ac- :he illand at ivith which, „ laialldif- K. lat. and It is about I fourteen in lot land, naoft le foil in the in the Ihal- liarl, and near iriety of foil* the N westindtes. the black mould is beft fuited for the cultiva- tion of the cane, and, with the aid of manure, has given as great returns of fugar, in favourable feafons, as any in the Weft: Indies, the prime lands of St. Kitt's excepted. That the foil of this ifland is, to a great degree, naturally fertile, we muft neccflarily admit, if we give credit to the accounts which are tranfmitted down to us, of its ancient population and opu- lence. We are affured, that about the year 1670, Barbadoes could boaft: of fifty thoufand white, and upwards of one hundred thoufand black in- habitants, whofe labours, it is faid, gave employ- ment to fixty thoufand tons of (hipping (n). I fufped that this account is much exaggerated. It cannot however be doubted, that the inha- bitants of this ifland have decreafed with a rapi- dity feldom known in any other country. I have now before me authentick returns of the num- ber of its whites in 1724, and of its negroes in 1753: the former confift;ed of no more than j eighteen thoufand two hundred and ninety-five, 1 the latter of fixty-nine thoufand eight hundred and (n) The earlieft planters of Barbadoes were fometimes re- Iproached with the guilt of forcing or decoying into flavery pe Indians of the neighbouring continent. The Hiftory of '.ik'c and Yarico, which the Speftator has recorded for the [ietcftation of mankind, took its rife in this ifland; but hap- kily this fpecies of flavery has been long fince aboliflied : and berliaps fuch of my readers as have fympathizcd with the pifortunate Yarico, may not be forry to hear that flie bore ■:i 34$ '111 . ■/I 0' ? J- Iff h'' 'I ' .Iff i ''il . 346 HISTORYOFTHE 1 o o K and feventy. In 1786 the numbers were fixteeii III. thoufand one hundred and lixty-feven whites, eight hundred and thirty-eight free people of co- lour, and fixty-two thoufand one hundred and fifteen negroes. It appears too that the annual produce of this iiland (particularly fugar) has decreafed in a much greater proportion than in any other of the Weft Indian colonies. Poftlethwayte ftates the crop of fugar, in 1736, at 22,769 hoglheads of 13 cwt. which is equal to 19,80c of 15 cwt, j and the author of the European Settlements^ publiflied in 1 761, calculates the average crop at 25,000 hogfheads. As the author firft quoted, gives a her misfortunes w ith greater philofophy than they liave hU therto faiicieii. The flory was firll related by Ligon, who (after praifing poor Yarico's excellent complexion, which, he fays, was " a bright bay :" and her fmall breafts •' with •• nipples of porphyrie") obferves, that " (he ciianc't after- *' wards to be with child by a Chriftian fervant, and being *' very great, walked down to a woodc, in which was a pond *' of water, and there, by the fide of the pond, brought her- «' felfe a-bed, and in three hours came home with the child •* in her arms, a lufty boy, frolicke and lively." The crime j of Inkle the merchant, however, admitsof nu palliation ; but it is ridiculous enough to hear Abbe Raynal (willing to im- prove upon Addifon) afcribe to it an intended revolt of alii the Negroes in Barbadoes, who, as he aflerts, moved iiy in- dignation at Inkle's monftrous cruelty, vowed with one ac- cord tlie deftru6lion of all the Whiles ; but their plot wail difcovered the night before it was to have been carried iiitol ilUndrl efFeft. The WJloire PhUo/.phique has a thoufand beauties ilg^^^ f but it grieves me to fay, that in point of hiftorical accuracy,! it is nearly on a level with the Hiftory of Robinfin Crufoe flfl ^ Tm Thumi. ' Y-^rXim preciff \h WEST INDIES. 547 precifc number, it is probable his ftatement was chap. grounded on good authority. If fo, the illand has fallen off nearly one-half in the annual growth of its principal ftaple. On an average of eight years (from 1740 to 1748) the exi)orts were 13,948 hogflieads of fugar, of 15 cwt. 12,884 puncheons of rum of 100 gallons, 60 hogfheads of melafles, 4,667 bags of ginger, 600 bags of cotton, and 327 gourds of aloes. The exports, on an average of 17 84, 1785 and 1786, had fallen to 9,554 hoglheads of fugar, 5,448 pun- cTieons of rum, 6,320 bags of ginger, 8,331 bags of cotton ; exclufive of fome imaller articles, as aloes, fweefmeflts, &c. of which the quantities are not afcertained. That the dreadful fucceflion of hurricanes, with which it has pleafed the Almighty to vifit this, and the other Weft Indian iflands, within the laft twelve years, has contributed to this great defalcation, cannot be doubted. The ca- pital of this iiland was fcarce rifen from the alhes to which it had been reduced by two dreadful fires, when it was torn from its foun- l (willing '^^ "',,■ dations, and the whole country made a fcene of ded revolt ot an ■ ; ^ ' ifterling. ■ prccifl It ere fixtecii -en whites, op\e of co- indred and duce of this •din a much of the Weft ,tes the crop heads of 13 15 cwt.i and ,„^5, pubim^ed rop at 25,000 quoted, gives a ,an tliey l^ave lu- ' ed by Ug^"^ ^'^;^ .niplexion, winch, „,all breafts " with (he chanc't after- •ervant, and being '^^.iVichwasapond pond, brought her- tome wuh the c hlld . 1 , '» The crime of no palliation-, but vnal(wilhngto;>^,; litem i ; ! ' wt II ■ (.•'. ;,. f| Ml HISTORY OF THE It might have been prcfumed, however, from the favourable feafons which have been experi- enced for the hifl three or four years, that the profpcA was at length beginning to briglitcn; but although, fince the failure of their fugar plantations, the inhabitants have found fome rcfource In the cultivation of cotton, it does not fccm probable, that any encouragement is capable of ever reftoring this ifland to its ancient fplendor and opulence i unlefs it be relieved from the heavy impofition of 4? per cent, on their exported produce, of the origin of which I have fo largely treated. It is to be hoped, that an enlightened minifter will one day arifc, who will have the courage and virtue to fignify to the fovereign, that it is neither becoming the dignity, nor confident with the character of the common fa- ther of all his fubjcfts, to infift on a tribute from a part of them, which, though nominally granted by themfclvcs, was affuredly obtained by fraud and oppreflion, and of which the continuance is a check to honefl: induftry, and perhaps the immediate caufe of the decline of this beautiful and once valuable colony. Bare ADO Es is divided into five dlftrifts, and] eleven parilhes ; and contains four towns, Bridge town, Ollins or Charles Town, St. James's (for merly called The Hole,) and Speight's Towni j Bridge Town, the capital, before it was deftroyeJ f^^^i by the (ires of 1766, confided of about fifteei hundrci U' m\ WEST INDIES. 349 wever, ivom jecn cxpcvi- tvs, tUat the to brig^^tcni : their lugar found lome ^^ it does not lent is capable icientfplendor ved from the their exported have fo largely an enlightened ) will have the ) the lovereign, be dignity, nor the common fa- 1 a tribute from a ominally granted btained by fraud I the continuance! and perhaps the I of this beautiful five diarifts, and] r towns, Bridge St. James's (for ' Speight's Town ,re it was dcftroye. d of about fifteei hundred hundred houlls, which were moftly built of chap. brick ; and it is iVill the fea*- jvovernment, and may be calLcl ihe chief rcfidence of the governor, who is provi.l^d with a country villa called Pil- grims, fituatcd within a mile of it : his falary was raifeil by Queen Anne from twelve hundred to two thoufand pounds /ict anfium, the whole of which is paid out of the exchequer, and charged to the account of the four and a half /»fr ceu/. duty. The form of the government of this ifland fo very nearly refembles that of Jamaica, which has already been defcribed, that it is unneceflary to enter into detail, except to obferve that the council is compofed of twelve members, and the aflembly of twenty-two. The moft impor- tant variation rcfpefts the court of chancery, which in Barbadoes is conftituted of the governor and louncily whereas in Jamaica the governor is fole chancellor. On the other hand, in Barba- does, the governor fits in council, even when the latter are adting in a legiilative capacity. This, in Jamaica, would be confidered improper and unconftitutional. It may alfo be obfervcd, that the courts of grand feflions, common pleas and exchequer, in Barbadoes, are diftind from each other, and not, as in Jamaica, united and blended in one fupreme court of judicature. . I fliall clofe my account of Barbadoes with the following authentick documents : An ^. il^ 1^. it! •J ; i li ;j n t I 3SO HISTORY OK THE Book III. An ACCOUNT of the Number of Vellels, their Toniia;;e and Niimbtr wards from the Ifland of BARHADOES to all Tarts of the World, l;88; vith the Species, Quantuits, and Value of their Cargoes, Infpctftor-General of Great Britain. Ch of bet\ acc( I i 'i I ! W •I .; JVbiibtr Bound, SHIPPING. SUGAR. RUM. MELASSES. N». 6G 3 54 4' ys I 243 Tons. Men. Cwt, qrs lb. Oa'lons. Gdllons. To Grrat Kritain — IrcUnd — — Amerlcai Slafei Br. Am. Colnnics Foreign W. Indirs Afiica — — il,2:i 3>7 6,4 1 6 3,182 5.^94 »7 2J 179 458 7 130,342 - 2,114 - r.,6c8 - 2,742 - 16 28,6?9 25,2CO 213,400 146,100 1,000 100 1,089 700 11,700 '1 Total — 26,917 1,942 137,766 - 16 415.489 11,489 Gil ^wt 5>43 12. 5.561 ] PRODUCE of the Ifland of BAR B A 'VOES exported for Scv( A. n SUGAR. M E L A S S E S. RUM. GI N( HJ.!i. Titcj. Barls. Hds. Tree J. I Ms. Trees. I!.'.rls. Bjgs anc 17S6 8,659 82 3,419 174 - 5,199 39 693 8,07 6,09 1 5.3'' 1 5>iS 17S7 11,929 183 2,415 «7 37 3,872 27 6:4 1788 10,309 63 3,674 .~ — 3,386 — 607 1789 9,021 96 4,520 — — 3,172 — 297 1790 9,0';8 123 2,935 — — 2,331 — 2') I 1 4' >-6 1791 11,333 60 2,346 30 — 3,ocS — 411 1 3.73 1 3.04 1792 17,073* 125 2,698 188 — 5,co4 — 512 • From this great Increafe in the Export of Sugnr, and Decreafe in thiB of tht j^] ia Europe, has encouraged the Cultivation of that Article on Plantations whid |„j fbrinel ACCOUNT of the Number of NEGROES in Barbadoes, and At-mount 1792, bct|ijiciufiye, A.D. No. of Slaves Do. imported. Amount of Taxes. "* 1786 62,115 5" X.10,.38 1+ 2l 1787 62,712 5*8 13,528 J5 >«4 12 44 178S 63,870 1.58s 8,382 1789 556 5.534 18 3 1990 64,068 131 13.48* 19 1791 63,250 426 6,203 a Hi «79» 64.330 744 9*443 19 3 1 N; groes.. 'with an Ell Tax on La| \tir Acre, llVhole is III* 'ir, ■ijl* Book HI. ijTC and Niitn\)er s^of tl'C World, t their Cargoes, M. MEL ASSES. Chap. I. WEST INDIES.' Jl* of Men (including their repeated Voyages) tliat cleared Out- betwecn the jth of January 1787 and the 5th of January according to the aiflual Prices la London, as made out by the 6?9 JCO |- 400 I IPO ,coo |. 100 .489 700 11,700 n>4^9 GINGER. owt. qrtt Ih.. COTTON. F U S T I C. lbs. 1,640,72? 65,150 5,561 a 18 1,705,975 Cwt. qis. lbs. 340 — 5 a45 — 5 MISCEL. ARTICLES. Value 45,948 19 1 35 7 10 38 s- 69 16 — 31 46,114 7 II TOTAL fa W i» Sterling Money ttgrteabit to itt London Mitrkft. C' '■ 'I- 425,570 4 R 11,511 15 10 23,117 n 4 18,080 6 — 107 — — g 15- 5^9,605 14 10 A'VOES exported, I for ScvenYear?, from 1786 to 179a, both inclufive, RUM GINGER. I ALOES. Ba^s and Barls. 8,070 6,095 5.3"'4 5,180 4'56S 3.735 3,046 Hds. Trees. Gourds. O I 409 f>n 30J 37* 475 770 5«S COTTON. Bags lbs. 8,864 10,511 1,894,365 1,317,840 i,i87,oS8 1,163,157 974,178 5,c6+ — 5" ■ 3>"'f^ — — i'S — and Decreafe in thJ of tht Minor Staples, it feems probable that the .irfVanccd Price of that Aiticle icon Plantations whiclB had formerly been abandoned or appropriated to a different Line of Culture. Sarbadoes» s"^ AlTiiount of the Public Taxes for Seven Years, from 1786 to 1792, bcti inclufive. Amount of Taxes. .10,13s 13,5^8 8,381 5.534 X3i48» 6,103 9i443 14 »5 II 18 19 1 19 ■;! 3 o Hi 3 5^ The Taxes thus levied on the Publlck confift of a Capitation Tnx on [Ngroes. A Tax on Sugar Mills, Dwelling Houfes, and Carriages; together Iwith an Excife, &c. on Wines imported. Befides :ill which there is a Parochial I Tax on Land amounting on Average throughout the Ifland to about Two Shilling* \hr Acre, and an Aflefl'ment in Labour for the Repair of the Highways. The I Whole it altogether exclufive of the heavy Duty of 4^^»r Ctnt, ta the Crrwn. \ : I' •:. ( il: II! 1.1 %i I I I :. ^ ■ ! '1 m-\'^ % ' I. ^1 t HISTORY OF T II K CHAP. II. ' Grenada and its Dependencies. Ftrjldijcovcryy name and inhabit ants. — French inva- JJon and ejlablijitment in 1 630. — H'^ar ixilh^ and extermination of the natives. — The ijland and its dependencies conveyed to the Count de Cerillac. — MiJcondtt£l and pinijhmcnt of the deputy -gover- nor. — The colony reverts to the croxvn of France. — > State of the ijland in 1 700. — And again hi 1762, when captured by the Englifli. — StipuJa' • tions in favour of the French inhabitants. — Firjl vieafures of the BritiJ/i government. — C/aini of the crown to levy a duty 0/* 4 J par cent, on produce exported. — Arguments for and objeSiions agalnjl the meafure. — Declfion of the court of King's Bench on this important quejlion. — Strl^ures on fame poftlons advanced by the lord-chicf-jujlice on this occafion. — TranfaHlons within the colony. — Royal iiiJlritH ions in favour of the Roman Ca- thoUck capltulants. — Internal diJJ'entlons. — De- fencelefsflate. — French invafton in lyjc).'-' Brave ., defence of the g arrifon. — Unconditional furrender. "' — Hardfliips exercifed towards the Englljli plan- ters and their creditors. — Redrefs given by the .-; ctmrt of France. — Grenada, iic. reflored to Great ' ■ Britain ncs. froich inva' fjnnd and its fe Cerillac— deputy -g'^'^'^^'' ^of France— ^ And again m liJfi.—Sllpu^^' bitants.—FirH ,^Claim of the cent, on produce hjeElions agalnft court of Kings ^^Str inures on lord-chicf-juflice llhin the colony. the Roman Ca- Viljentions.—De- \^;^^^^,^Brave Utionalfurrender. the EngliJ^i plan- \efs gi*^^^ ^y '^'^ |. repred to Great Britain \ I "►♦ • 1 1 yrr'^\: 1? .t r*<- 7 ^v WEST INDIES. 353 Britain by the peace of \']%i.-^Prefent ftate of chap. the colony in refpeSi to cultivatimiy produffions and i ^ • exports ; government and population. Post- script. Appendix. GRENADA was difcovered by, and received its name from, Chriftopher Columbus in his third voyage, in the year 1498. He found it poffeffed by a numerous and warlike people, amongft whom it does not appear that the Spaniards ever attempted to force a fettlement. They had a nobler prize to contend for on the continent, and a century elapfed before the other nations of Europe confidered the regions of the new world as countries, wherein all men might feize on what fuited their convenience, without any regard to the proper inhabitants. Thus the Charaibes of Grenada happily remained in peace- ful obfcurity until the year 1650, when the ava- rice and ambition of a reftlefs individual devoted them to deftrudion. This perfon was Du Parquet, the French governor of Martinico, nephew and heir of Def- nambuc, of whom memorable mention is made in the annals of St. Chriftopher. Notwithftand- ing that the French eftabhfhment in Martinico was itfelf of recent date, and that a great part of that iiland ftill remained uncultivated; and al- I though another ellabli(hment was, at the fame Vol. ?. A a time, m ! i 4 ■ •it %-:\. ii it m 1 1 r; ! ! ,^~ I*. S!4 HISTORY OF THfe :^- 1.1 S:f' H •«/ h.ii BOOK time, begun by the fame nation, in the lai^e and '"• fertile ifland of Guadaloupe, yet fuch was the fapacioufnefs of this people, that upwards of two hundred hardy ruffians were eafily colledted by Du Parquet's encouragement for an attempt on Grenada j and it is apparent from the nature and magnitude of the preparations, that it was ,con- fidered as an enterprize of difficulty and danger. The hiftory of this expedition, which took place in June 1650, is related at large by Father du Tertre, whofe account exhibits fuch a mon- ftrous mixture of fanaticifm and knavery in the condud of its leaders, as cannot be contem- plated without indignation and horror. Al- though it is evident that the French had not the fmalleft juftifiable pretence for this invafion, yet we find the commanders adminiftering the holy facrament, in the moft folemn manner, to all the foldiers on their embarkation j and again, on their landing, Du Parquet, caufing a crofs to be erefted, compelled them to kneel down before it, and join in devout prayer to Almighty God, for fuccefs to their enterprize. This commander feems hpwever to have had a few fcruples of confcience concerning the juf- tice of his proceedings i for, having been received and entertained with the utmoft kindnefs and cordiality by the natives (contrary to his expec- tation, and perhaps to his wifhes) he thought it Jieceffary t, ^. "^EST INDIES. lily of rlaf! bead, k,ej ""'''' '"'^S' V"">- notable SLI : " P"'-*^'"" After this ravages ,o confirm thea^''/ "^^ ^^ and rebellion. ^S'^^^'nent, « contumacy t.nlman, named U Compfe V *° * '0 D" Tertre, who poT^;? "I"' ^'^-S for government ■ L ^ "^ular talents ^-oody„„witl.eSrefTn't"%™'* "on of which he au.horizedt:,,!^ 'r*^^"" -furnifl, aport.it of him ^1^'°'^"' ««. which the hiftoria.hr:;^2"o"'" «'Ving news of the revolt of T " "■ Parquet fent , r.l f ''' ™'"'«. Du n>en%.ircf:rf'''''^ ''""'''''' '"enativesaltogeth::: bit JSol" ;"'""" ■ Aaz to n,.^ lilj 1 1:" m mm Ml -mn i ! ^\ (« 1S6 Ir HISTORY OP THE to have wanted any incitement to aftsof barba- rity ; for Du Tertre admits that he had already proceeded to murder, without mercy, every Charaibe that fell into his hands , not fparing ever, the women and children. Of the manner in which this humane and accompli thed commander, and his civilized fol- lowers, conduded hoflilities againfl; thefe mift- rable people, we may form an idea, from a cir- cumftance that occurred in one of their expedi- tions, of which the reverend hiilorian concludes liis narrative as follows : ** Forty of the Charaibcs were maflacred on the fpot. About forty others, who had efcaped the fword, ran towards a preci- pice, from whence they caft themfelves headlong into the fea, and miferably perifhed. A beau- tiful young girl of twelve or thirteen years of age, who was taken alivQ, became the objedt of dif- pute between two of our officers, each of them claiming her as his lawful prize j a third coming up, put an end to the contefl, by (hooting the girl through the head. The place from which thefe barbarians threw themfelves into the fea, has been called ever fince k Morne des Sauteitrs (a) . Our people (having loft but one man in the ex- pedition) proceeded in the next place to fet fire to the cottages, and root up the provifions of the favages, and, having deftroyed, or taken away. • fnj Leapers Hill. every ,f barba- \ already y, every iringeven [xiane and iUzed fol- :hefe mif«- Tom a cir- eir expedi- 1 concludes e Charaibes forty others, irds apreci- res headlong I. A beau- years of age, 5Jed of dif- ich of them ihird coming (hooting the I from which tnto the fea, Sauteurs(a). tn in the ex- to fet fire to rifions of the taken away. WEST INDIES. every thing belonging to them, returned in high fpirits" (bien joyeux). By a feries of fuch enormities, the whole race of Charaibes that poflelTed Grenada in 1 650, was fpeedily exterminated, and the French, having i*^ th*" nanner butchered " '^e natives, pro- . dea^ the next place, to maflacre each other. The particulars of this civil conteft may, without injury to my readere, be omitted. I (hall therefore only obferve, that the fupreme authority of Du Parquet and his lieutenant, was at length eftabliflied in Grenada j but the ex- pence which had attended the plantation from its outlet, and the maintenance of the force which Du Parquet had been compelled to fumilh in fupport of his authority, had (o greatly injured his fortune, as to induce him to look out for a purchafer of all his rights and pofleffions in this ifland and its dependencies. In 1656 fuch a purchafer offered in the Count de Cerillac, to whom the whole was conveyed for 30,000 crowns. The conduft of Cerillac towards the inhabi- tants of his newly acquired dominion was highly injudicious and oppreffive. He appointed a go- vernor of fo arrogant and rapacious a difpofition, and fupported him in his extortions with fuch obftinacy, as to compel the moft refpedable of the fettlers to quit the country and feek for fafety . Aa3 under ,■■< ^ i ' { K , I U:hn: 3$> HISTORYOFTHE BOOK under a milder government. At length the peo- ^"' pie that remained took the adminiftration of juf- tice into their own hands; by feizing on the per- fon of die governor, and bringing him to a pub- lick trial. The criminal was condemned to be hanged : but he pleaded noble birth, and de- manded the honour of decollation. His requcft would have been granted, but unluckily an ex- pert executioner in the bufmefs of beheading could not readily be found ; the judges therefore compounded the matter with his excellency, by confenting that he fliould be (hot, and he fuf- fered in that mode with great compofure, Some years after this, Monfieur de Cerillac, • the proprietor, receiving, as it may be fuppofed, but little profit from his capital, conveyed all > his rights and intereft in Grenada, &c. to the French Weft Indian company; whofe charter bfeing abolifhed in 1674, the ifland from thence- forward became veiled in the crown of France. . Under the various revolutions and calami- ties which had thus attended this unfortunate plantation, it may well be imagined that cultiva- tion had made but little progrefs in it ; but al- though order and fubmiffion were at length intro- duced by the eftablifliment of the royal authority, various caufes concurred to keep the colony in a ilate of poverty and depreffiou for many years afterwards. Even fo late as 1700, if Raynal has ■ *- h the peo- ion of juf- n the per- i to a pub- ned to be ii, and de- His requcft :kUy an ex- ■ beheading res therefore cellency, by and he fuf- )fure. de Cerillac, be fuppofed, conveyed all , &c. to the whofe charter 1 from thence- n of France. and calami- is unfortunate d that cultiva- in it i but al- t length intro- oyal authority, he colony in a or many years 00, if Raynal ha& II. WEST INDIES. SSp has been rightly informed, the ifland contained chap. no more than 251 whites and 525 blacks; who were employed on 3 plantations of fugar, and 52 of indigo. After the peace of Utrecht, the government of France began to turn its attention towards her Weft Indian pofleflions. Grenada however, for many years, partook lefs of its care than the reft. It had no conftant correfpondence with the mo- ther-country : fome oppreffive regulations of the farmers-general ruined the cultivation of one of its ftaples, tobacco : and the planters had not the means of obtaining a fupply of negroes from Africa, fufficient for the purpofe of cultiva^ 5 fugar to any extent. Thefe inconveniencies led them into a fmuggling intercourfe with the Dutch : a refource which at length changed their circumftances for the better; encrealed their numbers and occafioned a great part of the coun- try to be fettled, infomuch that when, in the year 1762, the fortune of war made the Englifli matters of this and the reft of the French Cha- raibean iflands, Grenada and the Grenadines are faid to have yielded annually, in clayed and mufcovado fugar, a quantity equal to about 1 1 ,000 hoglheads of mufcovado of 15 cwt. each, and about 27,000 lbs. of indigo. Grenada furrendered on capitulation in Fe- bruary 1762, and, with its dependencies, was A a 4 finally I n f V 1, : liij ill '•Ml I: I 4l\ u ,■■! J \h 3^0 i ■ i m \ HISTORY OF THE finally Cfded to Great Britain by the definitive treaty of peace at Paris on the loth of February 1 763 i St. Lucea being rcftored at the fame time to France. The chief ftipulations in favour of the inhabitants, as well by the treaty, as by the articles of capitulation, were thefej ill. That, as they would become by their furrcnder, fubjefts of Great Britain, they ihould enjoy their proper- ties and privileges, and pay taxes, /'« /ike manner as the reji of his MajeftfsfubjeEls of the other Bri- tijh Leeivard Iflands. 2d]y. With rcfpeft to reli- gion, they were put on the fame footing as the inhabitants of Canada, viz. liberty was given them to exercifc it according to the rites of the Romifti Church, as far as the laws of Great Bri- tain permitted. 3dly. Si^ch of the inhabitants of Grenada as chofe to quit the iiland, (hould have liberty fo to do, and eighteen months (hould be allowed them to difpofe of their cffeds. The ifland and its dependencies being thus become a Britifh colony, one of the firft mea- fures of government was to iflue a proclamation under the great feal, bearing date the 7th of Oc- tober 1763, wherein, amongft other things, it is declared " that all perlbns inhabiting in, or re- " forting to, the ifland of Grenada, might confide ** in the royal proteftion for the enjoyment of " the benefit of the laws of England, ''.1th the ** right of appeal to the king in council, as fully ■ . ■ ' ' . "as definitive February fame time , favour of , as by the ift. That, ler, fubjefts heir propei- [ like manner he other Bri- fpeatoreli- oting as the ty was given e rites of the of Great Bri- inhabitants of I, ftiould have tths (hould be ids. ,es being thus I the firtl mea- proclamation he 7th of Oc- ^er things, it is ting in, or re- might confide enjoyment of [land, nith the luncil, as fully « as WEST INDIES. " as the inhabitonts of the other Britifli colonics " in America under the king's immediate go- " vernmciit."- It alfo fets forth, " that the king, " by letters patent under the great feal, had given " exprefs power and diredion to the governor, as " foon as tiic ftate and circumftances of the co- " lony would admit thereof, with the advice and " confent of the council, and the reprefentatives " of thp people, to m.ake, conftitute, and ordain " laws, ftatutes,and ordinances for the good go- " vcrnment thereof, as near as may be agreeably " to the laws of England, and under fuch regu- " lations and reftridions as art ufed in the other " Britifli colonies." This proclamation was followed by another, dated the 26th of March 1764, inviting pur- chafers upon certain terms and conditions. > The governor thus faid to have been ap- pointed, was general Melville, whofe commiflion however did not bear date until the 9th of April 1764, and the affembly which he was direded to fummon, met for the firft time in 1 765 j pre- vious to which, the Britifli inhabitants were irre- fiftibly called to the difcuflion of a great conftitu- tional queftion ; of which it is proper I fliould mvf give fome account. The queftion arofe from the information, that the crown, conceiving itfelf entitled by the terms ■ -of S6i H m •r. 1' I f' i; . ! i .J m. w [■!..! ' I 'J J«» V-.' ■ \ t HISTORY OF THE of the capitulation to the duty of 4f fer cent. upon all produce exported from the newly ceded iilands, as paid at Barbadoes, &c. had iflued letters patent, bearing date the 20th July 1 764, ordering and direding, by virtue of the preroga- tive royal, that from and after the 29th of Sep- tember, then next enluing, fuch duty or import in fptcie, fliould be levied in Grenada i in lieu of all cufloms and duties formerly paid to the French king. We have fecn, in the hiftory of Barbadoes, in what manner the inhabitants of that illand be- came fubjedb to the duty in queftion ; and to what purpofes the money was exprefsly ftipulated to be applied ; but unjuilifiable as were the means by which that impofition was originally cflablilhed in Barbadoes, the grant was, appa- rently, the grant of the people themfelves, by their reprefentatives in their legiflative capacity. Even Charles the lid. in whofe reign the grant paired, though a rapacious and unprincipled mo- narch, did not openly claim the right of laying taxes by his own authority in a colony which had an affembly of its own, competent to that purpofe. The king was ready enough to overawe, or to corrupt the members which compofed that affembly J but he left them the form and (epiblancc at lead, of a free government. '. :- " ■ '-"■:■ • •■. In .H ;i:,N! ^1 per cent. icwly ceded had ifl'ucd 1 July 1764. the preroga- 9th of Scp- ity or import a ; in lieu of paid to the Barbadocs, in ut iiland be- lion; and to :fsly ftipulatcd ; as were the was originally tnt was, appa- Aiemfelves, by iative capacity. :eign the grant iprincipled mo- right of laying colony which ipetent to that igh to overawe, compofed that andfepaWancc II. WEST INDIES. )f} In defence of the prefent mcafure, it was urged chap. that Grenada being a conquered country, the king was inverted with tlie power of putting the inhabitants under what form of government he thought beftj that he might have granted them what terms of capitulation, and have concluded what articles of peace with them he faw fit ; and further, that the aflfurance to the inhabitants of Grenada, in the articles of cap" ulaiion, thit they (hould enjoy their properties and privileges in like manner as the other his MajeO-y's fub; 'ds in the Britifli Leeward Wands, ncccirurily implied that they were bound to fubmit to the fame con- fequences of their being fubjedls as were fu'va "n- ted to by the inhabitants of thofe iilands ; cue of which was the payment of the duty in queftion. It was faid therefore that the demand of this duty was mofl reafonable, equitable and politi- tlcal ; for that it was only putting Grenada, as to duties, on the fame footing with all the Bri- ti(h Leeward Iilands. If Grenada paid more, it would be detrimental to her, if lefs, it would be detrimental to the other LcewaiJ !f]ands. Om the other fide, it was conitiided, that the letters patent were void on two points, the firft was " that although they hat] been granted before the proclamation of the /th of October 1763, yet the king could not exerclfe fuch a legiflative power over a conquered country." The fecond point I ( I / ! I ( ' ^'MH 'i\'. Mil ' i m .r;ii' R 364 i^ ill,: ,, I' HISTORY OF THE point was, " that although the king had fufficient power and authority, before the 7th of Oftober 1763, to do fuch a legiflative ad, he huJ di veiled himfelf of fuch authority previous ) the letters patent of the 20th of July 1764." The crown however perfifting in its claim, and the inhabitants in.oppofing it, iflue was joined on the arguments that I have ftated, and the queftion was at length referred to a folemn adju- dication before the judges of the Court of King's Bench in England (i>J. The cafe was elaborately argued in Weflmin- fter-hall, four feveral times j and in Michaelmas term 1774, Lord chief juftice Mansfield pro- nounced judgment, againj the crown. The con-« fequence was, that the duty in queftion was abo- lilhed, not only in Grenada, but alfo in the ceded illands of Dominica, St. Vincent, arid Tobago. It may be reafonably fuppofed that the inha- bitants of all thcfe iflands had fufficient caufe for exultation at a verdift fo favourable to their interefts ; but the circumftahces on which the decifion was founded, and the dodrlnes which were promulgated along with it, became the fub- jed of much animadverfion ; and indeed (if I may obtrude my own opinion in fuch a cafe) they ■:if ' (b) The cafe is related at large in Cowper's Reports. appear! ;:i; ad fufficient I of Oftober ad, he hJ ;vious ) the 64." its claim, and le was joined ated, and the t folemn adju- ourt of King's dinWeftmin- in Michaelmas Mansfield pro- mn. Tbecon^ leftion was abo- at alfo ii^ ^^^ Vincent, anfi J that the inha- fficient caufe for furable to their . on which the doarines which [became the fub- . indeed (if l"^*y ich a cafe) they Jowper's Reports, appear WESTIND1B9. appear to me to be of a dangerous iand uncohfti* tutional tendency. The noble and venerable judge who pro* nounced the opinion of the Court, refted the determination folely on the circumftance, that the proclamations of Oftober 1763, and March 1764, were of prior date to the letters patent j obferving, that the king had precluded himfelf from the exercife of legillative authority over Grenada, be/ore the letters patent were iffucd. " Through inattention, he faid, of the king's fer- vants, in inverting the order in which the inftru- ments fhould have paffed, the laft aft was con- tradiftory to, and a violation of the firft, and on that account null and void." But, although the noble lord confined the mere legal queftion to a narrow compafs, he judged it neceflary, at the fame time, to enter on a wide and extenfive field of dif- cuflion in fupport of the regal authority over con- quered countries ; maintaining " that it is left to the king to grant or refufe a capitulation j — if he refufes, and puts the inhabitants to thefwordt or other - •wife exterminates theniy all the lands belong to him- felf. If he receives the inhabitants under his pro- Iteftion, and grants them their property, he has a power to fix fuck terms and conditions as he thinks Proper. He may ((aid the noble judge) yield up Itheconqueft, or retain it, on what terms hepleajes, ind change part, or the whole, of the law, or po- Jitical 36s ifjf H: i i' ■ i IjITi i ■ Hj '; ^' ' !''■'■' •li ' •'' f lit ; i ; Si;;' ■ 1 • 1 ■ ' ' ' E ; .1 ! h .\\: 1 'II ■ niiiNiii m '!,^»mdmim ! 1 III. 366 HISTORY OF THE BOOK Htical form of its government, as he fees beji.** In reply to an obfervation, that no adjudged cafe, in point, had been adduced, the noble lord declared that this was not to be wondered at, " inafmuch as no queftion was ever ftarted before but that the king has a right to a legijlative authority over a conquered country j" and he quoted an opinion of the crown lawyers in 1722, inrefpeft of Ja- maica. The affembly of that ifland being re- fradory, it was referred to Sir Philip Yorke and Sir Clement Wearge to know " what could be done if the aflembly fliould obflinately continue to withhold all the ufual fupplies." They re- ported, that " if Jamaica was ftill to be con- fidered as a conquered ijland, the king had a right to levy taxes upon the inhabitants j but if it was to be confidered in the fame light as the other colo- niesy no tax could be impofed on the inhabitants, but by an ajjmbly of the ifland, or by an aSi of par- liament. " It is impoflible, I think, not to perceive, throughout thefe, and other parts of the learned judge's argument, a certain degree of bias arifing from the unhappy diflentions which, about that period, broke out into a civil war between Great , Britain and her colonics ; in the progrefs of which, it is believed, this noble perfon diftinguilhed himfelf as an adtive partizan, and a powerful ad- vocate for the unconditional fupremacy of the| mother- idgedcaCe/m lord declared ^ « inaimuch fore but that uthority over a ed aii opinion efpeft of Ja- and being re- llp Yorke and what could be nately continue es." They re- ftUl to be con- ting had a right :s i but if it was t as the other colo- the inhabitants, by an aB of par- lot to perceive, rts of the learned ee of bias arifing I hich, about that I ar between Great )rogrefs of which, I on diftinguilhed id a powerful ad- 1 [upremacy of the ' mother- 1 WEST INDIES. mother-country. I might otherwife be charge- able with great arrogance in prefuming to differ from fuch weight of authority j but furely it will be permitted me to examine the dodrlne main- tained on this occafion, by the teft of thofe cafes, which the noble judge himfelf adduced in its fup- port. In fuch an examination, plain argument and common fenfe may fupply the fubtleties of legal refinement, and the want of profeffional learning. The cafes chiefly relied on by the learned judge, were thofe of Ireland, Wales, Berwick and New York ; in all which places it was afferted that the king, after their conqueft, had, of his own authority, exercifed the powers of legiflature, by introducing an alteration of their former laws, and eftablifhing a new fyflem of government over the inhabitants. " No man (obferved his lord- Ihip, in the cafe of Ireland) ever faid, that the change in the laws of that country was made by the parliament of England : no man ever faid the crown could not do it.'* With the utmoft deference, however, to the fentiments of this great and enlightened lawyer, I prefume to think that the queftion was not Am- ply, Whether the crown alone, or the parliament of England, had the right of exerciling the au- thority contended for ? — I will even admit that the interpofition of parliament was unneceflary. , ., StiU 367 Mil 368 HISTORY OF THE mM BOOK Still however the main queftion remains to be an- III. fwered, which is, To zvhnt extent may the royal prerogative in fuch cafes be exerted f Did the noble judge mean to affert, that conqueft de- ftroys^i^the rights of the conquered, and that the king, in changing their laws and form of go- vernment, has a right to prefcribe to them, mt merely the EngliJJi conjiitution\ — but any other fyftem he thinks beft? If fuch was the opinion, it may be affirmed that the cafes which his lord- ftiip adduced in fupport of his argument, warrant no fuch conclufion. The firft cafe was that of Ireland. " The faft, fays the noble lord, comes out clearly to be, that Ireland received the latvs of England by the char- ters and commands of Henry II. King John, and Henry III." Of Wales, the noble lord obferves " that the ftatute of Wales (12 Edward I.) is certainly no more than regulations, made by the king in his fOK«f/7 for the government of Wales, and that the king governed it as a conquejl'^' but let us hear on this fubjeft the learned judge Blackflonc. " This territory, obferves Blackftone, being then entirely re-annexed (by a kind of feodal refump- tion) to the dominion of the crown of England, or, as the ftatute of Rutland expreifes it, terra Walliae cum incolis fuii, prius regi jure feodali Jub- jeEta^ (of which homage was the fign) jam in pro- 3 prietatii ,s to be an- >» in pro- prietatii WEST INDIES. prietatis dominium totality et cum inte^itate converfa ejli et coronae regni Angliae tanquam pars corporis ejufdem annexa et unita. But the finiihing ftroke to their independency, was given by the ftatute 27 Henry VIII. c. 26. which at the fame time gave the utinoft advancement to their civil prof- peri ty, by admitting them to a thorough communi- cation oflazvs zvith the fubje6ls of England. Thus were this brave people gradually conquered into the enjoyment of true liberty ; being infenfibly put upon the fame footings and made fellow citizens zvith their conquerors." Another cafe was that of Berwick, which, obferved the noble lord, " after the conqueft of it, was governed by charters from the crown, without the interpofition of Parliament, till the reign of James I." The noble judge would have ftated this cafe more fairly, had he faid that Edward I. at the requefl of the inhabitants^ con- firmed to them the enjoyment of their ancient laws i but that " its conftitution was put on an EnglifJt footings by a charter of king James." Thefe are the very words of Blackftone. The cafe next quoted by the learned judge was that of New York, which was conquered from the Dutch in 1664, and, like Wales, remained in poffeffion of mod of its former inhabitants. " King Charles II. (obferves the noble judge) changed the form of their conftitution and poli- VoL.I. . Bb tical 369 ) '1 fi ■ III . i It ■ III. 370 HISTORYOFTHE BOOK t leal government j by granting it to the duke of Yorkt to hold of his crown under all the regu- lations contained in the ktters patent." — So far is true J but what followed ? This duke of York (afterwards James II.) was a man whofe princi- ples of government were in the higheft degree repugnant and inimical to thofe of the Englitli conftitution. Accordingly he attempted at firft to introduce into the newly acquired country, a fyftem little confonant to Britilh freedom j but he was difappointed and defeated. He was com- pelled much againft his inclination, to allow the people to choofe deputies to reprefcnt them in the legislature ; and thefe deputies adually voted " that all the ordinances which had been made by the governor and council, before the people were admitted to a fliare in the legiflature, were invalid, becavfe they were pajjed in a manner repug- nant to the conftitution of England*' From this recital, it is I think evident that the noble and learned judge miftook the giji of the queftion; or rather confounded together two tilings which are totally diftincft and repugnant in their nature ; for he appears to have confidcred the prerogative in the king, of expending to his newly acquired fubjeFf^, the benefits of the EngliJIi confitution^ as equivalent to the right of ruling them by whatever conftitution or fyftem of go- vernment he plcafes ; or, by none at all. ItI he duke of I the regu- '»^Sofar is ike of York rhofe princi- igbeft degree the EngUt^^ ^pted at firft ired country, freedom ; but He was com- y^ to allow the refentthem in , aftually voted had been made :fore the people pgillatuve, were a manner reptg- »» WEST INDIES. It would fecm then that, if the cafes which have been adduced prove any thing, they prove that the crown neither has prefcribed, nor could prefcribe, any form of government incompatible with the principles of the Britilh conftitution, to any colony or territory whatever, whether acquired by conqueft or fettlement j — and good authorities are not wa..ang in fupport of this dodlrine, " The king of Great Britain (fays an excellent writer (c) although at the head of a free ftate, may, in his own right, hold other ftates, under a form of government that is not free; as he does, for inftance, the ftates of the eledorate of Hano- ver. He may too even as king of Great Britain, by virtue of his prerogative and as generaUffimo of the empire, hold a conquered ftate (for the time being) under a form of government that is not free ; that is, under military law : but, in the in- ftant that fuch conquered ftate is, by treaty of peace, or otherwife, ceded to the crown of Great Britain, in that inftant it imbibes the fpirit of the conftitution, it is naturalized j it is affimilated to the government, it is governable and to be governed by, and under all thofe powers with which the governing power of king, lords and commons is invefted by the conftitution i but it is not governable, neither is to be governed, by any powers which the governing power of king, (c) Mr. Eftwirk, B b 2 lords 371 n i h^ ^ r!ri1 < • i m ! * M n M r l> : f ':! 37» HISTORY OF THE BOOK lords and commons does not poffcfs from the ''^* conftitution : as for example, it cannot be go- verned on the principles of flavery -, becaufe the governing power of king, lords and commons is appointed by the conftitution to govern on the principles of liberty." Surely it is a propofition abfurd and monfuous on the very face of it, to fay that 'imited monarch in a free ftate, may govern any part of the dominions of fuch a ftate in an arbitrary and tyrannical manner. A body of fubjefts fo governed, would, if fufficiently nu- merous, be fit inftruments to enflave the reft ! The intelligent reader will admit the vaft im- portance of this queftion, both to the prefent age and to pofterity ; and perceive how greatly the deareft iaterefts of men, who, in the con- tingencies of war, fhall hereafter fall under the Britilh dominion, may poffibly be concerned in its difcuffion. To fuch readers no apology will be neceffary, for the detail which I have thought it my duty to give on a fubjedt of fuch con- ftitutional magnitude. — I now return to tranf- adlions with the colony. It has been fliated that the firft aflembly met in 1765. At that time none of the French Roman catholick inhabitants claimed a right, or even expreffed a defire, of becoming members, either of the council or aflembly : but in 1 768 . . , ■ -. the i from the not be go- lecaufe the i commons vern on the propofition ce of it, to ; ftate, may fuch a ftate ;r. A body Bciently nu- ; the reft ! the vaft im- I the prefent how greatly , in the con- ill under the concerned in [) apology will have thought of fuch con- urn to tranf- affembly met the French ned a right, or ling members, but in 1768 the WEST INDIES. 37J the governor received inftrudlions from the crown, chap. to admit two of them into the council, and to *'• declare others to be eligible into the affembly, on taking the oaths of allegiance and fupremacy. The governor was direfted alfo to include the names of certain peifons of this defcription, in the commifTion of the peace. These inftrudions, and the mcafurcs which were taken in confequence thereof, gave rife to violent commotions and party divifions in the colony, which, being embittered by religious controverfy, continue to divide the inhabitants to the prefent hour. It were highly unbecoming in me (a ftranger to the ifland) to flatter the paf- fions of one party or the other; and I fliould readily confign all the circumftances to oblivion, but that it is my duty as an hiftorian, to ftate without prejudice fuch particulars as may, in their confequences, aifedt the general welfare of the colony, that the errors of on& age may ferve. as a leflbn to the next. '' The oppofition that was given by the Britifli inhabitants to the appointment of any of the Roman catholick capitulants to feats in the le- giflature, arofe, I believe, originally from an idea that the royal inft;rudtions in. this cafe were in dired violation of the teft aft of Charles 11. which requires " that all perfons enjoying any place of truft or profit fhall, in addition to, the B b 3 oaths I i ■> ! »f !l^ .5 1,, 11' . ■'> 1 Ml i' It If' Ail ': V' (, M (f 37* HISTORY OF THE oaths of allegiance and fupremacy, rubfcribc a declaration againft the dodrine of tranfubftan- tiation in the facrament of the Lord's fupper." By the king's inflruftions, above cited, his Roman catholick fubjeds of Grenada were de- clared eligible without fubfcribing to this de- claration. Liberal and enlightened minds at this day are not eafily reconciled to the dodtrine, that an adherence to mere fpeculative opinions in mat- ters of faith, ought to drive any loyal fubjed from the fervice of his country, or deprive a man (otherwifc entitled) of the enjoyment of thofe honours and diftindions, the diftribution of which the wifdom of the laws has afligned to the fovereign. Much lefs will it be thought that fuch a man is unworthy of that confidence which his neighbours and fellow citizens, who are bell acquainted with his principles and virtues, and are themfelves of a different perfuafion, fliall think fit to repofc in him. At the fame time, it mufl be acknowledged, that the recent and then depending claim in the crown, to lay taxes on Grenada by its own authority, gave the inhabitants jufl caufe of apprehenfion, that the royal inftrudlions in the prefent cafe were founded, in like manner, on a pretenfion to legif- lative authority, fubverlive of their own col )nial aflembly. • A\. m >^ • : • : >,• ' ' ,*.> r ' '•'' On Libfcribc a :anfubftan- 's fupper." cited, his la were de- to this dc- at tliis day ine, that an ons in n^^t- oyal fubjeft or deprive a njoyment of z diftribution as affigned to ; thought that ^fidcnce which who are bed virtues, and fuafion, fliall At the fame hat the recent crown, to lay arity, gave the nfion, that the nt cafe were enfion to legif- ir own col )nial WEST INDIES. 375 On the other hand, it was allcdged that the chap. tefl; &6t was never meant to extend to the Britifh * '* plantations ; that it was confined, both in its letter and fpirit, to the kingdom of England and the town of Berwick ; and th(jugh it were true that it is the pradice of the ( arts of Grenada to adopt both the common and (latutc law of England, it was contended neverthelefs, that tiie adoption could extend only to fuch of the Englidi ftatutes as were applicable to the peculiar fitua- tion of the colony. It was urged, that the aft; in queflion originated in an age of religious frenzy and fanatick violence. The authority of hiflory was adduced to prove that it was parti- cularly promoted byaworthlefs individual, from animolity to the Duke of York, who was obliged, in confcquence of it, to rcfign the great office of Lord High Admiral. A law thus founded and fupported, inftead of being confidered as fuited to the circumftances of a new and infant colony, ought, it was faid, to be expunged from the Englifli flatute bock. What influence thefe, or other confiderations, had on the Britifli miniftry, Iprefurae not to fay. It is certain that the king refufed to revoke his inflruftions ; in confcquence whereof the mod zealous of the proteftant members of the aficm- bly declining to attend, it was feldom that a houfe could be formed. Publick affairs foon fell :-:;i. Bb4 into } !l mi 'ii^ ■^'\ •iil i-., .' \H') •I . .1 ; • i\u\: ^lif i / ( .' ".I HISTORY OF THE into the utmoft confufion, and in this ftatc o^ fadion and perplexity, the ifland continued, until its re-capture by the French in 1779. On this occafion, charges were brought againft the French inhabitant! which 1 will not repeat, becaufe I have no other evidence to fupport them than the mutual reproaches, and recipro- cal accufations of the parties. The complaints indeed which were loudly made on the part of the French, of an ufurpation of their deareft rights by the prevailing fadion, feemed to imply that they relied rather on juftification than denial. The French miniftry however required no other encouragement for attacking this ifland, than the defencclefs ftate in which all the Britifli fettlemcnts in the Weft Indies were at that junc- ture notorioufly left. The hopelefs and deftruc- tive war in North America had drawn to its vortex all the powers, refources, and exertions of Great Britain. Already had Dominica and St. Vincent become a facrifice to that unfortunate conteft ; when it fell to the lot of Grenada to experience her (hare of the general misfortune. On the 2d of July 1 779, a French armament, confiftingof a fleet of 25 (hips of the Hne, 10 fri- gates, and 5000 troops, under the command of the Count D'Eftaing, appeared off the harbour and town of St. George : the whole force of the ifland was compofed of 90 men of the 48th is ftatc 0^ :ontinuecl, 779- . ^ Tht againft lot repeat, to fupport ad recipro- compUints : part of the eareft rights ) imply that 1 denial. required no i this ifland, ill the Britilh at that junc- and deftruc- drawn to its exertions of linica and St. . unfortunate f Grenada to isfortune. |ch armament, leline, lo fri- he command arcd off the jhe whole force men of the 48th WEST INDIES. 48th regiment, 300 militia of the ifland, and 150 feamcn from the merchant (hips j and its for- tifications confifted chiefly of an entrenchment, which had been haftily thrown up round the fum- mit of the Hofpital-hill. This entrenchment the Count D'Eftaing inverted the next day, at the head of 3000 of his bed forces, which he led up in three columns, and after a hard conflid and the lofs of 300 men, carried the lines. Never did fo fmall a body of men make a nobler defence againft luch inequality of numbers. The go- vernor (Lord Macartney) and the remains of his little garrifon, immediately retired into the old fort, at the mouth of the harbour; which however was wholly untenable, being commanded by the Hofpital-hill battery, the guns of which having been moft unfortunately left unfpikcd, were now turned againft them. At day-break, the French opened a battery of two twenty-four pounders againft the walls of the old fort. In this (itua- tion, the governor and inhabitants had no re- fource but in the hopes of obtaining favourable terms of capitulation ; and herein they were dif- appointed. Their propofals were fcornfuUy re- jefted, and fuch hard and extraordinary terms offered and infifted on by Count D'Eftaing, as left them no alternative but the facrifice of their honour, or an unconditional furrender. They [embraced the lattery and it muft be acknow- ledged S77 i-i r^:V 1 1 i ' '■:?' f .■f : 1 i / i 1 i i'i M m T'i' Ml t h ' r If ' ^' mm HISTQRY OF THE ledged, that the protedtion which was afforded to the helplefs inhabitants of the town, and their property, not only while the treaty was depend- ing, but alfo after the furrender of the illand at difcretion, reflefted the higheft luftre on the dif- cipline, as well as humanity of the conquerors. Proteftion and fafe-guards were granted on every application, and thus a town was faved from plunder, which by the ftrid rules of war might have been given up to an exafperated foldiery. - It is to be lamented that the fubfequent con- duct of the French government of Grenada, towards its new fubjedls, was not quite fo ge- nerous. By an ordinance of the Count de Durat, the new governor, they were enjoined, under the penalty of militarj' execution and confifcation of property, from the payment, diredly or indiredly, of all debts due by them to Britifli fubjedts, re- fiding in any part of the Britifh dominions ; and by another ordinance, the prohibition was ex- tended to fuch debts owing to the fubjefts of the united provinces of Holland, as were guaranteed by any of the fubjeds of Great Britain. The Count D'Eftaing had inferted claufes to the fame effed, in the form of capitulation, which he had tendered to the garrifon, and it was thofe prohi- bitions that induced the Britilh inhabitants with an honeft indignation, to rifque the confequence | of an unconditional furrender, rather than fub- [j :ni A tnit I: ^#* ( ! / I ras afforded ri, and their ;as depend- heiiland at e on the diC- conqiierors. ted on every faved from >f war might d foldiery. bfequent con- of Grenada, i quite fo ge- ^untdeDurat, tied, under the ^confifcationof -lyorindiredly. h fubjeds, re- ominions; and ibition was ex- e fubjeds of the were guaranteed Britain. The Lufestothefame n, which he had was thofe prohi- inhabitantswitli the conCequence I rather tlian fub- WEST INDIES. mi^ to them. With the virtue and integrity that it is to be hoped will for ever diftinguifli the Britilh charader, they confidered no facrifice fo great as the violation of that confidence, which had been repofed in them by their friends and creditors in Europe. But the ordinances went ftill further. By the regulations which they contained, it was enaded that all the eflates belonging to Englilh abfeniees, (hould be put into the hands of certain perfons to be nominated by the governor, called confervators ; and the prO" duce be paid into the publick treafury. Thus was plunder fandioned by authority j and the abfent proprietors were not the only vidims, The fhameful facility with which every French claimant was put into poffeflion of eflates to which the flighteft pretenfion was fet up, gave the refident planters reafon to apprehend, that the only indulgence they were to expect, was that which Poliphemus promifed Ulyfles, of bein^ devoured the Iqft. - • ■ • ^ •--' Most of thefe injurious proceedings, and various ads of pcrfonal oppreflion, inflided on the conquered inhabitants of Grenada, were, by them, imputed to the too great influence with the governor of their late fellow fubjeds and neighbours, the French planters j and it is much eafier to account for, than to juftify their condud. Let it be remembered, however, to the honour of the 379 : :■ r ! i ■ jj.jli? rJii;!' ■■k .M i ■4 380 HISTORY OF THE the French nation, that thefe nefarious proceed- ings were no fooner made known to the court of France, than they were difapproved and repro- bated. The appointment of confervators was aboHQied, and reftoration ordered to be made of the eftates of abfent proprietors. Redrefs was likewife ver}' generally given, by appeals in the laft refort, to fuch of the refident planters as had been illegally deprived of their pofleflions. But it was not long before the ifland itfelf reverted, to the Britith dominion. ^'^ '-.^^f «'.vr.> U, :..• Grenada and the Grenadines were.reftored to Great Britain, with all the other captured iilands in the Weft Indies (Tobago excepted) by the general pacification which took place in January 1783; a pacification upon which, whatever may be its general merits, it is impolfi- ble but that the Englifh fugar planters (except perhaps thofe of the ceded ifland) muft refleft with gra^ietijl fatisfaftion. It might indeed have been wiflied, by thofe who have at heart the prefcnt repofe and future profperity of mankind, that fome falutary regulations had been framed, at the fame time, for preventing the revival of thole unhappy national animofities among the white inhabitants of Grenada, of which, I have lb largely fpoken, and which I am forry to be informed, we're renewed on the reftoration of the iflaml with additional force and aggravated violence. It is not :lli| .iii; ,s proceed- the court and repro- vators was be made of S.edrefs was peals ill the ,nters as had poffeffions. tfelf reverted were.reftored her captured igo excepted) took place \n upon which, i, itisimpolli- lanters (except ) muft refled ht indeed have at heart the ty of mankind, been framed, at revival of thofe ciong the white I have to largely be informed, the ifland with Iviolence. It '* not WEST INDIES. 38t not my intention however to enter into any further chap. detail on the fubjeft. As a friend to the intcrefts "• of humanity, independent of religious opinions, and locality of birth, I fliall rejoice if means can be found to reftore to this little community that peace, confidence and unanimity, without which its inhabitants muft be a ruined people, and a prey to the firft invader. Having thus, as I conceive, fufficiently treated of the hiftorical and political concerns of this valuable colony, I fliall conclude with a fl\ort difplay of its prefent ftate (1791), in refped of foil, population, produdtions and exports • pre- mifing, that many of thofe little iflands which are called the Grenadines, no longer appertain to the government of Grenada. By an arrangement of the Britifh adminiftration, which lias taken eflfed fince the peace, a line uf divifion palfes ia an eaft and weft diredion, br^v;een Cariacou and Union Illand. The forrier of diefe, and fome fmaller iflands fouth oC li, are all that are now comprized in the d'enada gcrrnment ; Union ifland, with all tlic iitvle ifiands adjoining, to the nortli, being annexed to the government of St. Vi ncent. Grenada is computed to be about twenty- four miles in length and twelve miles in its greateft breadth, and contains about 80,000 acresoi land; of which although no lefs than 72,141 acres paid ; < 'i li iH '■m i i HISTORY OF THE paid taxes in 1776, and may therefore be fuppofed fit for cultivation, ye' the quantity actually cul- tivated lias never exceeded 50,000 acres. The face of the country is mountainous, but not in- accefliblein any part, and it abounds with fprings and rivulets. To the north and the eaft, the foil is a brick mould j the fame or nearly the fame, as thzt of which mention has been made in the hiflory of Jamaica. On the weft fide, it is a rich black, mould on a fubftratum of yellow clay. To the fouth, the land in general is poor, and of a reddifli hue, and the fame extends over a confiderable part of the interior country. On the whole, however, Grenada appears to be fertile in a high degree, and by the variety, as well as excellence, of its returns, feems adapted to every tropical produdlion. The exports of the year 1776, from Grenada and its dependen- cies, were 14,012,157 lbs. of mufcovado, and 9,273,607 lbs. of clayed fugar; 818,700 gallons of rum; 1,827,166 lbs. of coffee; 457,7191b:), jf cacao; 9i,943lbs. of cotton; 2 7,63 8 lbs. of indigo, and feme fmallcr articles ; the whole of which, on a moderate computation, could not be worth lefs, at the ports of fhipping, than jT. 600,000 fter- ling, excluding freight, duties, infurance and other charg'js. It deferves to be remembered too, that the fugar was the produce of 106 plantations only, and that they were worked by 18,293 i< negroes, % be fuppofed aftually cul- acrcs. The but not in- i with rprings the eaft, the )r nearly the been made in veftfide, it is am of yellow ;enera\ is poor, extends over a tntry. On the to be fertile in iriety, as well X.S adapted to exports of the its dependen- tufcovado, and 518,700 gallons 3 8 lbs. of indigo, /hole of which, Id not be worth jf. 600,000 fter- urance and other -i-ibered too, that 06 plantations :ked by 1 8,293 negroes, WEST INDIES. negroes, which was therefore rather more than one hogfliead of mufcovado fugar, of 16 cwt. from the labour of each negro, old and young, em- ployed in the cultivation of that commodity; a prodigious return, equalled, I believe, by no other Britilh ifland in the Weft Indies, St. Chrif- topher's excepted. The exports of 1787 will be given hereafter : they will be found, except in one or two articles, to fall greatly Ihort of thofe of 1776 } a circumftance for which I know not wholly how to account (d). This ifland is divided into fix parifhes, St. George, St. David, St Andrew, St. Patrick, St. Mark (ii) This circumftance is the more fiirprizing as the fiigar plantations in Grenada, for feme years previous to the hurricane in 1780, fufFered greatly by the ravages of the fugar, or carnivorous, ant. Of this wonderful infeft a curious account was tranfmitte'l to the Royal Society of London, an abridgment of which the reader will find in an appendix to this chapter. 1 conceive however (notwithftanding what is aflerted to the contrary in that accouiu) that this fpecies of ant, is common to all tiie iflands in the Weft Indies, and has been known in them, in a greater or lefs degree, from the earlieft times. It is the formica omnivora of Linnaeus, and is well defcribed by Sloane as the fmmicafufca minima^ antennislongiffimis (vide note in p. 168 of this vol.) Its tri- vial name in Jamaica, is the Raffles ant, irom one Jhmas Raffles, who is charged with having imported them from the Havanna about the year 1762. They do no injury to the fugar canes in Jamaica; probably becaufe their numbers are few. From what caufes they encreafed fo prodigioufly in Grenada, no fatisfaiFtory account has 1 believe been given. 38J !i in \ 1 i ! ■"f'-miv^^-^,* . HISTORY OF THE Mark and St. John j and its chief dependency, Cariacou, forms a feventh parifh. It is only lince the reftoration of Grenada to Great Britain by the peace of 1783, that an ifland law has been ob- tained for the eftablifhment of a proteflant clergy. This adt paffed in 1784, and provides llippnds of ^^.330 currency, and j^.6o for houfe-rent per amium, for five clergymen, viz. one for tlic town and pariih of St. George, three for the other five out-pari(hes of Grenada, and one for Cariacou. Befidcs thefe ftipcnds, there are valuable glebe lands, wliich bad been appropriated to the fupport of the Roman catholick clerg)', whilft that was the eftabli/lied religion of Grenada. Thefe lands, according to an opinion of the attorney and foli- citor-general of England (to whom a queftion on this point was referred by the crown) became veiled in his majelly as publick lands, on the re-, floration of the ifland to the Britilh government, and I believe have fmce been applied by the co- lonial legiflature, with the confent of the crown, to the further fupport of the proteflant church, ■with fome allowance thereout (to what amount I am not informed) fou the benefit of the tole- rated Romilh clergy of the remaining French in- habitants. The capital of Grenada, by an ordinance of governor Melville, foon after the ceffion of the country to Great Britain by the peace of Paris, is called pendency, only lince tain by the ,s been ob- :ant clergy. {lippnds of ;fe-rent per or tlic town le other five 3V Carlacou. luablc glebe o the fupport ulft that was Thefe lands, rney and foh- a qiieftion on rown) became ids, on the re- h aovcrnment, lied by the co- : of the crown, teft:vnt church, 5 whiit amount fit of the tolc- lino" French in- tn ordinance of cefTion of the )eaceofParis,is called WEST INDIES. 385 called St. George. By this ordinance, Englifli chap. names were given to the feveral towns and pa- ''* rifhes, and their French names forbidden to be thereafter ufed in any publick a6ls* The French name of the capital was Fort Royal. It is fitu- ated in a fpacious bay, on the weft or lee-fide of the ifland, not far from the fouth end, and pof- fcffes one of the fafeft and moft commodious . harbours for ftiipping in the Englilh Weft Indies, which has been lately fortified at a very great expence fcj. The other towns in Grenada, ape, properly fpeaking, inconfiderable villages or hamlets, which are generally fituated at the bays or {hip- ping; places in the feveral out-parilhes. The pari 111 town of Cariacou is called Hillfborough. Grenada has two ports of entry, with fe- parate eftablilhments, and diftincS revenue offi- cers, independent of each other, i/z. one at St. George, the capital, and one at Grenville-bay, (cj The town of Saint George is built chiefly of brick, and makes a handfome appearance. It is divided by a ridge, which running into the fea lorms on one fide the carenage, on the other the bay : thus there is the Bay-uivn, wiiich boafts a handfome fquare and market-place, and the Carw/ag-r- /oiD«, wherein ihe principal merchants refide, the fliips lying I land-locked, and in deep water clofc to the wharfs. On the i ridge between the two towns ftands the church, and on the pro- montory above it is a large old fort, which was probably con- j flrufted by the firft French inhabitants. It is built o'^-cone, and islar^^e enough to accommodate an entire regiment. Vol. I. Cc a town I I I- fi i t M' m: .>ii ]!..'! )8« HISTORY OF THE a town and harbour on the caft or windward fide of the ifland. The former, by the 27 Geo. III. c. 27. is made a free port. Whether it be owing to the events of war, to domeftick diflentions, or to calamities in- flidted by the hand of Divine Providence, I know not, but it appears that the white population of Grenada and the Grenadines has decreaf- cd confiderably fince thefe iflands firll came into poffeflion of the Englilh. The number of white inhabitants, in the year 1771, was known to be fomewhat more than fixteen hundred ; in 1777 they had decreafed to thirteen hundred i and at this time they are fuppofed not to exceed one thoufand two hundred, of which about two- thirds are men able to bear arms, and incorpo- rated into five regiments of militia^ including a company of free blacks or mulattoes, attached to each. There are likewife about 500 regular troops from Great Britain, which are fupported on the Britifli eftablllhmcnt (d). The negro flaves have alfo decreafed. By the I laft returns preceding the capture of the ifland (J) Befides the regular troops which are fent from Great Britain for the prote£lion of Grenada, there are in its garrifon I three companies of king's negroes, which came from America, j where they ferved in three capacities, as pioneers, artificers,! and light dragoons. In Grenada tlic) form a company of eachi and are commanded by a lieutenant of the regulars, havin J captain's rank. 2 ill ,ndward fide le 27 Geo. rents of war, alamitics in- lencc,lknow :e population has decreaf- ds firtl came fhc number of 71, was known ;n hundred ; n\ rteen hundred i d not to exceed hich about two- ^s, and incorpo- htia,, including a attoes, attached ,out 500 regular :h are fuppovted | jcreafed. By the | tureof theiflandj h are fent from Great Ihereareinitsgarrifon h came from America, I as pioneers, artificers Irm a company of each, lof the regulars, havin; II. WEST INDIES. 387 in I779» they were dated at 35,000, of which chap. 5,000 were in Cariacou, and the fmaller iflands. In 1785 they amounted to no more than 23,926 in the whole. The decreafe was owing partly to the want of any regular fupply durinf?; the French government, and partly to the numb rs carried from the ifland by the French inhabitants, both before and after the peace. It is alfo to be obferved, that of the African cargoes fold at Gre- nada, fome part (perhaps a fourth or fiftii) are exported to the neighbouring French and Spanifli colonies. The free people of colour amounted in 1787, to 1,1 15. To prevent the too great increafe of this mixed race, every manumiffion is, by an aft of this ifland, charged with a fine of one hundred pounds currency, payable into the pub - lick treafury. But this law has neither operated as a productive fund, nor as a prohibition ; for it is ufually evaded by executing and recording ads of manumiffion in fome other ifland or go- vernment where there is no fuch law. The evi- dence of all coloured people, of free condition, lis received in the courts of this ifland, on their producing fufficient proof of their freedom j and [fuch free people are tried on criminal charges in the fame manner as the whites. They are alfo lUowed to poffefs and enjoy lands and tenements Cc 2 to till I' t u m n If '11 'M I li^ II. ,'■1 ftp 'v- 388 HISTORY OF THF. to any amov^r;., provided tlicy are native-born lubjec^s or capitulants, and not aliens. The governor, by virtue of his office, is chan- cellor, ordinary and vice-admiral, and prcfidcs folcly in the courts of chancery and ordinary, as in Jamaica. His lalary is ^.3,200 currency per annum (e)^ which is railed by a poll-tax on all flaves ; and it is the practice in Grenada to pal's a falary bill on the arrival of every new governor, to continue during his government. In all cafes of abfence beyond twelve months, the falary ceafes and determines. '• .11- • ^ The council of Grenada confifts of twelve members, and the affembly of twenty-fix. The powers, privileges and fundions of both thcfe branches of the Icgiflature, are the fame, and cx- cFcifed prccifcly in the fame manner, as thofe of the council ami aflcmbly in Jamaica. A freehold, or life eflatc, of fifty acres, is a qualification for a reprefentativc for a i)arilh, and a freehold, or life ellate, in fifty pounds houfc-rent in St, 1 ("reorge, qualifies a reprefentativc for the town, An eflate of ten acres in fee, or for life, or a rent of ten pounds in any of the out-tov/ns, gives a vote for the reprefentatives of each pariQi refpec- lively ; and a rent of twenty pounds per aHmwi\ (e) The currency of Grenada, or rate of exchange, 11 commonly 65 /« cait. worfe than lU'ling, illiiin;! F. ; nativc-borrt ns. )fi\cc, is clun- ancl prcliJcs and ordinary, j,200' currency a poll -tax on 3rcnacla to pals ' new governor, It. In all cafes ,tlis, the falary ,nfifts of twelve .vcnty-fix. The 15 of both thcfc he lame, and ex- nner, as thofe o{ aicu. A freehold, qualitication for and a freehold, houfc-rcnt in St. live for the town. Ir for life, or a rem ,ut-towns, gives a :ach pariQi refpec- Ipounds per anmm, ,r rate of exchange i [■ling- :" II. WEST INDIES. ]il| ifl'uing out of any freehold or life cftate in the chap. town of St. George, gives a vote for a icprefcnta- tivc for the town. The law courts in Grenada, beficles thofc of chancery and ordinary, ar firft, the court of grand feflions of the pear eld twice a year, viz. in March and September. this court the tirft pcrfon named in the coi ..union of the {jeace prefides, who is ufually the prefulent or fenior ia council. ' • * •' • cdly. The court of common pleas. Tiie court confifts of one chief and four afliftant jufticcs, whofe commiflions are during pleafure. The chief juftice is ufually appointed in England, a profeflional man, and receives a falary of £. 600 fer annum. The four affiftant juflices are ufually appointed by the governor from among the gentle- men of the ifland, and aft without falar}'. 3dly, The court of exchequer. The barons ill this court are commiflioned in like manner as in the court of common pleas. But this court is lately grown into difufe. t ■ ' .- 4thly, The court of admiralty, for trial of all )rize caufes of capture from enemies in war, ind of revenue feizures in peace or war. There is one judge of admiralty and one furrogate. . . Lastly, The governor and council compofe court of error, as in Jamaica, for trying all ap- )eals of error from the court of common pleas. Cc3 Although , m m H !l ^, ^ ^ ^v^.^^' ^J* IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 v^ ^ ^s lit yi2 |2.2 1.1 l.-^isa |L25 1 u ^ < 6" ► ^ 1^ 7. /i / ^J ^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STRItT WEBSTBR.N.Y. MStO (716) •73-4503 '^ if ^ 590 ■/<;. ;fil; I ,f.f\ t^hi^ HISTORY OF THE Although there is no law of Grenada decla- ring an adoption of the laws of England, yet it has been always the pradice of the courts, to confider both the common and ftatute law of England to extend to Grenada in all applicable cafes, not otherwife provided for by particular laws of the illand. So in like manner the praftice of the courts in Weftminfter-Hal), and authentick reports of adjudged cafes there, are reforted to, when precedents and authorities are wanting in the ifland. In the cafe of itsjlave laws, it may be faid with truth and juilice, that the affembly of this iiland have (hewn a liberality of fentiment which refle6ts the higheft honour on their characters, both as legiflators and chriflians. I HAVE now furnilhed the reader with all the information I have coUefted, concerning the paft hiftory ?nd prefent flate of the ifland of Grenada,* and if it (hall be thought deficient or uninftruc- tive, the fault is not in the want of materials, but in the workman. Something however re- mains to be obferved concerning fuch of the Grenadines as are dependent on the Grenada government, the chief of which are Cariacou and Ifle Ronde. The former contains 6,913 acres of land, and in general it is fertile and well culti- * This was written in 1791 : fincethat time Grenada has fuftained a melancholy rcverfe of fortune, fome particulars of which will be related in a fubfeqiient volume. '' • vated; * 1 .. .' ? WEST INDIES. apt II. vated i producing in feafonable years a million of chap. pounds of cotton for exportation, beiides corn, yams, potatoes, and plantains fuificient for the maintenance of its negroes. The cultivation of fugar has been found lefs fuccefsful in this ifland than cotton, though it ftill continues to be made on two plantations, lile Ronde contains about 500 acres of excellent land, which are wholly ap- plied to pafturage, and the cultivation of cotton. It is fituated about midway between Cariacou and the north end of Grenada, about four leagues from each. I SHALL clofe my account of this colony, as of Barbadoes, with an authentick return by the In- fpedor General of Great Britain, of the exports from Grenada and its dependencies, for the year 1787 i containing alfo an eftimate of the a<%ual value ofthefeveral articles at the BritiQi market: m p it ! 3! I .t* ?> i^ ;;. Cc4 ;l;?r li'i 39* HISTORY OF THE Book; An A C C O U N T of the Number of Veflels, their Tonnage, and Men (including I repeated Voyages) that cleamd outwards from the Iflandof Grenada, &c. to all Pjl the World, between the 5th January 1787 and the 5th January 1788, with theSpl Quantities, and Value of their Cargoes, according to the a£tual Prices in Londonl the Infpeftor General of Great Britain. VHuther bound. To Great Britain Ireland — — American States Britifh Ameri- can Colonies Foreign Weftl Indies - - j } SHIPPING. N» 7 47 30 39 188 Tom. 13.276 771 6'373 «,6io 3.734 25,764 Men. 969 59 410 194 192 1,824 SUGAR. RUM. ME. LASSES. 1 Cwt. qrt. lbs. Gallons. Gallons. 172,880 - 9 102,590 ■^ 1,248 - - 86,100 — 290 - — 272,080 — 1,130 209,620 4.300 - — i7S'S48 - 9 670,390 4,300 COFPE! Cwt. qti. 8,550 i 44-' &i3 -. 8,812 n hi : Whither bound. •^ To Great Britain Ireland - - - American States Britifh Amen- 7 can Colonies j Foreign Weft 7 Indies - -J (J CACAO. COTTON. Cwt. qrs.lbs. 2,645 I 2 19 2 16 36-. i6 2,716 3 18 lbs. 2,030,177 3».aSo 2,062,427 IN- DIGO. lbs. 1,560 1,250 Value of Mifcellaneous Articles, as Hides, Dying Woods, &c. 64.439 — 3 24 10 — 27 4 — 15 6- 39 2,810 64,545 — 3 Total Vi accordinii current Prf £■ 13,380 24,597 21,469 in 614,908 Book ] d Men (includingj (lada, &c. to all P:u 1788, with the Sp Prices in London.] **^*„ COFPEI ASSES. Sallonit Cwt. qn, — 8,55° « — I 44- 4»$o° 1 ^'^ "' 4,300 8|8i» }| lueof lUneous les, as , Dying Total Vl accotd'm|i current Vi ,9-3 SSS.a" 4 10— »3.S2°| 7 4—1 H'S97| 15 6— »I469 3l ^5 — 3 1 614,908] WEST INDIES. POSTSCRIPTtothe HISTORY of GRENADA, 393 The firft edition of this work having fallen into the hands of a gentleman of diftin- guifhed abilities and learning (one of his Majefty's Serjeants at Law) he was pleafed, at the author's requeft, to communicate his thoughts in writing on the dodlrine maintained by Lord Mansfield, concern- ing the legal authority of the crown over conquered countries, as ftated in page 365 of this voluitie, which I have great pleafure in prefenting to the reader in the precifc words in which they were given : 1 HE ground upon which the court refted their judgment in the cafe of Grenada, was clearly fufficient to warrant that judgment, even admit- ting the doftrine laid down by Lord Mansfield on the other point to be well founded j but no- thing can be more unfounded than that doftrine : — every propofition upon which it is made to reft is a fallacy. 1 deny that the king (at leaft fince the conftitution has had its prefcnt form) can " arbi- trarily grant or refufe a capitulation.*' The power . . of ( • ,1 I 31 lit''' m i 1 1 n Ell f OTf B i, ! ■-■■ k i i :l m m - i .it i Ik i'A fiif. 1 M ' i I I It I I I : V I I ■I :!'' /.'t'i I- ii! .'( HISTORY OF THE of granting or refufing a capitulation, in the cafe of a fiege or invadon, is certainly veiled in him ; but it is veiled in him like every other power with which he is entrufted by the Britilh confti- tutton, to be exercifed according to the ufage which has prevailed in like cafes, If that power fhould be abufed, his officers and minifters piuft anfwer to the publick for their mifcondu^t. For the fame reafon I deny that ♦* the king can put the inhabitants of a conquered country to the fword, or otherwife exterminate them,'* unlefs fuch feverity be fully juftified by the laws of war, as they are underflood amongft civilized nations. But, fuppofing that a cafe fhould happen wherein fuch feverity would be juftifiable, I deny that, upon the extermination of the eneiny, the lands would belong to the king himfelf : I fay they would belong to the ftate ; and that they would be fubjeA, not merely to the king, but to the fovereign power which governs the Britifli dominions. If the king receives the inhabitants under his proteAion, and grants them their pro- perty, I deny that he has power to fix fuch terms and conditions as he thinks proper ; for he can- not referve to himfelf, in his individual capacity, legiflative power over them : that would be to exclude the authority of the Britifh legillature firom the government of a country fubdued by Britifli the cafe in him i er power h confti- ;he ufage tiat power ftcrs vnuft « the king ;d country itc them,'* by the laws rft civilized aid happen .able, 1 deny enemy, the nfelf : I % ^d that they king, but to s the Briti(h e inhabitants jm their pro- ,xfuch terms for he can- lual capacity, would be to i(h legiilature fubdued by Britifl^ WEST INDIES. Britifh forces, and would be an attempt to erefl intpffitm in imperio. One confequencc of this would be, that fueh conquered territory might defcend to an heir of the king not qualified ac- cording to the aft of fettlemcnt, to fucceed to the crown of Great Britain, The king might give it to a younger fon, or beftow it on a ftranger. A thoufand other abfurd confequences might be pointed out, as refulting from fuch incongruity. ] ADMIT that the king (fubjedtotherefpon- fibility of his minifters) may yield up a conqueft, or retain it, as he fees beft : but I deny, for the reafons above hinted at, that he can impofe what terms he pleafes,or that he can arbitrarily change the law or political form of its government. I think he may agree, upon the capitulation, that the conquered people (hall continue to enjoy their ancient religion and laws, and even this muft be^^ modo j but 1 deny that he could, by his own authority, grant thefe things after the capitulation} for that would amount to an ex-, ercife of independant fovereignty. The fallacy of Lord Mansfield's argument, proceeds from an endeavour to confound the king's civil and mili- tary charaders, and to perpetuate in the chief executive magiftrate, the vaft powers with which it is neceflary to inveft the generaliflimo of the armies," during the continuance of military opera- tions, The moment thefe operations ceafe, he refumes \ ! w I'jil ; ii^. \ I ; ■ ) V '•.i'. i' ; Mil' t k.k\ %'i 111 l!.| !t, i> •1 1 iU \} i ;ii?' 1 1, > ! HISTORY OF THE refumcs his civil charadler, and in that charader no man will venture to aifert that, as king of Great Britain, he has the prerogative of being a defpot in any part of his dominions. With rcfpeft to the cafes of Ireland, Wales, and Berwick, even taking them precifely as Lord Mansfield puts them, I think they do not W(;igh a feather in the argument. Thpfe cafes happened long before the Englifli conftitution had reduced itfelf to its prefent form, confequently, before the rights of the people were afcertained and defined as they exi^ at prefent. If a few inflances of the exercife of arbitrary power by the ancient kings of England, are to be received as decifive cafes, to fhew what are the powers of the crown at this day, I think it would be no very difficult tafk to find authorities, even as low down as the reigns of the Plantagenets and Stuarts, to prove that the Britifh government ought to be a pure defpotifm ! 1 ! # t .1 WEST INDIES. J97 ara£teT dng of being a , Wales, as Lord at w«;ig^ lappened i reduced jcfore the ,d defined ices of the nt kings of re cafes, to at this day, afk to find eigns of the the Britilh )tifi» • APPENDIX TO C H A P. II. OF BOOK II. CONTAINIMO Objervattons on tht Sugar Antt in the Ifland of Grenada ; €xtra£led from a Letter of John CaJiUi^ Efq. to General Melville : read before the Royal Satiety in May 1790. Th e Sugar Ants, fo called from their ruinous efFe£ls on fugar c&ne, are fuppofed to have firft made their appear- ance in Grenada about the year 1770, on a fugar planta- tion at Petit Havre ; a bay five or fix miles from the town of St. George, the capital, conveniently fituaied for fmug- gling from Martinico: it was therefore concluded, they were brought from thence in fome veflel employed in that trade, which is very probable, as colonies of them in like manner were afterwards propagated in difterent parts of the ifland by droghers, or veflels employed in carrying ftores, &c. from one part of tlie iiland to ano- ther. From thence they continued to extend themfelves on all fides for feveral years ; deftroying in fucceffion every fugar plantation between St. George's and St. John's, a fpace of about twelve miles. At the fame time, colonies of them began to be obferved in different parts of the ifland, particularly at Duqueihe on the north, and Calavini on the fouth fide of it. All attempts of the planters to put a flop to the ravages i'li ( i f soi ii) ij '1' HISTORY OF THE ravages of thefe infe^Sls having been found ineffefhial, it well became the legiflature to offer great publick rewards to any perfon who (hould difcover a pradtlcable method of deftroying them, fo as to permit the cultivation of the fugar cane as formerly. Accordingly, an a£l of afTembly was pafTed, by which fuch difcoverer was entitled to twenty thoufand pounds, to be paid from the publick treafury of the iflaiid, « , Many were the candidates on this occafion, but very far were any of them from having any juft claim : never- thelefs, confiderable fums of money were granted, in con- fideration of trouble and expences in making experi- ments, &c. In Grenada there had always been fcveral fpecies of ants, differing in flze, colour, &c. which however were per- fcftly innocent with refpedl to the fugar-cane. The ants in queftlon, on the contrary, were not only highly injuri- ous to it, but to feveral forts of trees, fuch as the lime, lemon, orange, Stc, These ants are of the middle flze, of a (lender make, of a dark red colour, and remarkable for the quicknefs of their motions j but their greateft peculiarities are, their tafte when applied to the tongue, the immenfity of their tiumber, and their choice of places for their nefts. All the other fpecies of ants in Grenada have a bitter muflcy tafle. Thefe, on the contrary, are acid in the highefl degree, and when a number of them were rubbed together between the palms of the hands, they emitted a ftrong vitriolick fulphureous fmell j fo much fo, that, when this experiment was made, a gentleman conceived that it might be owing to this quality that thefe infeds were fo unfriendly to vegetation. This criterion to diftinguifh them was infallible, and known to every one. 1 ' . Their :fFe£hia]« it :k reward* ble method ition of the of affembly entitled to the publick ,n, but very im: never- ted, in con- ing expcri- eciesofants, ir were per- e. The ants lighly injuri- L as the lime, nder make, of quicknefs of ties are, their nfity of their nefts. have a bitter acid in the were rubbed hey emitted a fo, that, when iceived that it ifefts werefo to diftinguifh ne. Their WEST INDIES. Their numbers were incredible. I have fccn the roads coldured by them for miles together ; and fo crowd- ed were they in many places, that the print of the horfcs feet would appear for a moment or two, until Blled up by the furrounding multitude. This is no exaggeration. All the other fpccies of ants, although numerous, were circumfcribed and confined to a fmall fpot, in proportion to the fpace occupied by the cane ants, as a mole hill to a mountain. The common black ants of that country had their nefts about the foundation of houfes or old walls } others in hollow trees ; and a large fpecies in the paftures, defcend- ing by a fmall aperture under ground. The fugar ants, 1 believe, univerfally conftru£led their nefts among the roots of particular plants and trees, fuchasthefugar^cane, lime, lemon, and orange trees, &c. The deftrudion of thefe ants was attempted chiefly two ways ; by poifon, and the application of fire. ' For the firft purpofe, arfenick and corrofive fublimate mixed with animal fubftances, fiich as fait fifh, herrings, crabs, and other fliell fiih, &c. were ufcd, which was greedily devoured by them. Myriads of them were thus deftroyed ; and the more fo, as it was obfcrved by a mag- nifying glafs, and indeed (though not fo diftin£tly) by the naked eye, that corrofive fublimate had the effect of ren- dering them fo outrageous that they deftroyed each other ; and that efFedt was produced even by coming into coiitad with it. But it is clear, and it was found, that thcfi: poifonscould not be laid in fufHcient quantities over fo large a tradt of land as to give the hundred thoufandth part of them a tafte. The ufe of fire afforded a greater probability of fuc- cefs i for (from whatever caufe) it was obfcrved, that if wood, 9$9 .. !• m ;.U:. ■ u • f ■Is $ p i^ ; iij.i^: 4M IlISTORYOFTHE APPEN- wood, burnt to the flate of (iharccA), without flame, jukI l>i^. immediately taken from the fire, was laid in their way, they crowded to it in fuch ama^eing numbers as Toon to extinguifh it, although with the deftru^tion of thoufands of them in efFe£ling it. This part of their hiftory ap- pears fcarcely credible i but, on making the experiment myfclf, I found it literally true. I laid fire, as above de- (cribed, where there appeared but very few ants, and in the courfc of a few minutes thoufands were fecn crowd- ing to it and upon it, till it was |)erfe6lly covered by their dead bodies. Holes were therefore dug at proper dif- tances in a cane piece, and fire made in each hole. Prodigious quantities pcrifhed in this way ; for thofe fires, when extinguifhed, appeared in the fhapc of mole hills, from the numbers of their dead bodies heaped on them. Neverthelefs the ants foon appeared again, as numerous as ever. This may be accounted for, not only from their amazing fecundity, but that probably none of the breeding ants or young brood fufFered from the experi- ment. For the fame leafon, the momentary general applica- taion of fire by burning the cane trafh (or flraw of the cane) as it lay on the ground, proved as little cfFe£lual ; for although, perhaps, multitudes of ants might have been deflroyed, yet in general they would efcape by retiring to their nefls under cover, out of its reach, and the breed- ing ants, with their young progeny, mufl have remained unhurt. This calamity, which refifted fo long the efforts of the planters, was at length removed by another } which, however ruinous to the other iflands in the Weft Indies, and in other refpects, was to Grenada a very great blef- fmg} namely, the hurricane in 1780^ without which it is ■■■k- ;ii i> flame, ana their way, as foon to ,f thoufands hiftory ap- experitnent 18 above de- ants, and in fecn crowd- cred by their t proper dif- 1 each hole, for thofc fires, of mole hills, ipcd on them. ,, as numerous iot only from ,y none of the om the experi- reneral appVica- ir ftraw of the [little efFeaual i jght have been ,e by retiring to and the breed- have remained Ig the efforts of [another j which, Ithe Weft Indies, very great blef- wiibout. which it is \ ^..y U i !: J ll!l^ ■•■••TV;'- N Y. • n C< f ^H N . >rl ,v 'I !l :«!*! f !| ^^■ 'f ;i ■■ ;i ' I U «H ^ 4^ c« f=! M M an caj y "^1 "^1 l^- 5 -6 I 5 WEST INDIES, is probable, the cultivation of the fugar* cane in the mod valuable parts of that ifland muft have in a great meafure been thrown afide, at lead for fome years. How this hurricane produced tliis effe&, has been confidered rather as a matter of wonder and furprize than attempted to be explained. By attending to the following obfervationS) the difficulty, I believe, will be removed. These ants make their nefts, or cells for the reception of their eggs, only tinder or among the roots of fuch trees or plants as are nut only capable of proteiiing them from heavy rains, but are at the fame time fo firm in the ground as to afford a fee u re bafis to fupport them againft any injury occafioned by the agitation of the ufual winds. This double qualification the fugar-cane poflefTes in a very great degree } for a ftool of canes (which is the af- fembloge of its numerous roots where the flems begin to {hoot out) is almoft impenetrable to rain, and is alfo, from the amazing numbers and extenfion of the roots, firmly fixed to the ground. Thus, when every other part of the field is drenched with rain, the ground under thofe ftools will be found quite dry, as I and every other planter muft have obferved when digging out the ftools in a cane piece, to prepare for replanting. And when canes are lodged or laid down by the ufual winds, or fall down by their own luxuriancy, the ftools commonly remain in the ground j hence, in ordinary weather, the nefts of thefe ants are in a ftate of perfeft fee rity. The lime, lemon, orange, and fome other trees, alFord thefe infe£ls the fame advantages from the great number and quality of their roots, which are firmly fixed to the earth, and are very large j befides which, their tops ara fo very thick and umbrageous as to prevent even a very heavy rain from reaching the ground underneath. Vol. I. Dd Om 401 ' » \ '': riirl^ '(•) :• . > ii i ■ ! I V'l ■■■ '* 5 : fi:: Mi rv. t [. m-^'mmmK^" ♦oi HISTORY 6# tfelS On the contnity, tirde ants' nefts ait never fbund at the roots of trees or plants incapable of affording th6 above protedion } fach for inftance as the coffee tree i it is indeed fuf&ciently firm in the ground, but it has only one large tap robt^ which goes flraight downwards } and its lateral roots are fo fmall as to afford no (belter againfl rain. So again^ the roots of the cotton ihrub run tod near the furfiice of the earth .to prevent the accefs of rairi, and are neither fufficiently permanent, nor firm enough to tefift the agitation by the ufual winds. The fiimc obfer- vation will be found true with refpeft to cacao, plantains^ tnaizc, tobacco, indigo, and many other fpecies of trees and plants. Trees or plants of the firfl defcription always fuflfer more or lefs in lands infefted with thefe ants; whereas thofe of the latter never do. Hence we may fkirly con- clude, that the mifchief done by thefe infeds is occalloned only by their lodging and making their nefts about the toots of particular trees or plants. Thus the roots of tile fugar-canes are fomehow or other fo much injured by them, as to be incapable Of performing their office of fup- plying due nourifbment to die plants, which, therefore, become fickly and (tinted, and confequendy do not afford juices' fit for making fugar in either tolerable quantity or quality. That thefe ants do not feed on any part of the canes or trees afFe£led feems very clear, for no lofs of fubflance in either the one or the other has ever been obferved} nor have they ever been feen carrying off vegetable fubftances of any fort. ^ On the contrary, there is the greateft prefumption that thefe ants are ciarnivOrous, and feed entirely on animal fubflances ; for if a dead infeA, or animal food of any fort, 8 WW and at »g ** etreei as only ts) and againft run tod iofrairt» [lOUgh to ^c obfer* plantains* , of trees /ays fuffef . whereas fejrly con- occaftoned 5 about the \t toots of ii^ured by Ificeoffup- 1^ therefore, o not afford quantity or of the canes offubftance bfervedjnor Ic fubftances umption that ly on anitn^ d of any fort, West INDIES. Was laid in their way* it was immediately carried off. It Was found almoft impoffible to preferve cold Visuals from them. The largeft carcafies, as foon as they began to be- come putrid, fo as that they could feparate thtf parts, foon disappeared. N egroes wi th fores had difficulty to keep the ants from the edges of them. They deftroycd all other vermin, rats in particular, of which they cleared every plantation they came upon, which they probably efFeiStcd by attacicing their young. It was found that poultry, or other fmall (lockj could be raifed with the greateft diffi-> culty ; and the eyes, nofe, and other emundories of the bodies of dying or dead animals wete inftantly covered . with thefe ants. From what has been faid it appears, that a dry fituation^ fo as to exclude the ordinary rains from their nefts or cells, appropriated for the reception of their eggs or fyoung brood, is abfolutely neceflary j but that thefe fituations^ however well calculated for the ufual weather, could not aiFord this protection from rain 'during the hurricane, may be eafily conceived. When by the violence of the tempeft heavy pieces of artillery were removed from their places, and houfes and fugar works levelled with the ground, there can be no doubt that trees, and every thing growing above ground, muft have greatly fuiFered. This Was the cafe. Great numbers of trees and plants (which commonly refift the ordinary winds) were torn out by the root. The canes were univerfally either lodged or twifted about as if by a whirlwind, or torn out of the ground altogether. In the latter cafe, the breeding ants^ with their progeny, muft have been expofed to inevitable deftru£tion from the dehige of rain which fell at the fame time. The number Dda of 4IX. have been adequate to the fudden diminution of the fugaf ants i but it is eafy to conceive that the roots of canes, which remained on the ground, and the earth about them, were fo agitated and (halcen, and at the fame time the ants' nefts were fo broken open or injured by the violence of the wind, as to admit the torrents of rain accompanying it. I apprehend, therefore, that the principal deftru&ion of thefe ants muft have been thus effected. It muft not however be denied, that though nature for a time may permit a particular fpecies of animal to become fo difproportionably numerous as to endanger fome other parts of her works, (he herfelf will in due thne put a check upon the too great increafe; and that is often done by an increafe of fome other animal inimical to the former deftrcyers. In the prefent cafe, however, nothing of that fort appeared ; .therefore, when a plain natural caufe, obvious to our fenfes, occurred, by which we can account for the amazing and fudden decrcafe of thofe ruinous infe<5ls, it is unnecefTary to recur to other poffible- caufes too minute for our invefiigation. All I have faid on this fubje£t would certainly be of little or no confequence, did it not lead to the true method of cultivating the fugar-cane on lands infefted with thofe deftrudive infe£ts ; in which point of view, however, it becomes Important. If then the above doctrine be juft, it follows that the whole of our attention muft be turned to the deftruAion of the nefb of thefe ants, and confequently the breeding ants with their eggs or young birood. In order to effeA this, all trees and fences, under the roots of which thefe ants commonly take their refidence, ihoulJ •■■JliTT^W??'.. Inot fugar ;anes, them* I ants' nee of anying >u£tion nature imal to ndangev lue time that is inimical however, !X a plain by Awhich ecrcafe of rto other un ily be of the true infefted It of view. VS' that the deftruftion e breeding under the : refidence, {hould WESTINDtES. 40s Ihould iirft be grubbed out) particularly lime or lemon c H A P. fences, which are very common in Grenada, and which 11. generally fufFercd from the ants before the canes appear- ed in the lead injured ; after which the canes (hould be ftumpcd out with care, and the ftools burnt as foon as poifible, together with the field trafli (or the dried leaves and tops of die canes) in order to prevent the ants from making their efcape to new quarters. The heft way of doing this, I apprehend, will be to gather the field traftx together in confiderable heaps, and to throw the ftools as foon as dug out of the ground into them, and immedi- ately apply fire. By this means multitudes muft be de- ftroyed } for the field tra(h, when dry, burns with great ra- pidity. The land (hould t^en be ploughed or hoe-plough- ed twice (but at leaft once) in the wetted; feafon of the year, in order to admit the rains, before it is hoed for planting the cane ; by thefe means thefc infe£ls, I appre- hend, will be fo much reduced in number as at leaft to fecure a good plant cane. But it is the cuftom in moft of the Weft India iflands to permit the canes to ratoon ; that is, after the canes have once been cut down for the purpofe of making fugar, they are fuffered to grow up again without replant- ing; and this generally for three or four years, but fome- times for ten, fifteen, or twenty. In this mode of culture the ftools become larger every year, fo as to grow out of the ground to a confiderable height, and by that means afford more and more (helter to the ants' nrfts i therefore for two or three fucceffive crops the canes (hould be re- planted yearly, fo as not only to afford as little cover as pofHble for the ants' nefts, but continually to difturb fuch ants as may have efcaped, in the bufinefs of propagating their fpecies. D d 3 That fi 406 HISTORY OF THE That confiderable expence and labour will iitteiid putting this method into execution there is no doubt. An expenfive cure, however, is better than none } but from the general principles of agriculture, I am of opinion that the planter will be amply repaid for his trouble by the goodnefs of his crops, in conlequence of the fuperior tjlth the land will receiye in theprppofed method. ;ii; m} WEST INDIES. 4«l I 11 , C H A P. ni. 6t. VINCENT AND ITS DEPENDENCIES, AND DOMINICA, 1 RB civil hiftory of thefe iilands may be com- chap. prifed in a narrow compafs ; for the fovereigiity of " ' • them having been long an objc<^ of difpute ber tween the crowns of Great Britain and France^ the rightful polTeiTors, the Charaibes, derived that fecurity from the reciprocal envy and avarice of the contending parties, which they might have expeded in vain from their juftice and humanity. As both St. Vincent and Dommira were includr ed, with many other iilands, in the Earl of Car- lifle's patent, it is not wonderful that attempts were made, at different times, to bring them under the Engli(h dominion. Thefe attempts the French conftantly oppofed, with deiign, it wa& urged, fecretly and furreptitiouily to occupy the Dd4 Ifland& n;!l V\ 4«i '■ t :,,., \i HISTORY OF THE Iflands themfelves j and their condud towards the Charaibes on other occafions feems to juftify the fuggeftion, But, whatever might have been their motives, they exerted themfelves with fuch effed, that the Englifli were compelled to relinquifli all hopes of obtaining thefe iflands by force; — for by the treaty of Aix la Chapelle (1748) St. Vincent, Dominica, St. Lucia, and Tobago, were declared neutral, and the ancient proprietors (fuch as re- mained of them) were at length left in unmolefl- cd polilflion. The difputes and hoftilities which thefe at- tempts of the Englifli on the one hand, and re- fiftance of the French on the other, gave rife to in this part of the world, are no longer intereft- ing, and therefore need not be brought again to remembrance. The depravity and injuftice of mankind are at all times fubjedts of unpleafing fpeculation ; but the fubfequent condud of both nations, riefpeding the Iflands which they had de- clared neutral, is too remarkable to be overlook- ed, even if hiltorical precifion did not, as in the prefent cafe it does, require me to relate the cir- cumftances attending it. ' The treaty of neutrality was no fooner con- cluded, than both Englifh and French appeared diffatisfied with the arrangement which they had made. The latter feem not to have confidered . . h iixk , until \ towards tojuftify ir motives, I, that the i\\ hopes of or by the t. Vincent, re declared fuch as re- [ unmoleft- h thefe at- nd, and re- gave rife to ger intereft- rht again to injuftice of f unpleafing lud of both they had de- be overlook-' ot, as in the ?late the cir'» fooner con- ich appeared Ich they had t^e confidered vntU WEST INDIES. tintil it was too late, that by reftrifting the Eng- li(h from the occupancy of thofc countries, on the ground of right in a third party, they preclud- ed thcmfelves at the fame time. The Englilh, on the other band, difcovered that, by acceding t "* the comproniife, they had given up St. Lucia, an land worth all the reft, and to which it muft be ounecl we had fome colourable pretenfions, founded on a treaty entered into with the Cha- raibean inhabitants in 1664, fix hundred of whom attended an armament that was fent thither by Lord Willoughby, and acflually put the Englilh publickly and formally into poffelTion. Both nations being thus alike diflatisfied with an arrangement which left nothing to either, it may be fuppofcd, that on the conclufion of the war which broke out a few years afterwards, a very different ftipulation took place. The French no longer pleaded fcruples on behalf of the Cha- raibes, but very cordially concurred with the Englilh in dividing the fpoil. By the 9th article of the peace of Paris, figned the i oth of February 1 763, the three iflands of Dominica, St. Vincent, and Tobago, were affigned to Great Britain j and St. Lucia to France, in full and perpetual fove- reignty ; the Charaibes not being once mentioned in the whole tranfaftion, as if no fuch people exifted. Jhey were in truth reduced to a miferable remnant,-— 409 N ' !■( ii' ■ I ij J" ; 4i# HI8T0RY0FTHE BOOK remnant.— Of the ancient, or, as they were called *"• by the Englifti, Re J Charaibes, not more than a hundred families furvived in 1 763, and of all their ancient and extenfivc iioflclTions, thefc poor people retained only a mountainous diftrift in the Ifland of St. Vincent. Of this Wand and its de- pendencies I (hall now treat, referving DooiiAlc)^ Ibr a feparate fedion. 1:11 '■' W ■; Section I« St, VINCENT, "THE Spaniards (fays Doftor Campbell) •* beftowed the name of St. Vincent upon this Ifland, becaufe they difcovered it upon the 2 2d of January, which in their calendar is St, Vincent's day, but it does not appear that they were ever, properly fpeaking, in poffeffion of it ; the Indians being very numerous here, on account of its being tlie rendezvous of their expeditions to the continent." Unfortunately, however, neither their numbers, nor the natural llrength of the country, exempted them from hoftility. What avarice; h«^d in vain attempted, .UiuPHiri accident t« M «i (( «i « U • /: » I irere called ore than % and of all thcle poor Irift in the and its dc- ; Dooiiniu r Campbell) nt upon this it upon the ilendar is St, car that they poffeffion of rous here, on vous of their nfortunately, )r the natural d them from in attempted, jtccident WEST INDIES. accident accomplifhcd, by procuring an eft^bUfh* mcnt among them for a r; c of pco^Jc, whom, though at firft beheld by the native Charaibes with contempt or pity, they have fmce found for- midublc rivals and mercilefs conquerors. Thcfc people have been long diftinguilhed, however im- properly, by the name of Black Charaibes. Op the origin of thefe intruders, and their ancient connexion with the native Charaibes, the bed account that I have been able to find is in a fmall treatife of the author above quoted (Doctor Campbell) entitled " Candid and impartial con- fiderations on the nature of the Sugar-trade," which being equally authentick and curious, \ (hall prefent to my readers entire j and with the Icfs Icruple, becaule it confifts chiefly of an official paper which cannot be abridged without injury. " In 1672, King Charles thought fit to divide thefe governments, and by a new commiffion ap- pointed Lord Willoughby Governor of Darba- does, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Dominica j Sir William Stapleton being appointed Governor of the other Leeward Tfles, and this reparation has fubfifted ever fince, the fame Iflands being con- flantly inferted in every new Governor's patent. On the demife of Lord Willoughby, Sir Jonathan Atkins was appointed Governor of Earbadoes, and the reft of thefe Iflands, and fo continued ^ill 16S0, when he was fucceeded by Sir Richard Dutton, 4M 'ti h I :! I ';! u s " ff V mi ' ' J I (,:.,: "V i « M ' if .■\ i\ ■. 't- u.n r' i „ { 4xa HISTORY OF THE Dutton, who being fent for to England in 16S5, appointed Colonel Edwin Stede Lieutenant Go- vernor, who vigoroufly aflerted our rights by ap- pointing Deputy Governors for the other Iflands ; and particularly fent Captain Temple hither to prevent the French from wooding and water- ing without our permiflion, to which they had been encouraged by the inattention of the former Governors; perfifting fteadily in this condudV, till it was fignified to him, as we have had occa- lion to remark before, that the king had figned an ad of neutrality, and that commiffioners were appointed by the two courts, to fettle. all dif- ferences relative to thefe Iflands. flnJrf..>/ ** Some years after, a fliip from Quinea, with a large cargo of Haves, was either wrecked or run on (hore upon the Ifland of St. Vincent, into the woods and mountains of which great numbers of the negroes efcaped faj. Here, whether wil- lingly or unwillingly is a little uncertain, the In- Ca) I am informed by Sir William Young, who is perfecily well acquainted with thefe people, that they were originally a race of Mocoes, a tribe or nation from the Bight of Benin. They were wrecked on the coafl: of Bcquin, a fmail ifland about two leagues from St. Vincent, inthcycar 1675, and were afterwards joined by great numbers of fugitive negroes from the other iflands. The Red Charaibes Grft kept them in flavery ; but finding their numbers encreafe, came to a refo- lution to put to death all their male children ; upon which the blacks rofe on their mafters, who by degrees have almoft all periflied in the cpnteft. • : .*• ; dians and in 1685, jutenant Go- rights by ap- otlier Iflands ; iple hither to T and water- bich they had 1 of the former this conduct, lave had occa- ing had figned miffioners were ) fettle , all di{- n guinea, with wrecked or run [incent, into the real numbers of whether wil- icertain, the Tn- ng, who is perfealy hty were originally ie Bight of Ikniii. ;quin, a fmall ifland year 167 5, and were gitive negroes from fir ft kept them in :afe, came to a refo- Wren; "pon which degrees have almoft dians WEST INDIE S4 dians fufFered them to remain, and partly by thfe acceflion of rune ay flaves from Barbadoes, partly by the children they had by the Indian women, they became very numerous ; fo that about the beginning of the current century they conftrained the Indians to retire into the north-weft part of the ifland. Thefe people, as may be reafonably fup- pofed, were much diffatisfied with this treat- ment ; and complained of it occafionally both to the Englilh and to the French, that came to wood and water amongft them. The latter at length fuffered themfelves to be prevailed upon to attack thefe invaders, in the caufe of their old allies J and from a perfuafion that they ftiould find more difficulty in dealing with thefe Negroes, in cafe they were fuffered to ftrengthen them- felves, than with the Indians. After much de- liberation, in the year 1719, they came with a confiderable force from Martinico, and landing without much oppofition, began to burn the Negro huts and deftroy their plantations, fup- pofing that the Indians would have attacked them in the mountains, which if they had done, the blacks had probably been extirpated, or forced to fubmit and become flaves. But either from fear or policy, the Indians did nothing, and the Negroes fallying in the night, and retreating in the day to places inaccefTible to the whites, de- flroyed 415 r.i fl ■ i i i ,.1 i '■ j t ! m \ ' 1 »' lyi: m^. i tMf- m ': 'i III. 4f# HISTORY OFTHE BOOK ftroyed (b many of the French* (amongft whonl was Mr. Patilian, major of Martinique, who com- manded them) that they were forced to retire. When by this experiment they were convinced that force would not do, they had recourfe to fair means, and by dint of perfuafions and prefentSy patclied up a peace with the Negroes as well as the Indians, from which they received great ad- vantage. " Things were in this fituation when Captain Uring came with a confiderable armament to take pofleffion of St. Lucia and this Ifland, in virtue of a grant from our late fovereign King George I. to the late Duke of Montague.- When the French had diflodged this gentleman, by a fuperior force from St. Lucia, he fent Captain R-aithwaite to try what could be done at the Illand of St. Vincent, in which he was not at all more fuccefsful, as will beft appear from that gentleman's report to Mr. Uring, which, as it contains federal curious circumftances relative to the country, and to the two independent na- tions who then inhabited it, belongs properly to this fubjed, and cannot but prove entertaining to the reader. The paper is without date, but it appears from Mr. Uring's memoirs that this tranfa6tion happened in the fpring of the year 172 3' "THE- longft whoni le, who com- :ed to retire. ;re convinced xourfe to fair and prefentsy •oes as, well as ived great ad- , wben Captain armament to this Ifland, in fovereign King mtague; When rentleman, by a ie fent Captain be done at the le was not at all )pear from that ig, which, as it iftances relative independent na- ,ngs properly to )ve entertaining lithout date, but jemoirs that this ing of the year « THR c< <( « «( eded. C6J Tlie Lords of the Treafury iixcd a minimuin, below which no land could be fold, which wa^;^. 5 tlfrling/?/* acre for every acre of cleared lard, and twenty fliillings for every acre in wood, and the principal conditions of iale were thefc, '• that every [.urchafer lliould pay down twenty ptr cM^ of the whole purchafe money, together with fix-pence fter- jing /"fz-acre, for the expence of furveying the land, and that the remainder of the purchafe money fliould be fecurcd by E e ^ bonds J 4*» j ■ sJ i- 1 Wa ' Bl) m\ :i If I'H Ml w I III Bl t Pi \ n f/f 1 iir ') ■ ', ' Hf ■ ■r 1 ■ C ! > 'I I I' 4SS HISTORY OF THE nearly one half the country was judged unfit for any profitable cultivation, thefe grants and fales comprehended all the lands, of any kind of value, from one end of the ifland to the other. The conimiilioncrs indeed were directed not to furvey ordifpofc of any of die luiuls inhabited or claim- ed by the; Charaibes, until they fliould receive further inftru^lions from the crown; but as it was impoflible to afccrtain how far the claims of thcfc people extended, the furvey alone was poft- poned, anil the fales were fuffcred .o proceed, to the amount that I have mentioned ; no doubt being entertained by the leveral purciiafers, that the Britifli government would ratify the ads of its commiflioncrs, and put them into pofleflion of the lands which they had bought, without any regard to the claims of *'-ie Charaibes; which in truth the purchafers feem tc have confidcred as of no confequence or validity. ' Of the mcafures which the Britilli ihinifters afterwards adopted with regard to thefe people, bonds; to be paid by equal inftalmcnts in t!ie fpace of five years next after the date of the grant. That each purchafer fliould keep on the lands fo by him purchafed, one white man, or two white women, for every hundred acres of land, as it became cleared, for the purpofe of cultivating the fame; or in default thereof, or non-payment of the remainder of the purchafe money, the lands were to be forfeited to the crown." Some of the lands fold extravagantly high, as far as fifty pounds (lerling/xrr acre. I have li Tcd unfit for nts and Tales And of value, other. The not to furvey ted or claini- liould receive m; but as it • the claims of lone was poft- cl .1) i»roceed, icd; no doubt lurchafers, that ify the afts of into poflelTion ht, without any libcs ; which in ,-e confidered as litilh rtiinifters to thefe people, in die fpace of five liat each purchafer jichafed, one white mired acres of land, ;i,ltivaliiig the fame; the remainder of the cited to the crown." high, as far as fifty I have W E S T I N D I E S. 49} 1 have fpoken ia the foroier editions of this work p h a p. harlhly and incofcdlyi and I feci no difgracc "^• in retiaifting involuntary error. The rq)relcnta- tion which I gave, had however the good efll-cl of calling forth an hiflorical account of thofc meafures from my moil refpcdablc friend Sir William Young, B:irt. fouhded on official papers and original documents in his pofleffion, and drawn up with all that candour and pcrfpicuity which v.ere to have been cxpedcd from its au- thor's diflinguilhcd character and talents. As the fubjed is no longer intcrcfting to tlie publick, I need only obfcrvc, that if the claim of the BritiQi crown to the fovereignty of this coun- try was originally juft and valid, then 1 do readily acknowledge that the meafures purfued by the Britilh adminiftrution to enforce that claim, were as lenient and confiderate as the cafe could pof- fibly allow ; and I was mifinformed when I gave a . different reprefentation. Ncverthclcfs, I will not facrifice, even on the flirinc of fricndlbip, the dignity of hiftorical narration, by averting that my friend has entirely convinced me tliat ihc pre- tcnfions of Gieat Britain were originally founded on any other plea than that oi political expedi- ency. — I am here fpcaking of thx Britilh claim, as ogaiiiji the a5lual po(jc£brs of the country ^ the black Charaibes. This claim, no cellion or aban- donment on the part of France could have E e 4 itrength- ii ■iJ • 4 n \m. I 4«4 '< (■' N V HISTORY OF THE ftrengthened ; inafmuch as Great Britain herfelf conftantly difputcd the pretcnfions of that Ciown to the neutral iflands;St. Vincent among th« reft. The Cliaraibes themfelvL?, as the report above quoted demonftrates, and as my friend ad- mits, uniformly and abfolutely denied any right in any of the fovercigns of Europe to their alle- giance. They averred that they knew no king, and would acknowledge none. They faid " they had originally been landed on the ifland by Ihip- wreck, and held it not only by right of con- queft over the aborigines, but alfo by adlual pof- feflion for near a century." Such was their title to St. Vincent's, and it would have been difficult, I think, for any nation in Europe to produce a better. Happily, by the temperate councils and the humane interpofition of the civil commiffioners employed by government to difpofe of the lands, the conteft with thefe people (not however until hoftilities had been commenced and many lives facrificed) was at length finally compromifed and adjufted,to the fatisfadion,as it was then hoped, of the contending parties. A treaty of peace and friendfliip was ccncluded with them on the 27th February 1773 j the articles of which I have fub- joined in an appendix to this chapter. By this treaty the fituation of the Charaibes, in fefped to the Crown of Great Britain, was defined and li. ■• Titain bcrfclf flhat Ciown t among t^« as the report my friend al- lied any right ; to their alle- kncw no king, hey faid" they ifland by lliip- right of con- 3 by adual i)of- h was their title re been difficult, ope to produce WEST INDIES. Olid clearly cxprclFcd ; and I admit that their future conduct was to be tried by the terms of it. On the 19th of June 1779, St. Vincent's (hared the common fate of mod of the Britilh Well Indian poflcffions, in that unfortunate war with America, which fwalJowcd up all the re- sources of the nation, being captured by a Imall body of troops from Martinico, confiding of only four hundred and fifty men, commanded by a Lieutenant in the French navy. The black Cha- raibes however, notwithftanding the treaty of 1773, immediately joined the enemy, and there is no doubt that the terror which feized the Britifh inhabitants, from an apprehenfion that thofe people would proceed to the moft bloody enormities, contributed to the very eafy viftory which was obtained by the invaders; for the ifland furrendered without a ftruggle. The terms of capitulation were favourable, and the ifland was reftored to the dominion of Great Britain by the general pacification of 1783. It contained at that time fixty-one fugar eftates, five hundred acres in coffee, two hundred acres in cacao, four hundred in cotton, fifty in indigo, and five hun- dred in tobacco, befides land appropriated to the raifing provifions, fuch as plantains, yams, maize, &c. All the reft of the country, excepting the few 4»f t , M : Sil *;i viiH'rt I : V i 426 HISTORY OF THE BOOK few fpots that had been cleared from time to '"• time by the Charaibes, retained its native woods, and mod of it, I believe, continues in the fame Hate to the prefent hour. It is remarkablq that no flipulation was made by the French governnieni' on this occafion, on behalf of their allies the Charaibes, whom they had feduced from their allegiance ; and it there- fore refle ' ' i H ' - 4Jt8 HISTORY OF THE ^ rity, and does mfinlte credit both to its orrgraal founders and prefent direftors. In the frame of its government and the ad- mittiftration of executive juflice, St. Vincent feems to differ in no refpeft from Grenada. — The council confift of twelve members, the aflembly of feventeen. The Governor's falary (exclufive of fees of office) is t\yo thoufand pounds fl:erling> of which £. 1,300 is a charge upon the fund arifing from the duty of 4 f per centum. The re- mainder is by grant of the aflembly. The n^ilitary force confifts ^t prefent of a re- giment of infantry, and a company of art illeryj, fent from England ; and a b}a,cl^ corps raifed in the country — but proyided fqr, with the former on the Britifli eftablifliment, and receiving no additional pay from the ifland. The militia con-> fills of two regimerits of foot, ferving vyi^l^out. pay of any kind, The number of inhabitants appears, by the laft returns to government, to be one thoufand four hundred and fifty Whites, and eleven thou- fand eight hundred and fifty-three Negroes. Of the labour of thefe people I have no otlier means of fliewing the returns, than from the In- fpetSkor General's account of the exports from this ifland for 1 787, a table of which, as in the cafe ot the other iflands, is fubjoined. In this table, how- .... . , ever, 3 its origm^ and the ad- St. Vincent renada. — ^The [leaffemblyof ; (exdufive of 3unds fterling, ipon the fund nttitn. There« )ly. prefent of a re- jany of artillery, : corps raifed in with the former md receiving no The miluia con* ferving 'N}\\>'P^^- appears, by the be one thoufand and eleven thou- „iree Negroes. L 1 have no other Ithan from the In- e exports from this Ih, as in the cafe ot In this table, how- ever, W£ST INDlfeS. 4J5 tiver, I conceive is comprehended the produce of chap, the feveral iflands dependant on the St. Vincent "i. government, viz. Bequia, containing 3,700 acres. This little ifland is valuable from the commodi- oufnefs of its fine harbour, called Admiralty Bay j Union, containing ^,150 acres; Canouane, con- taining 1,777 acres; and Muf^ique, containing about 1,203 acres fd) ; the N(-- roes employed in the cultivation of tliefe iflands (in number about 1,400) being, I believe, included in the 11,853 before mentioned. CJ) There are likewife the little Iflots of Petit Martinique^ Petit St. Vincent, Maillereau, and Ballefeau, each of which produces a little cotton. :i ' I J i ) '■ [ :}, i ! t 1^ 1 ;■ %': 1 \r ■ il ! il ! ■ { I, ' t >• i ■ 1 t < ,: ; J n il 1 'V. : i. ,| j; W \ ; ?' i 'SR ' jtji'lt/ ',' t 9 '' M I 1 ; .43» HIStORY OF THE Book III; J3 w 60 .3 .^ & > « a .O .«> o ■J3 O -S 3 (^ O M £J .y 00 « J= l-H ^^ h "? ^ « y ^ c CO .2 2; g t3 ? tf & bO U -o u- O in "3 o -a 4-t C! -o H 5 S ^ Oi *• Si n S r* I "s? O IS & CO O bO CO 1 I « I O I I O 5? I 1:* o t^ «^ . VO oo CO VO Tn o in o yo H VO f) to l-**^ ■g M Book Illi •** f^ . w ^ — ij'immimu ii — fjiji»ui.».' - 0-1 -?!- ■•*S ^ .^ t^ cV •^ \ % ■is )> i ' 5c '^ u ^ N ^ o ^ ^ ^ ^. h ^ ^ ^ p ^ a 5; Is. f^ «; ^ -i .it jf ■ilM m h :|!''Jfi ! : ) WEST INDIES. 4il S E C T I N II. DOMINICA. THE illand of Dominica, was fo named by Chriftopher Columbus, from the circumftance of its being difcovered by liim on a Sunday (ej. My account of it will be very brief, for its civil hiftory, like that of St. Vincent, is a mere blank previous to the year 1759, when by conqueft it fell under the dominion of Great Britain, and was afterwards confirmed to the Britifli crown, by the treaty of peace concluded at Paris in February 1763- Notwithstanding that Dominica had, until that time, been confidered as a neutral ifland, many of the fubjc(fls of France had efta- blifhed coffee plantations, and other fettlements, in various parts of the country ; and it rcfleds honour on the Britifli adminiftration, that thefe people were fecured in their poffcfficns, on con- (ej November 3d. i493« It was the firft land which he difcovered in his fecond voynge, after having been twenty days at fea from the Canaries, ,, dition !!'■ Itv I : li (||^ f Ml i^ 11 ;l!i I . I *J* HISTORY OF THK dltion of taking the oaths of allegiance to hi* Britannick Majefty and paying a fmall quit- rent (f). The reft: of the cultivable lands were ordered to be fold on the fame conditions as thofe of St. Vincent, by commiflioners nominat- ed for that purpofe, and no lefs than 94,346 acres (comprehending one haff of the i/Iand) were ac- cordingly difpofed of by audtion, in allotments from fifty to one hundred acres, yielding the fum of^.312.092. II J. \ d. fterling money ('^y. It does not however appear that the purchafes thus made by Britifh fubjeds have anfwered the expeftation of the buyers ; for the French inha- tants of Dominica are ftlll more numercjs than the Englifh, and poflefs the moft valuable coffee plantations in the ifland, the produce of whicii ':?! 'i!-' (f) The crown granted them leafes, fome for fourteen, and others for forty years, renewable at the expiration thereof, with conditions in every Icafe, " that the poflefTor, his htirs or afligns, fliould pay to his Majefty, his heirs or fucceflbr?, the fum of two fliillings fterling per antiunty for every acre of land, of which the Italt fliouId confift." And further, '' that they fliould not fell or difpofe of their lands, without the confent or approbation of the governor, or commander in chief of that ifland, for the time being." This indulgence however did not extend to more than three hundred acres of land occupied by eacli French fubjecl. (g) No perfon was allowed to purchale, either in his own name, or in the name ot others, in trull for him, more than three Inmdred acres, if in Dominica, or five hundred acres if in St. Vincent, . ■ • . ha* li.-^ ji ,.■ cgiancc to hi* a fmall quit- ible lands were conditions as oners nominat- m 94.346 acres fiand) were ac- 1, in allotments ielding the fum money C^A it the purchafes ve anfwered the he French inha- ; numerc js than t valuable coffee roduce of which , fome for fourteen, le expiration thereof, he pofleflbr, his htirs s heirs or fucceflbrF, im, for every acre of And further, "that lands, without the ir, or commander in " This indulgence iree hundred acres of :hale, either in his . trull for him, more ilea, or five hundred has r .1 I ^t ■i- V, _mi'''!T'W(' 1''l'«^ii;'< -TWrnp:' \\ m ;i i! ii ■iti I' ' i 1^ *i 1 I i If P'!i ... : i' i ■ i { i r . : West INDIES; ii'as hitherto been found its moft important ftaple. They differ but little, in manners, cuftoms and religion, from the inhabitants of the other French iflands in the Weft Indies, and their priefts have been hitherto appointed by fuperiors in Marti- nico; to the government of which ifland, and to the laws of their own nation, they confider them- felves to be amenable. I AM forry hiftorical juftice obliges me to ob- ferve, that the liberal condufb of the Britifh go- vernment towards thefe people, after they became adopted fubjedts, did not meet with that grate- ful returil from them, which, for the general in- terefts of mankind, ought to be religioufly ma- nifefted on fuch occafions. At the commencement of the hopelefs and deftruftive war between Great Britain and her Colonies in North America, the ifland of Domi- nica was in a flourifhing fituation. The port of Rofe^u having been declared a free port by aft of parliament, was reforted to by trading vefTels from moft parts of the foreign Weft Indies, as well as from America. The French and Spaniards purchafed great numbers of Negroes there for the fupply of their fettlements, together with vaft quantities of the merchandize and manufadures of Great Britain j payment for all which was made chiefly in bullion, indigo, and cotton, and Vol. I. " F f completed 43)1 CH APij III. 1! i ; :iitl m I: m lit ! I I ■ n '' ^T fffJHIl hh 1 if; 1 4\ 8 ''•';'', i' ■:' ■ R ' '''' J: 'i 1 ■■■^ ' ^: ; 1) ' ; !' ^ Hffii ' f if ^^Hlii. . i - ! . li'' ? ! 1 ' - 1 ' ', f ^^^^^^H^ ,1 !.• . ( : ■ !'■ ; > i ! , t ■ 1 i w m ml; : Hi , 4 : ( ! Ml ' nil !' :,i i' IfiP '4 i 'i ■ 11 1' 'i H( ''if' ' ll ■ |i II '' il r IB i !► ■'f '■tf'l'' ■ i.' * P f'aaj ^!i|i |-'i|l li i' , i; ■ i Jj'il ' :' /!? ■: 1 1 fl i ! ^ , . i ■J * I |;j| ,) ■^1 j'^ {; i JJ - r f M ,, ; !| H ; '_ ! ' 1 1 Im 1' ^ M :' ^ ifi 1 ' W^i.,-aV/)-w-«(V^ i%r>:- 4J4 HISTORY OF THE completed in mules and cattle j articles oF prime neceffity to the planter f/t). Thus the ifland, though in itfelf certainly not fo fertile as fome others of Icfs extent in its neigh- bourhood, was becoming very rapidly a colony of confiderable importance j but unfortunately it wanted that protedion, which alone could give its pofleffions (lability and value. To thofe who recoiled the frantick rage, with which all the faculties and means of Great Britain were direded towards, and applied in, the fubjugation of America, the utter difregard which was manifefted by the then adminiftration towards the fecurity of this and the other Britirti iflands in the Weft Indies, may not perhaps be matter of furprife j but it will hereafter be fcarcely be- lieved, that the whole regular force allotted, dur- ing the height of the war, for the protedion of Dominica, confifted of no more than fix officers jind ninety-four privates ! This (hamcful negled was the more remarkable, as this ifland, from its local fituation, between Martinico and Guada- loupe, is the beft calculated of all the poffefTions of Great Britain in that part of the world, for (i) Rofeau is dill a free-port, but the reftridtions and re- gulations of the late aft are fo rigid, that foreigners are dif- couraged ironfi reforting to it, and, fincc forr-e late fcizures, confider the law as a fnare to invite them to ruin. fecuring les oF prime :ertainly not in its neigh- dly a colony ■ortunately it le could give rantick rage, eans of Great ipplied in, the ifregard which ;raticn towards Britifli iflands [laps be matter DC fcarcely be- e allotted, dur- ,e proteftion of :han fix officers jamcful negleft idand, from its |co and Guada- ll the poffeffions the world, for J reftriftions and re- It foreigners are dif- fotr.e late feizures, to ruin. fecuring WEST INDIES. fecuring to her the dominion of the Giaraibean fea. A few fhips of war ftationed at Prince Ru- pert's Bay, would effeftually flop all intercourfe of the French fettlements with each other, as every veffel is liable to capture by fliips cruizing off that bay, and to windward of the ifland. This indeed was difcovered when it was too late. It is probable that this, and the other circum- flances which I have recounted, namely, the growing profperity of the colony, and the crimi- nal inattention of the Britifh Miniflry towards its fef'T^rit.y, had already attracted the vigilant ra- pacioi'i; " if the French government j but it is afTer /' iiat many of the inhabitants within the colony, who had formerly been fubjeds of France, fcrupled not, on the firft intimation that hoftilitics had been commenced in Europe^ in the year 1 778, to invite an attack from Marti- nico. Proof of this may not perhaps eafily be pro- duced, but it is certain that their fubfequent con- dud gave too much caufe for fuch a fufpicion. On Monday, the 7th of September, in that year, a French armament, confifting of a forty - gun fhip, three frigates, and about thirty fail of armed floops and fchooners, having on board two thoufand regular troops, and a lawlefs ban- ditti of volunteers, about half that number, appeared off the ifland, under the command F f a of 435 \ i^ll ) IH 43« hi'< 11 i' l^f^ m hix HISTORY OF THE of the Marquis dc Bouille, governor of Mar- tinico, and general of the Frencli Windward Weft-Indian Iflands. Part of the troops having loon afterwards landed without oppofition, the enemy proceeded to the attack of Fort Caftia- crou, the chief defence of the ifland, and in which * a detachment of the regulars was ftationed. This fort was built on a rock, about three hundred feet in perpendicular height, furroundcd on three fides by the fea, and was confidered fo very de- fenfible, that it was fuppofed a few hundred men, well provided, would maintain it againft as many thoufands. Great therefore was the aftonifh- ment of the Englifli in the town of Rofeau, in perceiving, by the French colours flying on it, that this fort had I'urrendered without refiflance j but, ftrange as it may fcem, the cafe appeared afterwards to have been, that fome of the French inhabitants had infinuated themfelves into the fort a few nights before, and having intoxicated with liquor the few foldiers that were there on duty, had contrived to fpike up the cannon ! Having thus made themfelves matters of Fort Calhacrou, the enemy landed their whole force about noon, and began their march for the town, which was defended by Fort Melville, and three other batteries j but unfortunately thefc batteries were ill provided, and worfe manned. The whole number of the militia did not exceed one 111 ' ■ ;l| lOr of Mar- I Windward toops having ipofition, the ■ Fort Cafha- , and in which ationed. This hree hundred indcd on three ed fo very de- hundred men, igainft as many , the aftonith- II of Rofeau, in irs flying on it, liout refiftance ; >e cafe appeared lie of the French ifelves into the /mg intoxicated ^. were there on the cannon I elves matters of ided their whole :ir march for the ort Melville, and fortunately thefc worfe manned, a did not exceed one W E S T I N D I E S. one hundred and twenty j for but few of the French inhabitants thought proper to aflTemble ; and of thofe that made their appearance, many withdrew themfelves again, and were no more feen until the ifland had furrcndered. The fmall force however that was coUedted, behaved with that fpirit and gallantry, which give room to lament they were not betier fup- ported. Three times was the enemy driven out of Fort Loubiere, of which they had polfeired themlclves in their march, and twice were the colours which they had hoifted thereon fliot away. Their commiffary-general, and forty of their foldiers, wer/s killed, and Bouille hirafclf had a very narrow efcape i his fword being Ihot away from his fide *. • ^ But gallantry was unavailing againft fuch fu- periority of numbers ; for about two thoufand of the French having gained poiTefllon of the heights above Jlpfeau, this laft circumftance determined the fate of the iUand. The bravery of the inhabitants, however, obtained for them, from their liberal and noble-minded con- queror, very honourable terms of capitulation. Befides being permitted to march out with all military honours, they were allowed to retain • General Bouille himfcHafterwards affefled to fay, that he loft no men in the attack of Fort Loubiere, except the com* BjifTaryrgeneral. The fadt however was as above ftated. Vol. I. F f 3 their 437 ^1 %lW4 •4 5 < li ,' ". 9 ! : 1 ,| '.' * I 1 nin- 438 HISTORY OF THE I i m'-^-t BOOK their arms, their civil government, and ths ^'^' free exercife of their religion, laws, cuftoms, and ordinances J to preferve the adminillration of juftice in the fame perfons in whom it was then vefted, and to enjoy their poffefllons, of what nature foever, unmolefted ; a privilege which was exprefsly extended to ablent as well as refident proprietors, De Bouille having thus completed his conqucft, departed for Martinico ; leaving the Marquis Duchilleau, (a man of a far differ- ent charafter) commander in chief of Domi- nica j whofe condudt, during four years that he continued in the ifland, is faid to havp been fo wantonly oppreffive and tyrannical, that we are left to wonder at the patient long- fuffering and forbearance of the people under his government, in fubmitting to it for half the time. His firft meafure was to difarm the Englilh inhabitants, indiredt violation of the capitulation, and he entered into a treaty with the runaway Ne- groes for their afliftance, if wanted. He iffued an order, forbidding the Englifh to affemble together more than two in a place, and he com- manded the centinels to difperfe them if they were found together in greater numbers. He ordered that no lights (hould be feen in their * - houfes ^ and ths iftoms, and iftration of it was then IS, of what rilege which sll as refident impleted his ; leaving the a far differ- lief of Domi- ur years that faid to hav? tyrannicalj that patient long- » people under it for half the ^rm the Engliih 1 the capitulation, the runaway Ne- sted. Heiffued llilh to affemble >ce, and he.com- [rfe them if they pr numbers. He be feen in their houfes V^Y'^*' WEST INDIES. 439 houfes after nine o'clock at night, and that no chap. Englifh perfon (hould prefume to walk the ftreets "*• after that hour, without a candle and lanthom. Mr. Robert How, an Englilh merchant, and owner of a (hip then in the bay, attempting tq go on board his owi vc '' xfter that hour, w» . (hot dead in the atiti.ipt ; d the centinel who killed him was raifed to a higher ftation In his regiment, for having thus (as the governor ex- preflTed it) done his duty. So very apprehenfive was this governor that the Englilh inhabitants were forming defigns to retake the iiland, that every letter of theirs was opened for his infpedlion before it was delivered. And, deeming this m.eafure infufficient to fur- nifh him with the knowledge of their private tranfaAions, he adopted the pradice of going himfelf in difguife, or employing others who better knew the Englilh language, in order to liften at their doors and windows in the night- time, to the converfation which paffed in do- pieftick intercourfe. He repeatedly threatened to fet fire to the town of Rofeau, in cafe the illand (hould be attacked; and, though this was never attempted by the Englilh forces, yet that town was fet fire to (as it was believed) by the French foldiers, and jthere was eycry reafon to fuppofe that the go- Vol. I. F f 4 vernor \i ■I , Mil y 'i 440 •^i!. '■ i , i iii W- B :r HISTORY OF THE vcrnor was privy to it. This fuppofition was ftrongly corroborated by his behaviour on the night of that melancholy fccne, at which he him- felt was prcfent the beft part of the time, and, it is very confidently aflcrted, would not allow his foldiers to affift in extinguifhing the flames, fave only in houfes that belonged to the French inhabitants. This fire happened the evening of Eaftcr Sunday, 1781, by which upwards of five hun- dred houfes were confumed in a few hours j and a vaft quantity of rich merchandize and effefts deftroycd, to the value of two hundred thoufand pounds flerling. x^. While the wretched inhabitants were thus groaning under domeftick defpotifm, they had fio refources from without. Their trade was entirely cut off, infomuch, that during five years and three months, the time that the ifland of Dominica was in pofleflion of the French, it was not ri^forted to by any veffels from Old France, nor was any of its produce exported to that king- dom J but part of it was fejit in neutral bot- toms to the Dutch Ifland of St. Euftatius, be- fore its capture by Admiral Rodney ; and from thence it was exported to England, under the mofl extravagant expenccs and lofs to the pro- prietors. Other I i i ofition was )ur on the ich he him- ime, and, it ot allow his flames, fave the French ^g of Eafter of five hun- w hours i and X and effeas dred thoufand mts were thus :ifm, they had iieir trade was .ring five years tt the iiland ^^ French, it was ^tn Old France, ■d to that king- fin neutral bot- |. Euftatius, be- 'neyj and from [and, under the lofs to the pro- Other WEST INDIES. Other parts of their produce were fent in Putch veflels, which were engaged for the pur- pofe in England, to Rotterdam j and after the breaking out of the war with the Dutch, the produce of Dominica was fent under imperial colours to Oftend, where the fugar fold from fix to eight pounds fterling the hogfliead. These accumulated diftreffes ended in the ab- folute ruin of many of the planters, and no lefs than thirty fugar plantations were, in confequence thereof, thrown up and abandoned by the pro- prietors. At length, however, the day of deli- verance arrived j for, in the month of January 1783, Dominica was reftored to the government of England. The joy which, on this event, ani- mated the bofom and enlightened the counte- nance of every man, whom painful experience, under an arbitrary government, had taught to fet a right value on the Britifh conftitution, may be conceived, but cannot be defcribed. The inha- bitants were now reftored to the full enjoyment of their former privileges, under a civil eftablifli- ment, fimilar to thofe of the other Britifti colo- nies in the Weft Indies, which being hereafter to be defcribed at length, it is unneceffary to en- large upon in this place, except to obferve, that the legillative authority of this illand is vefted in thp commander in chief, a council of twelve gen- tlemen. 441 IM^ 1. 'il" \i HISTORY OF I sfeesofoffic.e> , ,i .cr cent, duties, contaiul contain unextinguiflied volcanoes, which fre- chap. quently difcharge vafl quantities of burning ful- "'• phur. From thefe mountains alfo iflue fprings of hot water, fome of which are fuppofed to pof- fefs great virtue in the cafe of tropicaUlifordcrs. In fome places the water is faid to be hot enough to coagulate an egg (I). " • Dominica is well watered, there lielng up- wards of thirty fine rivers in the iiland, bcfides a great number of rivulets. The (oil, in moft of the interior country, is a light, brown-coloured mould, and appears to have been wadied from the mountains. Towards the fea-coaft, and in many of the vallics, it is a deep, black, and rich native earth, and leems well adapted to the cultivation of all the articles of Weft Indian produce. The under ftratum is in lome parts a yellow or brick clay, in others a ftiff terrace, but the land is in moft places ver)' ftony. I AM afraid, however, that the quantity of fertile foil bears but a very fmnll proportion to the whole j there not being more than fifty fugur (I) In the woods of Dominica are innumerable fwarms of bees, which lodge in the trees, and produce gn at quantities of wax and honey, both of which are equal in goodnefs to any in Europe. It is pretifely the fame fpecies of bee as in Europe, and nuft have been tranfported thither; t!ie native bee of the Weft Indies being a fmaller fpecies, unprovided with flings, and very different in its manners from the European. ^ plantations m i. ! V U> m 1 ' ; . (I,:.. hu ;i || I ! I 444 HISTORY OF THE plantations at prcfcnt in cultivation, and it is computed, that on an average, one year with an- other, thofe fifty plantations do not produce an- nually more than three thoufand hogflieads of fugar. This is certainly a very fmall quantity of that article for fuch an cxtenfive illand, or even for the number of fugar plantations at prefent under cultivation, allowing only one hundred acres of canes to each, ■ CoFFEK fcems to anfwcr better than fugar, there being fomewhat more than two hundred coffee plantations in Dominica, which in favour- able years have produced three millions of pounds weight. A SMALL part of the lands are alfo applied to the cultivation of cacao, indigo, and ginger; but I believe that moft of thefe articles, as well as of the cotton, which are comprehended in the exports, have hitherto been obtained from the dominions of foreign dates in South America, and imported into this illand under the free-port law. . The number of white inhabitants, of all de- fcriptions and ages, appears, by the laft returns to government, in 1788, to be 1,236 ; of free ne- groes, &c. 445, and of Haves 14,967. There are alfo from twenty to thirty families of the an-i cient natives, or Charaibcs, propedy fo called. They are a very (juict, inuflenfive people, fpcak a language 3n, and it \» year with an- producc an- hogrtieads of ill quantity of fland, or even ms at prefent one hundred [cr than fugar, n two hundred \iich in favour - lUons of pounds are aKo applied go, and ginger i ; articles, as well )rehendcd in the tained from the South America, ,acr the free-port itants, of all de- :hcVaft returns to ,36 i of free ne- 14,967. There imilies of the an^ operly fo called. ,\Ye people, fpcak a language WEST INDIES. & language of their own, and a little French, but none of them underfland Englilh (m). Such is the information whicli I have col- Icc'led concerning tlic civil liiftory and prefcnt ftatc of Dominica, for great part of which I am indebted to a late publication by Mr. Atwood (n). Nothing (m) A late writer gives the following account of thcfe people : " They arc of a clear topper colour* have long, fletk, black hair : their perfons are fljort, ftoiit, and well made, but they disfigure their faces by flattening their fore- heads in infancy. They live chiefly by fifliing in the rivers and the fea, or by fowling in the woods, in both which pur- fuits they life their bows and arrows with wonderful dexte- rity. It is faid they will kill the fmalleft bird with an arrow at a great didance, or transfix a fifli at a confiderable depth in the fea. They difjjlay alfo very great ingenuity in making curious wrought panniers, or baflicts, of filk gral's, or the leaves and bark of trees." (n) See the Hiftory of the Iflatid of Dominica, by Mr. Thomas Atwood, 1791. Treating ot the natural produi'\lons of this ifland, Mr. Atwood gives the following account of au infe(fl, which he calls the vegetable fly " It is of the ap- pearance and fize of a fmall cockchafer, and buries itfelf in the ground, where it dies ; and from its body fprings up a fmall plant, which refembles a young colfce-tree, only that its leaves are fmaller. The plant is often overlooked, frctr, the fuppofition people have of its being no other than a co' • fee plant ; but on examining it properly, the difference is fafily diflinguilhed ; the head, body, and feet of the infoft appearing at the foot, as pcrfeft as w'aen alive." Tim ac- count is extraordinary but not more fiirprifing t'w. the Rev. Nicholas Collins's defcription, in the American Philofophi- o«l Tranftdtions •, of a certain zoofhyton in the Ohio coun- * IntroJuAion to vo), ili. p. aj. !5 ; 1 ««7. „^ •''■ «^«»»l«»«i»„.,»„„.. i i I' tl 445 HISTORY OF the: Nothing now remains but to fet forth the parti- culars and value of its produftions, which I fhall adopt, as in other cafes, from the return of the Infpeflor General for the year 1787. 'M. try* which (lie declares) is alternately vegetable and animal ; for having crawled about the woods in its animal ftate until it grows weary of that mode of exiflence,'it fixes itfelf in the ground, and becomes a ftately planty with a fiem ijfiting ffom its mouth." I give thefe accounts as I find them, without vouching for the veracity of either. I' ' : \ ■ ^ ^ £ im e: CUAF. Ill* WEST INDIKS. (♦*7 [h the partl- which I Ihall :eturn of the ble and animal ; inimal ftate until fixes itfelf in the ftem iffuing from ^d them, without t> •S a . ^xi • o 1 N« 1 1 3 S S § .+ m v> fn IH ••n 1? m ^ X! > ? 3 1 H ^ v\ w> t^ ,c m T3 ^ •- .» ? r^ «o ON V^ 00 ♦J 4^^ • c o "2 M O CI ^1 1 00 S c 1 n <«. p u a 11 ." .Si 1 H 1 OV to m 1 ov m »J OV ■" 1 Ph si • c ♦— » a TO 4-t H I 1 1 1 VO m Wi • c « O VO y c 4> Si ■M a u u 2 B o U i 1 1 1 00 o" ON o ■ o O y 1 1 1 1 s 9* -a 1 1 1-^ M M o O i VC 00 I 1 1 Ov m 1 v6 5 bO n a '5 U .is 11 1^ Jo « oo" o •5 .o * 1 1 H "73 3 i 2 4J 1 00 1 trt •* 1 1 •+ ON w o ^ 1 ^ ^ • • 4-* T3 en a r*n O 1 n .^ 'S 'e o ON 1 1 1 CO NO m • a On 8 o o o o 8 OV ' o s 5 o ■* w t N w •N m NO i • J3 « 1 1 1 « 1 3 & . 3 00 • CO H NO 1 VO oo 5- I - 1 " 1 § i r. J3 4-* («^ o u^ >-» 1" 1 *j • vC w-1 l^ \o s p U 4J VO CO ^ o> «-i ^ •3 bb s o iri '^^ 1 >i; j: « fl NO fO NO ej\ VO *-« o. c oo * O ON CN rl H '/I 1 5 CO a, 13 o H NO CO H. ►H OO* ,1 NO a\ NO •+ i- rl 00 Nn O ^ o Mi >> Z 1 1; -n 1 ^ ■.T"^ APPENDIX TO ' M ' 1 V I ' CHAP. III. OF BOOK II. ' A Treaty of Peace and Friendihip, concluded I the 17th of February J 773, between his Ex- •'• • cellency General Dalrymple, on the part of His Britannick Majefty, and by the Chiefs of Grand Sable, Mafiraca, Rabacca, Macaricau Byera, Coubamaron Jambon, Colourie, Camacarabou Ourawarou, and Point Efpaniol, for themfelves, and the reft of the Charaibes of St. Vincent} that is to fay : APPEN- " ^f- All hoftile proceedings are to ceafe,and a firm Dix. *' and lafting peace and friendihip to fucceed. " The Charaibes (hall acknowledge his Majefty to ♦* be the rightful fovereign of the ifland and domain of " St. Vincent's; take an oath of fidelity to him as their ** King ; promife abfolutc fubmiflion to his will, and lay " down their arms. ,. " 3. They (hall fubmit themfelves to the laws and " obedience of his Majefty's government, and the Go- « vernor (hall have power to enaft further regulations for " the public advantage as (hall be convenient. (This " article only refpeds their tranfaflions with his Ma- " jefty's fubje6ts, not being Indians ; their intercourfe ** and cuftoms with each other, in the quarters allotted them. K II. 'r'-- dftiip, concluded etween his Ex- n the part of His ; Chiefs of Grand Aacaricau Byera, fie, Camacarabou 3l, for themfelves, jsof St. Vincent-, toceafe,andafirm fucceed. Ige his Majcfty to land and domain of lelity to him as their to his will, and lay ves to the laws and rnment, and the Go- Lther regulations for 1 convenient. (This Uions with his Ma. msi their intercourfe the quarters allotted thetni I III. WEST 1NDI6S. 4^' « them, not being afFeaed by it.) And all new regula- chap. " tions are to receive his Majefty's Governor's approba- " tion before carried into execution. « 4. A portion of lands, hereafter mentioned, fhall be « allotted for the refidence of the Charaibes ; viz. from " the river Byera to Point Efpagniol on the ohe fidfe, and " from the river Analibou to Point Efpagniol on the " other fide, according to lines to be drawn by his Ma* " jetty's furveyors, from the fources of the rivers to the " tops of the mountains ; the reft of the lands, formerly '' inhabited by Charaibes, for the future to belong en- " tirely to his Majefty. ** 5. Thofe lands (hall not be alienated, either by " fale, Icafe, or otherwife, but to perfons properly autho- " rized by his Majefty to receive them. " 6. Roads, ports, batteries, and communications Ihall « be made, as his Majefty pleafes. Ji ,•■ f:--'M « 7. No undue intercourfe with the French iflands " fliall be allowed. ' • ..^•. ';;,-; - ** 8. Run-away flaves in the pofTefllon of the Cha- " raibes are to be delivered up, and endeavours ufed to " difcover and apprehend the others i and an engage- " ment ftiall be entered into, not to encourage, receive, " or harbour any flave whatever : the forfeiture of lands " ftiall be the penalty for harbouring flaves ; and carrying "them ofF the ifland ftiall be conftdered as a capital "crime. • ^_ " 9. Perfons guilty of capital crimes againft the << EngliOi are to be delivered up. Vol. I. Gg « 10. In I If/! 'I K •\\\ 450' H I S T O H Y O F T rt E APPEN- ** 10. In time of danger, the Charaibes (hall be aiding rix. "and affifting to his Majefty's fubjedls againft their " enemies. " . ■^ **'i I. .The three chains to remain to his Majefty. tlVJ.l .\: ' ^ I2. All confpiracies and plots againft his Majeily, *< or his government, are to be made known to his Go- *^ vernoi*} or other civil magiftrates. « 13. Leave (if required) is given to the Charaibes " to depart this ifland, with their families and properties, « and affiftance in their tranfportatlon, "14, Free accefs to the quarters allowed to the Cha- *' raibcs is to be given to perfons properly empowered « to go in purfuit of run-away flaves, and fafe conduit " afforded them. "15. Defertcrs from his Majefty's fervice (if any) " and run-away flaves from the French, fhall be de. ** livered up, in order that they may be returned to their « matters. • .:...;...- .^ .... • « 16. The chiefs of the difFerent quarters are to render <^ an account of the names and number of the inhabitants " of their refpedive diftridts. — j.;,- - > vi. .. "17. The chiefs, and other Charaibes, inhabitants, " are to attend the Governor, when ever required, for *' his Majefty's fervice. . ,^ .. : , . *' 18. All poflible facility, confiftent with the laws of " Great Britain, is to be afforded to the Charaibes in tlic " fale of their produce, and in their trade to the difFerent | «' Britifh illands. "19. Entire tiaU be aiding againft their s Majefty. ift his Majefty, own to his Go- o the Charaibes :s and properties, .v/ .:,; t,i t»""'" ■" owed to the Cha- ,per\y empowered s, and fafe condua ^♦s fervice (if any) ^•ench, Ihall be de- ,e returned to their quarters are to render h,er of the inhabitants ■ '.'■ft."- ••■ haraibcs, inhabitants, Lever required, foi Lent with the laws of lo the Charaibes in tk |r trade to the different « 19. Entire W E S T i N D I E S. ^. 4SI ** 19. Entire liberty of fifhing, as well on the coaft c H AP. « of St. Vincent's, as at the neighbouring keys, is to be iii. " allowed them. ..-..-.., r . « 20. In all cafes, when the Charaibes conceive them- " felves injured by his Majefty's other fubjects, or other " perfons, and are defirous of having reference to the *' laws, or to the civil inagiftrates, an agent, being one " of his Majefty's natural born fubjeds, may be "cm- « ployed by themfelves, or if more agreeable at his Ma- « jefty's coft. "21. No ftrangers, or white perfons, are to be allowed « to fettle among the Charaibes, without pcrmiffion firft *' obtained in writing from the Governor. ■ ( . « 22. Thefc articles fubfcribed to and obferved, the " Charaibes are to be pardoned, fecured, and fixed in their " property, accordingly to his Majefty's diretStions given, " and all paft offences forgot. , ;;-r r =.; . ci iv ■ « 23. After the figning of this treaty, (hould any of *' the Charaibes refufe to obferve the condition of it, they " are to be confidered and treated as enemies by both " parties, and the moft efFedtual means u fed to rec'ice " them. ..■.-' ,' ;■/, ' *' 24. The Charaibes fhalltake the following oathj " viz. * " We, A. B. do fwear, in the name of the immortal " God, and Chrift Jefus, that we will bear true " allegiance to his Majefty George the Third, of " Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, De- " fender of the Faith, Sec; and that we will pay " due obedience to the laws of Great Britain, and G g 2 " the h- 'SCiJ ^ « Jean Baptifte, - wDufont Begot, «B it Boyordell, xi wDirang, Vi « Chatoycr, "^ « Doucre Biiramont, « Lalime, juaioi , «t Broca, ;i„,,j.j:^,!i s-/v « Simon» , « Lalime, fenior. « Baiiamont, " , « Juftin Baiiamont, « Matthieu, « Jean Louis Pacquin, « Gadel Goibau, It John Baptifte, ^^^. « Lonen, « Saioe, ,w^ty.li;v.t ^^ ^^ ^^^„^ « Fr^^ois Laron, r ,^, .cDuVaUe. ti Saint Laron. « Anifette, - i« Clement, '* * ^"; " « Bigott, i'DuVallet, « Boucharie, « Deruba Babilliard, <' Canaia." 1 ,vi ,f I,' .►"> <" ?• IM 'f/ .; ,< Y •« -in , .iJK >•) ->, j^. ,^.V-'t-i'->' > ^'^^"^ , i vUl well and B treaty con- and the Cha- . that his faid ;reignof'JUhe the lands held ed through his ;<'!» |i r. Dalrywp^^- ibes,' ?> le, fenior. mont, n Bauamont, thicu, . Louis Pacqum, lelGoibau, j.,. » n Baptifte, j ..^l- ien,>- .^^ i^ii /udon, Vallet, lucharie. ■,»'~,-'f. '«. rubaBabilliard, ^naiSi .»:j UtW -«■«■•<-'■ . '^ 55 , Vf'i'!- ;;><« li> ^iis; ;.M'n ;■>':'■» iv";v ..t"J i I iilfll uii ! ii i !..i'' M \4 ■""iiiiiii iiTimmi* " i"ii"i""i"»" ' aii.!ii i|'" ii'i'llllll'lli'""" - : _._ !■ ■ iii ."w i' " i v i ii'ji i i.n I'ligU ■tu- MiM Siitulv 1"!^ . J ,.> *Na' AU/'o/V//^/S/.JNl) ^ ^ ^ Ibr the "^^ "^ ItlSTOltYo/tlie WEST ISniKS ^^ /;// -^ ^ Vtvyviw Edwards Kl\|'' - l-iihli..li,l <'<■/.■/• /" — ti;lll!'llll.'W»!'»'IIM!l|l ■""'III iiiiiiiiiiTTinr- oii^-iliitlf K\'S ■''■• Well /A'/// l.iiiiduii. iiwmiiiiiiwnmniiiinij - iM;imiriiiiiiiiiiiiinim« ■■iM"iiilnllffllnM;rwT- rnhli.'lul i',-t,'/',r o. I^:> IJ\i'J. .\-i,>,-h( !/•- /y,;-,iMli) . Ill- 1 ft 1): 1 ) * I mz:::z \llfjy,;-,ulillll /-^IK WEST INDIES. 453 j/i CHAP. iV. l^eeward Charaibean IJland Govenmenty comprc- /lending St. C/iriJop/ter's, Nevis ^ Antigua, Tont- ferraty and the Virgin IJlands. — Civil HiJJory and Geographical Defcript ion of each. — Table of Ex- ports from each IJland for 1787 ; and an Account of the Money arifvigfrom the Duty of Four and /I Half per Ceia. Obfervation: concerning their Decline ; and a Jliort Account of the IJlands of Bermudas and the Bahamas. ... 1 «E Britilli Leeward Iflands, fince the year 1672, have conflituted one diftind: government i the governor being ftiled Captain General of the Leeward Charaibean IJlands. He vifits each oc- cafionally, but his chief feat of refidence is An- tigua J the government of each, in the abfence of the governor-general, being ufually adminif- tered by a lieutenant-governor, wliofe authority is limited to that particular ifland, and where no lieutenant-governor is appointed, the prefident of the council takes the command. I fliall treat of them feparately, and afterwards combine, in a concife fummary, thofe circumftances which are common to them all. G g 3 Their J ; i; 4J4 " H I S T O R Y O F T II E BOOK Their civil hiftory \\ill be fhort ; for in this n 1. part of my fubicd I have but little to add to the recital of Oldmixon, and other writers, who have preceded me ; and where novelty is wanting, bre- vity is iadilpcnfibly requifite. I n , ,«, ■ .V » « ' .•'. .'v ' .- Section I. • f St. CHRISTOPHER'S. m ' V f:l ^.... THE illand of St. Chriftopher was called by its ancient poircflbrs, the Charaibes, Liamuiga^ or the Fertile Ifland. It was difcovered in No- vember 1493, by Columbus himfelf, who was fo plcafed with its appearance, that he honoured it with his own Chriflian name. But it was neither planted nor pollefled by the Spaniards. It was, however (notwithftanding that the general opi- nion afcribes the honour of feniority to Barba- does) the eldeft of all the Britifli territories in the Weft Indies, and, in truth, the common mother both of the Englifh and French fettlements in the Charaibean iflands. The faft, as related by an hiftorian (a)^ to whofe induftry and know- ledge I have been fo largely indebted in my ac- (aj Dr. John Campbell. count IV. WEST INDIES. 45J count of St. Vincent, was this " In the numlxir chap. of thole gentlemen who accompanied Captain Roger North, in a voyage to Surinam, was Mr. Thomas Warner, who making an acquaintance there with Captain Thomas Painton, a very ex- perienced feaman, the latter luggefled how much eafier it would be to fix, and prelcrve in good order, a colony in one of the fmall iflands, de- fpifcd and deferted by the S[)aniar(.!s j than on that vaft country, the continent, where, for want of fufficient authority, all things were fallen into confufion ; and, he particularly pointed out for that purpofe the ifland of St. Chrillopher. This gentleman dying, Mr. Warner returned to Eng- land in 1620, relblved to put his friend's projedt in execution. He accordingly airociarcd him- felf with fourteen other perfons, and with them took his paflage on board a fliip bound to Vir- ginia. From thence he and his companions failed from St. Chriftopher's, where they arrived in January 1623, and by the month of September following had raifed a good crop of tobacco, which they propofed to make their ftaple com- modity.'' It has been fliewn in a former chap- ter, that the firft adtual eftablilhment in Barba- does, took place the latter end of 1624. " - - ' By the generality of hiftorians, who have treat- ed of the affairs of the V/eft Indies, it is afferted that a party of the French, under the command O g 4 of 'Ml li ji.^ ill \M\ iiiilii i III. I 4' 456 HISTOFYOFTHE BOOK of a perfon of the name of D'Efnambuc, took pofleffion of one part of this ifland, on the fame day that Mr. Warner landed on the other j but the truth is, that the firft landing of Warner and his affociates happened two years before the arrival of D'Efnambuc j who, it is admitted by Du Tertre, did not leave France until 1625. Unfortunately, the Engliih fettlers, in the latter end of 1623, had their plantations demoliflied by a dreadful hurricane, which put a fudden (lop to their progrefs. |n confequence of this calamity, Mr. Warner returned to England to implore fuccourj and it was on that occafion that he fought and obtained, the powerful p:lronage and fupport of James Hay, Earl of Carlifle. This nobleman caufed a fliip to be fitted out, laden with all kinds of ncceflaries. It was called tlie Hopewell ; and arrived at St. Chriftopher's on the 1 8th of May 1624 j and thus he certainly preferved a fettlement, which had otherwife died in its infancy. Warner himfelf did not return to St. Chriftopher's until the year following. He was then accompanied by a large body of recruits, and D'Efnambuc arrived about the fame time; perhaps the fame day. This latter was the captain of a French privateer ; and, having in an engagement with a Spanifli galleon of fu- jDerior ftrength, been very roughly handled, he was obliged, after lofing feveral of his men, to feek ambuc, took , on the fame : other j but ; of Warner irs before the admitted by until 1625. in the latter lemoliflied b)'^ Lidden ftop to this calamity, d to implore afion that he ;:>tronage and :arlifle. This ;d out, laden vas called the riftopher's on s he certainly atherwife died id not return ear following, large body of ibout the fame 'his latter was ; and, having galleon of fu- y handled, he >f his men, to feek •WEST INDIES. feek refuge in thefe iflands. He brought with him to St. Chriftopher's about thirty hardy ve- terans, and they were cordially received by the Englifli, who appear at this time to have been under fome apprehenfions of the Charaibes. Hi- therto Warner's firft colony had lived on friendly terms with thefe poor favages, by whom they were liberally fupplied with provifions ; but hav- ing feized on their lands, the confcioufnefs of deferving retaliation made the planters appre- henfive of an attack, when probably none was intended. Du Tertre relates, that the French and Englifli receiving information of a projected revolt, concurred in a fcheme for feizing the confpirators beforehand. ' Accordingly they fell on the Charaibes by night, and, having murdered in cold blood from one hundred to one hundred and twenty of the ftouteft, drove all the reft from the ifland, except fuch of the women as were young and hand feme, of whom, fays the reverend hiftorian, they made concubines and Daves. Such is the account of a contemporary author, Pere Du Tertre, who relates thefe tranfadtioni with per- fed: compofurc, as founded on common ufage, and not unwarrantable in their nature. He adds, that fuch of the Charaibes as efcaped the maffacre, having given the alarm to their coun- trymen in the neighbouring iflands, a large body of them returned Coon afterwards, breathing re- venge J 457 !• II n if. i i,l I,, '1 HISTORY OF THE venge j and now the conflidt became ferious. The Europeans, however, more from the fupe- riority of their weapons, than of their valour, be- came conquerors in the end ; but their triumph was dearly purchafed ; one hundred of their num- ber having been left dead on the field of battle. After this exploit, which Du Tertre calls a glorious vidory, the Charaibes appear to have quitted altogether this and fome of the fmall iflands in the neighbourhood, and to have retired fouthwards. The two leaders, Warner and D'Ef- nambu9, about the fame time, found it neceflary to return to Europe for the purpofe of foliciting fuccour from their refpeftive nations ; and bring- ing with them the name of conquerors, they fevcrally met with all poflible encouragement. Warner was knighted by his fovereign, and through the intereft of his noble patron fent back, as governor in 1626 with four hundred new recruits, amply fupplied with neccflaries of all kinds ; while Defnambuc, under the patronage of Richlieu (the miniller of France) projeded the eftablifhment of an exclufive company for trading to this and fome of the other illands. That miniller concurred with Defnambuc in opinion, that fuch an inflitution was beft adapted to the purpoles of commerce and colonization ; — an erroneous conclufion, which Defnambuc himfelf had foon abundant occafion to lament ; 2 for ame ferious. m the fupe- r valour, be- heir triumph )f their num- ,d of battle. fertre calls a pear to have of the fmall have retired ler and D'Ef- id it neceflary e of foUciting IS ; and bring- querors, they icouragcment. jvereign, and e patron fent ■ hundred new ccfTaries of all the patronage ice) projefted company for other Iflands. )cfnambuc in Ls beft adapted colonization ; Defnambuc on to lament ; for 1 W E S T I N D I E S. r for the French in general either mifunderllood or difapproved the project. Subfcriptions came in reluctantly, and the Ihips which the new company fitted out on this occafion, were fo wretchedly fupplied with provifions and necef- faries, that of five hundred and thirty-two re- cruits, who failed from France with Defnambuc, in February 1627, the greater part perilhed mi- fcrably at fea for want of food. The Englilh received the furvivors with com- paffion and kindnefs ; and for preventing contefcs in future about their refpedive limits, the com- manders of each nation agreed to divide the whole illand pretty equally between their followers. A treaty of partition for this purpofe was reduced to writing, and figned, with many formalities, on the third of May 1627: it comprehended alfo a league defcnfive and offenfive j but this alliance proved of little avail againft the Spanilli invaiiDii in 1629, the circumflances whereof I have *!<':- where related f/5'j . Yet furely, unjuilifiablt as that attack may be deemed, if the condud ot the new fettlcrs towards the Charaibes wa*- turh as Du Tertre relates, we have but Uttle caufe lo lament over the miferies which befel them. The mind exults in the :haftifement of cruelty, even when the inftruments of vengeance are as cri- minal as the objects of punifiiment. 4S9 ' t i I1 3 ' 1 » I • 1 !• .1 {I>J Book IL Chap. ii. It m M i ! !i ' 460 HISTORYOFTHE It may now be thought that thofe of the two nations who furvived fo deftrudive a ftorm, had learnt moderation and forbearance in the fehool of adverfity j and indeed for feme years they ap- pear to have lived on terms of good neighbour- hood with each other; but at length national rivalry and hereditary animofity were allowed their full influence, infomuch that, for half a century afterwards, this little ifland exhibited a difguftinp- fcene of internal contention, violence, and bloodflied. It is impoffible at this time to pronounce with certainty, whether the French or the Englilli were the firfl aggreflbrs. It n probable that eich nation would lay the blame on the other. We arc told that in the firft Dutch war, in the reign of Charles II. the French king declaring for the United States, his fubjedts in St. Chriftopher'ii, difdaining an inglorious neu- trality, attacked the EngUfli planters, and drove them out of their poireflions ; which were after- wards, by the treaty of Breda, reftored to them. In 1689, in confequcnce of the revolution which had taken place in England the preceding year, the French planters in this ifland, declaring them- felves in the interefts of the abdicated monarch, attacked and expelled their Englilh neighbours a fecond time, laying wafte their plantations, and committing fuch outrages as are unjuftifiable among civilized nations, even in a time of open and HE lofe of the two re a ftorm, had e in the fehool years they ap- )od neighbour- ength national were allowed lat, for half a nd exhibited a iition, violence, at this time to ler the French Tgreflbrs. It h lay the blame lat in the firlt sll. the French Ltes. his fubje<^ts inglorious neu- iters, and drove lich were after- ftored to them, evolution which preceding year, declaring them- cated monarch, ilh neighbours 3lantations, and re unjuftifiable a time of open and W E S T I N D I E S. and avowed hoftility. Their condud on thi j oc- cafion was deemed fo cruel and treacherous, that it was affigned by King William and Queen Mary among the caufes which induced them to declare war as;ainft the French nation. Even fortune herfelf, inclining at length to the fide of juftice, from henceforward delerted them ; for, after they had continued about eight months iole mafters of the ifland, the EngHfli under the command of General Codrington, returning in great force, not only compelled the French inhabitants to fur- reader, but adually tranfported eighteen hundred of them to Martinico and Hifpaniola. It is true, that reparation was ftipulated to be made them by the treaty of Ryfwick. in 1697 > ^"^ ^^^ again breaking out between the two nations in 1702, the French planters derived but little advantage from that claufe in their favour. They had how- ever, in 1705, the gloomy fatisfadion to behold many of the Englifh poffeflions again laid wafte by a French armament, wnich committed fucli ravages, that the Britiih parliament found it neceffary to diftributc the fum of £. 103,000 amono; the fufferers, to enable them to re-fettlc their plantati(>ns. Happily, this was the laft exertion of national enrnity aru! civil difcord within this little community ; ' >.-, at the peace of Utrecht, the ifland was ceded wholly to the Englifli, and the French poiicffions publickly fold 461 IN t i J i I fold for the benefit of the Englifli government, 80,000 of the money was appro- priated as a marriage portion with the Princels Anne, who was betrothed to the Prince of Orange. Some few of the French planters, indeed, who confented to take the oaths, were naturalized, and permitted to retain their eftates. , Such were the origin and progrefs of the Britifli eftablifliment in the Illand of St. Chrif- topher. The circumflances which attended the French invafion in the beginning of 1782, when a garrifon of lefs than one thoufand effedive men (including the militia) was attacked by eight thoufand of the beft difciplined troops of France, fupported by a fleet of thirty-two fhips of war ; the confequent furrender of the ifland, after a moft vigorous and noble defence ; and its refto- ration to Great Britain by the general peace of 1783, being within every perfon's recolledion, need not be related at large in this work. I fhall therefore conclude with the following par- ticulars, which I prefumc are fomewhat lefs fo- miliar to the general reader, and their accuracy r!..y be depended on. ' - ■ . ■ St. Chr- stopher lies in 17° 15' North lati- tude, and 63° 17' Weft longitude; it is about fourteen leagues in circuit, and contains 43,726 acres of land, of which about 17,000 acres arc appropriated to the growth of fugar, and 4,000 to li government. ey WHS appro - h the Princets rince of Orange. s, indeed, who 2re naturalized, ites. , progrefs of the nd of St. Chril- Lch attended the rof 1782, when loufand effective ittacked by eight troops of France, wo fhips of war ; he ifl^nd, after a :e i and its refto- general peace ot on's recolledion, in this work. I Ibe following par- Ifomewhat lels fli- iid their accuracy 1 7° 1 5' North lati- tude i it is about contains 43,726 1-7,000 acres are fugar, and 4,000 to IV. WEST INDIES. 4*^' to pafturage. As fugar is the only commodity chap. of any account that is raifed, except provifions and a little cotton, it is probable, that nearly one half the whole iflr.nd is unfit for cultivation. The interior part of the country confifts indeed of many rugged precipices, and barren moun- tains. Of thefe, the loftieft is Mount-Mifery (evidently a decayed volcano) which rifes 3,711 feet in perpendicular height from the fea (b). Nature, however, has made abundant amends for the fterility of the mountains, by the fertility Ihe has beftowed upon the plains. No part of . the Weft-Indies that I have feen, poffefles even the fame fpecies of foil that is found in St. Chrif- topher's. It is ir general a dark grey loam, (o light and porous as to be penetrable by the llighteft application of the hoe ; and I conceive it to be the production of lubterrancous fires, the black ferruginous pumice of naturalifts, finely incorporated with a pure loam, or virgin mould. The under ftratum is gravel, from eight to t\\ .^Ive inches deep. Clay is no where found, except at a confiderable height in the mountains. (!>) There is an imnienfe crater on the top of this moun- tn'm, the bottom ot which is nearly level, and fuppoled to contain 50 acres, of which feven are covered with water; the reft are clothed with liigh grafs and trees, among which the mountain cuhbao-j is very conlj)icuous. From the cran- nies or fiirtires of this crctter ftill flow flreams of hot water, which are ftrongly impregnated with fiilphur, alum, and vi- triolick acid. •Nh' l\i 46+ ' .1 I i,?.! 1 HISTORY OF THE Bv what procefs of nature the foil which t have mentioned becomes more efpecially fuited to the production of fugar than any other in the Weft Indies, it is neither within my province nor ability to explain. The cin. urn fiance, how- ever, is unqueftionable. Canes, planted in par- ticular fpots, have been known to yield 8,000 lbs. of Mufcovado fugar from a finglc acre. One gentleman, in a favourable feafon, made 6,400 lbs. or four hogflieads of fixteen cwt. each per acrc^ on an average return of his whole crop. It is not however pretended, that the greateft part, or even a very large proportion of the cane land, throughout the ifland, is equally produ6tive. The general average produce for a feries of years is 16,000 hogfhcads of fixteen cwt. which, as one-half only of the whole cane land, or 8,500 acres, is annually cut (the remainder being in young canes) gives nearly two hogflieads of fix- teen cwt. per acre for the whole of the land in ripe canes ; but even this is a prodigious return, not equalled I imagine by any other fugar coun- try in any part of the globe. In Jamaica, though fomc of the choiccft lands may yield in favour- able years two hogflieads of fixteen cwt. per acre j the cane land which is cut annually, taken altogether, does not yield above a fourth part as much. i AM informed, however, that the planters of St, I foil which t lecially fuited |r other in the my province n (lance, how- lanted in par- ield 8,000 lbs. le acre. One ladc 6,400 lbs. each per acre^ le crop. It is reatcft part, or the cane land, ily productive, a feries of years cwt. which, as I land, or 8,500 linder being in ogflieads of fix- of the land in odigious return, her fugar coun- amaica, though [yield in favour- txteen cwt. per annually, taken e a fourth part It the planters of St. WEST INDIES. ifet, Chriftopher's are at a great expence for ma- nure ; that they never cut ratoou canes fcj j and although there is no want in the country of fprings and rivulets fur the fupport of the inha- bitants, their plantations fufler much in dry wea- ther, as the fubllratum does not long retain moif- ture (dj. This ifland is divided into nine parlfiies, and contains four towns and hamlets, viz. Balfeterre (the prcfent capital^ as it was formerly that of the French, containing about Boohoufcs) Sandy- Point, Old 1-load, and Deep Bay. Of thcfe, the two firft are ports of entry, eftabliflied by law., The fortifications confifl of Charle:-Fort and Brimftone-Hill, both near Sandy-Point ; three batteries at Bafleterre, one at Fig-Tree Bay, an- other at Palmeto-Point, and fome fmaKcr ones of no great importance. The proportion which St. Chriftopher's con- tributes, with the other iilands, towards an ho- nourable provifion for the Governor General, is £. 1,000 currency per aiinmv ; which is fettled on him by the aflembly immediately on his ar- (c) Rntoon canes are flioots from old roots, as will be fully explained hereafter. (cl) The woods on the mountainous pnrt of this ifland harbour abundance of a fmall f( ecies of monkey, troops of which Irequently come down to devour the canes, and do inconceivable mifchief. 465 I I. 1 ! 1 Vol. L H rival. ' I / '^Bsss^r^, %■ 'e^ 466 ' * 111 S T CHI Y OF T ; E riv.il. ITc licis bclkles foiiic perquilites; and in time of war t!iey arc conlidcrablr. ., • • : Each iihnd within this government has a fcparatc council, and each oFthti.i an aUcinbly, or houle of rcprcfentatives. In St. Chriftopher's, the council ihould coniift of un members, but it is fcldom that more than feven arc pirefcnt. The houfc of aflcmbly is compofed of twenty- four reprck-ntativcs, of whom fifteen make a quorum. The requifite qualification is a free- hold of fort)' acres of land, or a houfe worth forty pounds a year. Of the eleftors, the qualifica- tion is a freehold of ten pounds per annitm. TiiE Governor of tliis, -and the other iflands ia the fame government, h chancellor by his office, and in St. Chriflopher's fits alone. At- tempts have been made to join fome of the council with him, as in Barbadoes ; but hitherto without fucccfs, the inhabitants choofing rather to fnbmit to the cx^ience and delay of following the chancellor to Antigua, than fuflcr the incon- vcnicncy of having on the chancery bench judges, fome of whom it is probable, from their iltuation and couneftlons, may be intercfted in the event of every fuit that may come before them. In this ifland, as in Jamaica, the jurifdidioii of both the King's Bench and Common Pleas centers in one fupcrior court, wherein jnflice is adminiflcred by a chief juilicc and four puifne judgc^, 1! :; TH*. ^rquilites ; and m 'cvcrnmcnt has a tiitui an allcinblv, , St. CliriftopUer's, ten members, but ievcn arc pirefcnt. mpofed of twenty- tn fifteen make a \lification is a frcc- a houfe worth forty itors, the qualitica- uls per annum. nd the other iflands b-, chancellor by his j^r's fits alone. At- ro join fome of the badoes ; but hitherto :ants choofing rather ,nd delay of following .han Cuft"cr the incon- iianccrybtnch judges, ;, from their iltuation Intercfted in the event ac before them. ^naica,thejurifdiftion and Common Pleas ,rt, wherein juftiee is ,tVice and four puifne judg:^' WEST INDIES. ' « 41^* ludgcs. The chief is appointed by the crown, chap. the others by the governor in the King's name, '^'• and they all hold their commlfrion'i d urine;; plea- furc. The ofllce of chief iudp-e is worth about £. 600 per amnm. The emoluments of the aflill- ant judges are trifling. Thk prcfcnt number of white inh:\' ' mts is com;)uicd at 4,000, and taxes are ic on 26,000 negroes j and there are about thi\.c hun- dred blacks and niulattocs of free condilicn. As in the other Rriiilii il'lands in \hc nei2;h- bourhood, all the white men from the ctc of ilx- teen to fixty are obliged to erJift in the mi'.Itia, and in this iiland they ferve without pay. They form two regiments of foot, although the ^vholc number of eftciftive men in each regiment ftldom exceeds three hundred ; but there is likewik a company of free blacks, and this, before the late war, conllituted the wh(>!e of the military force within the iHand ; the Britilh government rcfuf- ing to fend them troops of any kind. Of the wifdom of fuch condud in Great Brhain, the reader will be able properly to judge, when he is told, that the natural itrenglh of this ifland, from the conformation and inequalities of its furface, is fuch, that a garrlfon of two thou- iand cffedive troops, properly fupplicd with am- xnunitior: and provillons, would in all human H h 2 probability ij^ii IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 Ui|Z8 125 Ui U 1 4.0 11.25 II u I 12.0 III 1.6 ^' Hiotographic Sciences Corporation ^^ O 33 WIST MAIN STRIET WfBSTH.N.Y. MSSO (716) •72-4903 6^ 4^ 4^0 ^ la !i i Pi •I; 11 468 HISTORY OF THE probability have rendered it impregnable tp the forfnidableinvafionof 1782. With St. Chriftopher's furrendered alfo the ifland of Nevis ; /rom which it is divided omy by a fmall channel, and of which I (hall now give fome account. S E C T I » II. NEVIS. THIS beautiful Httle fpot is nothing more than a fingle mountain, fifing like a cone in an eafy afcent from the feaj the circumference of its bafe not exceeding eight Englilh leagues. It is generally believed that Columbus beftowed on it the appellation of Nieves^ or The SnowSy from its refemblance to a mountain of the fame name in Spain, the top of which is covered with fnow j but it is not an improbable conjedure, that in thofe daj's a white fmoke was feen to ilTue from the fummit, which at a diftance had a fnow-like appearance, and that. it rather derived its name from thence. That the ifland was produced by fome volcanick explofion, there can be no doubt; for there is a hollow, or crater, near the fummit, ftiil viTibie, which contains a hot fpring flrongiy impregnated >le to the 1 alfo the ided only I now give jthing more 1 cone in an jmference of I leagues. It bellowed on Snoivsy from e fame name i with fnow j ture, that in to iffue from d a fnow-like ved its name produced by be no doubt; the fummit, >ring ftrongly impregnated WEST INDIES. impregnated with fulphurj and fulphur is fre- quently found in fubdance, in the neighbouring gullies and cavities of the earth. The country is. well watered, and the land in general fertile, a fmall proportion towards the fummit of the ifland excepted, which anfwers however for the growth of ground provifions, fucii as yams and other efcuient vegetables. The foil is ftony ; the bed is a loofe black mould, on a clay. In feme places, the upper flratum is a ft iff clay, which requires labour, but properly di- vided and pulverifed, repays the labour beftowed upon it. The general produce of fugar (its only ftaple produdiion) is one hoglhead of fixteen cwt. per acre from all the canes that are annually cut, which being about 4,000 acres, the return of tlie whole is an equal number of hogflieads, and this was the average fixed on by the French government in 1782, as a .iile for regulating the taxes. As at St. Chriftopher's the planters fel- dom cut ratoon canes. This iiland, fmall as it is, is divided into five parifhes. It contains a town called Charles- Town, the feat of government and a port of entry, and there are two other (hipping places, called Indian-Caftle and New-Caftle. The prin- cipal fortification is at Charles-Town, and is called Charles Fort. The commandant is appointed by the crown, but receives a falary from the ifland. Hh 3 Th.^ 469 r ii ; i !':' [til ^1 'A. rill i 47» HISTORY OF THE The government, in the abfcnce of the Go- vernor-General, is adminiftered by the prefident of the council. This board is compofed of the prefident, and fix other members. The houfe of aiTembiy confifls of fifteen reprefentatives i three for each pariflb. The admlniftration of Common law is under the guidance of a chief juflice, and two afliftant judges, and there is an office for the regiftry of deeds. The prefent number of white inhabitants is ftated to me not to exceed fix hundred, while the negroes amount to about ten thoufand > a dif- proportion which nccelfarily converts all fuch white men as are not exempted by age or decre- pitude, into a well-regulated militia,among which there is a troop confilling of fifty hOrfe, well mounted and accoutred. Englilh forces, on the Britilh eftablifliment, thev have none. The Englifii firfl; eftablifhed themfelves in this iiland in the year 1628, under the protedion and encouragement of Sir Thomas Warner. Among the different clafTes of men, who fought to improve their fortunes in St, Chriftopher's by the pj^tronage of that enterprifing leader, it can hardly be prefumed, that every individual ex- perienced the full gratification of his. hopes and expcdations. In all focieties, there are many who will confider themfelves unjuftly overlooked and : of the Go- he prefident pofed of the The houfe refentatives ; law is under two afliftant be regiftry of inhabitants is red, while the ifand ; a dif- erts all fuch age or decre^ among which y hOrfe, well forces, on the me. themfelves in :he pro ted ion »mas Warner, n, who fought liriftopher's by ; leader, it can individual ex- his. hopes and lere are many ftly overlooked and WEST INDIES. and forgotten. Of the companions of Warner's carlieft voyages, it is probable that fome would fet too high a value on their fervices, and of thofc who ventured afterwards, many would complain, on their arrival, that the beft lands were pre-occupied. To foften and temper fuch difcordancy and difqiiiet, by giving full employ- ment to the turbulent and feditious, feems to have been one of the mod important objedls of Warner's policy. Motives of this nature in- duced him, without doubt, to plant a colony in Nevis at fo early a period ; and the wifdom and propriety of his firft regulations gave ftrength and ftability to the fettlcment. What Warner began wifely, was happily completed by his immediate fucceflbr Mr. Lake, under whofc adminiftration Ne/is rofe to opu- lence and importance. " He was a wife man," fays Du Tertre, " and feared the Lord." Mak- ing this illand the place of his refidence, it flou- rlflied beyond example. It is faid, that about the year 1640, it poflefled four thoufand whites : fo powerfully are mankind invited by the advan- tages of a mild and equitable fyftem of govern- ment ! Will the reader pardon me, if I obfcrve at the Tame time, tliat few fituations in life could have afforded greater felicity than that of fuch a governor. Living amidfl the beauties of an eternal fpring, beneath a Iky fcrene and uncloud- H h 4 ed. 4;« S i I hi \i tV ■ t i ;'• i'l il I h 47» HISTORY OF THE ed, and in a fpot inexpreffively beautiful (for it is enlivened by a variety of the moft enchanting profpefts in the world, in the numerous iflands which furround it) but above all, happy in the refleftion that he conciliated the differences, ad-, miniftered to the neceffities, and augmented the comforts of thoufands of his fellow-creatures, all of whom looked up to him as their common father and protedor. If there be pure joy on earth, it muft have exiftedin the bofom of fuch a man; while he beheld the tribute of loye, gratitude, and approbation towards him in every countenance, and whofe heart at the fame time told him that lie deferved it. I AM forry that I muft prefent the reader with a very different pidure, in the account that | am now to give of Antigua, ^^ i:.', I li' ^ '; If. I Section III, ANTIGUA, ANTIGUA is fituatcd about twenty leagues to the eaftward of St. Chriftopher's, and was difcovered at the fame time with that ifland, by Columbus himfelf, who named it, from a . church in Seville, Sania Maria de la Antipta. We ful (for 5t nchanting )us iflands ►py in the enc^s, ad^ lented the -creatures, ir Gommon ure joy on om of fuch te of love, im in every ; fatne time reader with 5unt that \ out twenty :opher's, and 1 that illand, it, from a la Antigua. We WEST INDIES. tVe are informed by Ferdinand Columbus, that the Indian name was 'Jamaica. It is a fmgular circumftance, that this word, which in the lan- guage of the larger iflands fignified a country abounding in Springs, ftiould, in the dialed of the Cbaraibes, have been applied to an ifland that has not a fmgle fpring or rivulet of frelh water in it, This inconvenience, without doubt, as it ren-? dered the country uninhabitable to the Cha^ raibes, deterred for fome time the European adf venturers in the neighbouring iflands from at- tempting a permanent eftablifliment in Antigua j but nature prefents few obflaclcs which the ava-? rice or induftry of civilized man will not endea- vour to furmount. The lands were found to be fertile, and it was difcovered that cifterns might be contrived to hold rain-water Jc). So early as 1632, a few EngHfli families took up lands there, and began the cultivation of tobacco. Among thefe was a fon of Sir Thomas Warner, whofe deicendants ftill polTefs yerj' confiderable property in the ifland, one of them (Afliton Warner, JEfquire) having been, in 1787, prefi- dent of the council, and commander in chief i^ the abfence of the governor. But the fettlement was nearly flrangled in its (c) The water thus preferved is wonderfully light, pure, and ^•holefome. infancy,- 473 ' ipl '1 r ! > A 1, 1! , I; «!.i 'f I Pi m 474 HISTDRY OF THE 111 r^: i r ii ;'::l infancy. Iq 1666, a French armament from Maiiinico, co-operating with a body of Charaibes, invaded i|ie iiland, and ravaged the country with fire and fword. All the negroes that could be found, were taken away ; and the inhabitants, after beholding their houfc^ and eflates in flames, were plundered even to the clothes on their backs and the (hoes on their feet, without re- gard to fex or age. Its recovery from this calamity was owing chiefly to the enterprifing fpirit and extenfive views of Colonel Codrington, _of Barbadoes. This gentleman removing to Antigua about the year 1674, applied his knowledge in fugar- planting with fuch good effedl and fuccefs, that others, animated by his example, and aflifted by his advice and encour^ement, adventured in the fame line of cuhivation. Mr. Codrington was fome years afterwards nominated captain- general and commander in chief of all the lee- ward Charaibcan iflands, and, deriving from this appointment, the power of giving greater energy to his benevolent purpofes, had foon the hap- pinefs of beholding the good cffeds of his hu- manity and wifdom, in the flourifliing condition of the feveral iflands under his government. The profperity of Antigua was manifefted in its extenfive population j for when, in the year 1690, Qeneral Codrington commanded on the expedition ent from i^haraibes, ntry with could be habitants, in flames, on their ithout re- was owing 1 extenfive Barbadoes. a. about the ; in fugar- fuccefs, that i affifted by ventured in Codrington ted captain- all the lee- |ng from this ■eater energy >n the hap- [s of his hu- ing condition [rnment. lanifefted in I, in the year mded on the expedition WEST INDIES. 47S expedition againft tlie French inhabitantft ||f St. c h a p. Chrifiopher's, as hath been related in theJ^^ory '^' of that ifland, Antigua furniflied tcB^ar6is" it no lefs than eight hundnxl cflVdive nien ; a quota, which gives r turn to parliament } but grofs bribery being proved againfl him, he was expelled the houfe. His next adventure was to debauch the wife df a friend, for which being profecuted, he quitted England, and made a campaign with the army in Flanders, where he had the fortune to attraft the notice, and acquire the patronage, of the Duke of Marlborough.— In 1704, he attended the Duke as one of his aides-de-camp,' and as fuch, on the event of the battle of Hochftet, having been fent by his Grace to England, with intelligence of that important vidory,, he was rewarded by the Queen with a purfe of a thou- fand guineas, and her pi<5ture richly fet with dia- monds, The year following, the government of the Leeward Iflands becoming vacant, Mr. Park, through the intereft of his noble patron, was appointed to fucceed Sir William Mathews therein, and he arrived at Antigua in July 1706. A? he was a native of America, and his \x\' conduft , and was [^arly time brtune in ► his wife With this lined a rc- ,ery being the houfc. he wife of he quitted I the army e to attrad age, of the le attended mp,' and a* f Hochftet, igland, with ,ry„ he was of a thou- fet with dia- government acant, Mr. ible patron, Im Mathews iia in July and his in- WEST INDIES. tercH: with the Britiih adminiftration was believed to be confidcrable, the inhabitants of the Lee- Ward Iflands, who were probably unacquainted with his private charadlcf, received him with fingular refped, and the aflembly of Antigua, even contrary to ^ royal inftrutflion, added a thoufand pounds to his yearly income, in order, as It was expreiTed in the vote, to relieve him from the expence of houfe-rent ; a provifion which, I believe, has been continued ever fmcc to his fucceflbrs in the government. The return which Mr. Park, thought proper to make for this mark of their kindnels, was an avowed and unreftrained violation of all decency and principle. He feared neither God nor man; and it was loon obferved of him, as it had for- merly been of another deteftablc tyrant, that he /pared no man in his anger^ nor "wonuin in his lujl. One of his firft enormities was to debauch the wife of a Mr. Chefter, who was fad or to the royal African company, and the nioft confidcr- able merchant in the ifland. Apprehending that the injured hufband might hied itate revenge, the worthy governor endeavoured to be beforehand with him, by adding the crime of murder to that of adultery j for Chefter having about this time bad the misfortune to kill a perfon by accident, h'ls excellency, who had railed a common foldier to the ofiice of provoft-marfiial, brought him to ♦. . » trial 477 f'l I i; ! ri ill '\ •'\ i:,| i^hi 1! ^'^ 1' { !||- i * ■ !|. ,■ jH' \. Ih j'l iH m 47« t.{ HISTORY OF THE a trial for his life ; direding his inflrumcnt the provoft-marfliai, to impanel a jury of certain pcrfons, from whom he doubted not to obtain Chcftcr's convi(Jtion j and the execution of this innocent and injured man would undoubtedly have followed, if the evidence in his favour had not proved too powerful to be overborne; fo that the jury were compelled to pronounce his acquittal. -Another of his exploits was an attempt to rob the Cpdrington family of the illand of Bar- buda (of which they had held peaceable pofTef- fion for thirty years) by calling on them to prove their title before himfelf and his council ; a mea- fure which gave every proprietor rcafon to ap- prehend that he' had no fecurity for his poflef- iions but the governor's forbearance. He declared that he would fuffer no provoft- marlhal to a^t, who (hould not at all times luni- mon fuch juries as he (hould dired. He chang- ed the mode of electing members to ferve in the aflembly, in order to exclude perfons he did not like i and not being able by this meafure to pro- Cure an aflembiy to his wilh, he refufed to call them together even when the French threatened an invafion. He entered the houfe of Mr. Chefter, the pcrfon before mentioned, with an armed force, and feized fcveral gentlemen (fome of them the § principal f^pf imcnt ttie of certain to obtain ion of this idoubtedly favour had ;rbome; fo )nounce his attempt to and of Bar- eable poflef- icm to prove incil i a mea- cafon to ap- 6r his poffef- :r no provoft- ill times ium- Hc chang- ;o ferve in the ,ns he did not teafurc to pro- •efufcdto call ich threatened Chefter, the armed force, le of them the principA WEST INDIES. 47<) principal men of the ifland) who were there met chap. for the purpofc of good fcllowfliip, on fufpicion ^^' that. they were concerting mcafurcs ^ainil him- fcif } mod of whom he fent by his own authority to the common jail, and kept them there with- out bail or trial. Bv thefc, and a thoiifand other odious and intemperate proceedings, the whole country be- came a party againd him, and difpatched an agent to England to lay their grievances before the crown, adopting, in the firft inftance, all mo- derate and legal means to procure his removal ; but from the delays incident to the bulinefs, the people lod all temper, and began to confider forbearance as no longer a virtue. More than one attempt was made on the governor's life, in the laft of which he was grievouHy, but not mortally, wounded. Unhappily the furious and exafperated ftate of men's minds admitted of no compromife, and the rafli impetuous governor was not of a difpofition to foften or conciliate, if occafion had offered. At length, however, inftruftions came from the crown, directing Mr. Park to refign his com- mand to the lieutenant-governor, and return to England by the firft*convenient opportunity; at the lame time commifiloners were appointed to take examinations on the Tpot, concerning the complaints which had been uigcd againft his condud. Ml) |i' iilSTORYOFTHE condudt. It would have been happy if the u\* habitants of Antigua had borne their fuccefs with moderation j but the triumphant joy which they manifefted, on receipt of the Queen's orders^ pi'ovoked the governor into defperation. He declared that he would continue in the govern- Ihent in fpite of the inhabitants, and being in- formed, that a fhip was about to fail for Europe, in which he might conveniently have embarked, lie refufed to leave the country^ In the mean- while, to convince the people that his firmnefs was unabated, and that he ftill confidered him- felf in the rightful exercife of nis authority, he ilTued a proclamation to diffolve the affembly. Matters were now coming faft to an iffue. The aHembly continued fitting notwithftanding the governor's proclamationj and refolved, that having been recalled by his fovereign, his conti- nuance in the government was ufui*pation and tyranny, and that it was their duty to take charge of the fafety and peace of the ifland. On hearing of this vote, the governor fecretly or- dered a party cf foldiers to lurround them ; but the affembly having obtained information of his intentions, immediately fcparated to provide for their perfonal fafety. The enfuing night, and the whole of the following day, were employed in fummoning the inhabitants from all parts of the ifland, to haften to the capital, properly . armed. m B" sv r if the i\\* fuccefs with which they en's orders^ ation^ He the govern- id being in- fer Europe, e embarked, [n the mean- his firmnefs ifidered him- luthority, he J aflembly. ft to an iffue. twithftanding refolved, that gn, his conti- fui-pation and duty to take ,e illand. On >r fecretly or- :id them ; but rmation of his to provide for ig night, and ^rere employed 3m all parts of )ital, properly armed. WEST INDIES. iinned, to prated their reprefentatives. It was ^ven out, however, that the governor's life was not aimed at ; all i:hat was intended, was to fecure his perfon, and fend him firom the iiland. On iThurfday the 7 th of December 1710, early in the morning, about five hundred men appeared in arms, in the town of Saint John's, where Colonel Park had been making provifion for refiftance in cafe of an attack. He had con- verted the government houfe into a garrifon,and ilationed in it all the regular troops that were in the iiland. On the approach of the inhabi- tants however^ his courage deferted him. The iight of an injured people, coming forward as one man, with deliberate valour, to execute on his perfon that punifhment which he muft have been confcious his enormities well merited, over- whelmed him with confufion and terror. Al- though he muil have been apprized, that his adver(aries had proceeded too far to retreat, he now, for the firft time, when it was too late, had recourfc to conceffion. He difpatched the pro- voft-marfhal with a meflage, iignifying his readi- nefs to meet the alfembly at Parham, and to confent to whatever laws they (hould think pro- per to pafs for the good of the country. He offered at the fame time to difmifs his foldiers, provided fix of the principal inhabitants would remain with him as hoflages for the fafety of his Vol,. J. I i perfon. ^1 ..J - •? 'f ;j^i Hi 'i vjjvlv''! i ! '.i- v.- '' ' II :i ; h HISTORY OF THE BOOK perfon. The fpeaker of the affembly, and one " I • of the members of the council, unwilling to carry hiatters to the laft extremity, feemed incUned to a compromife, and propofed themfelves as two of the hoftages required by the governor j but the general body of the people, apprehenfive that fiirther delay might be fatal to their caufe, called aloud for immediate vengeance; and inftantly marched forward in two divifions. One of thefe, led by Mr. Piggot, a member of the affembly, taking poffeffion of an eminence that com- manded the government houfe, attacked it with great fury. The fire was briikly returned for a confiderable time, but at length the affailants broke into the houfe. The governor met them with firmnefs, and fhot Piggot dead with his own hand, but received in the fame moment, a- "wound which laid him proftrate. His attend- ants, feeing him fall, threw down their arms, and the enraged populace, feizing tlie perfon of the wretched governor, who was ftill alive, tore him into a thoufand pieces, and fcattered his reeking limbs in the ftreet. Befides the governor, an cnfign and thirteen private foldiers, who fought in his caufe, were killed outright, and a lieute- nant and twenty-four privates wounded. Of the people, thirty-two were killed and wounded, befides Mr. Piggot. •The governor's death in- dantly put an end to this bloody conflid. >;w.: ; * ^ . - '■ Thus and one to carry incUned es as two nor i but iifive that afe, called I inftantly ic of thefe, I affembly* that com- ked it with urned for a le affailanfes r met them ad with his ; moment, a." His attend- »ir arms, and >erfon of the ve, tore him i his reeking ;overnor, an who fought ind a lieute- .unded. Of ind wounded, »r's death in- inflift. Xbus IV. WESt iNl)IES» 4fi$ TntTs perifhed, in a general infurfe(f^ion of c h a p, iah infulted and indignant community, a brutal and licentious dcfpot, than whom no (late cri- minal was ever more defervedly puniflied. He was a monRer in wickednefs, and being placed by his fituation beyond the reach of ordinary reftraint, it was as lawful to cut him off by every means poffible, as it would have been to ihoot a wild bead that had broke it^ limits, and was gorging itfelf with human blood. " The people of England,'* fays an eminent writer fejf " heard with aftoniftiment of Park's untimely fate ; but the publick were divided in their fentiments ; fome looking upon his death as an aft of rebellion r^ainft the crown, and others confidering it as a facrifice to liberty. The fla- grancy of the perpetration, and compaffion for the man, at laft got the better." In the latter affertion however, the writer is clearly miftaken ; for the Englifli government, after full inveftiga- tion, was fo thoroughly fatisfied of Mr. Park's mifconduft, as to iifue, much to its honour, a general pardon of ail perfons concerned in his death, and two of the principal aftors therein were even promoted fome time afterwards to feats in the council. From this period I clofe my account of the civil concerns of Antigua, finding no occurrence ifey OJ Unlverfal Hiftory, vol. XLI. Ii2 h m 1 1 I' I- In 4H 1 i,T n ^ 1, ■ :;^fli ■i«r! 1 1- t^ HISTORY OF THE in its fubfequent hiflory of fufficient importance to detain the reader j what remains therefore is chiefly topographical, and I hope will be found corrcd. Antigua is upwards of fifiry miles in cir- cumfererre, and contains 59,838 acres of land, of which about 34,000 are appropriated to the growth of fugar, and pafturage annexed: its other principal flaples are cotton-wool and to- bacco ; to what extent of cultivation I am not informed i and they raiie in favourable years great quantities of provifions. This ifland contains two difierent kinds of foil ; the one a black mould on a fubftratum of clay, which is naturally rich, and when not checked by exceiTive droughts, to which Antigua is particularly fubjeA, very produdive. The other is a ili£f cl;^ on a fubftratum of marl. It is much lefs fertile than the former, and abounds with an inirradicable kind of gra(s, in fuch a manner, that many eftates confiding of that kind of foil, which were once very profitable, arc now fo impoveriflied and overgrown with this fort of grafs, as either to be converted into pafture land, or to become entirely abandoned. Ex- clufive of fuch deferted land, and a fmall part of the country that is altogether unimprovable, every part of the ifland may be faid to be under cultivation. From kportancc crefore is be found IS in cir- s of land, ted to the lexed: its d1 and to- I am not rablc yciws it kinds of bftratum of when not ich Antigua ftive. The of marl. It ind abounds , in fuch a of that kind ble, are now ith this fort into pafture oned. Ex- a fmall part limprovable, to be under From ■■i i til '\n hidt^-uHn-i^,. C r ab Valley Bav, a\A' m]|iii|ni unmiimiiimLni - >' Lonriuiilp Wrfl /A>/n f.ondon . I'ii:-tl.■ .(/.'.•i.f.i/,- IV,Y,t,fi//j> . zMmmmmnmcz i/l/Hil/lj lltlll IB NlnlulrMilri. liiiliiiiiTowii I'.' Skfnvti Mill k I'liMif /'I'liJ "" _j''""''»nr«>»nv ^3) ,./•////• V^^ V ISLANJ} ANTIGUA ^ — ^ lor the -— — "'"'iilfan l'» llJS'rOUYo/fAf WJiST I.MtlJCS j£. r ■{■itiirir Wefl /Ar>/n (.ondon . ^ *;7.-*' A /•// ./. Sl.\-M.ilf I'l.-.ui.tiHp . '7 ir. 1^ If WEST INDIES. Prom the circumftances that have been re- lated, it is difficult to furnifli an average return of the crops, which vary to fo great a degree, that the quantity of fugar exported from this ifland in fome years, is five tinies greater than in others; thus in 1779 were (hipped 3,582 hogfheads, and 579 tierces; in 1782 the crof> was 15,102 hogflieads, and 1,603 tierces; and in the years 1770, 1773, and 1778, there were no crops of any kind ; all the canes being de- ftroyed by a long continuance of dry weather, and the whole body of the negroes muft have periflied for want of food, if American vefiels with corn and flour had been at that time, as they now are, denied admittance (f). It feems to me on the whole, that the ifland has progrefTively decreafed both in produce and white population. The lafl accurate returns to government were in 1774. In that year, the white inhabitants of all ages and (exes were 2,590, and the enflaved negroes 37,808, and I believe, that 1 7,000 hogfheads of fugar of fix- teen cwt. are reckoned a good faving crop. This, as one-half the canes only are cut annually, is about a hogfhead of fugar per acre for eacli (f) In the year 1789, there was no fell of nun for feven months, whereby there was not only no crop of fugar, but 5,000 head of horned cattle periflied for want of water. ■--■■'. .**^ 4«$ II!' ;i / Hil 486 HISTORY OF THE acre that is cut. The produce of 1787 will be given hcrcaiieri and I believe it was a year moro favourable to Autigua, in proportion to its ex- tent, than to any other of the Britiih iflands in the Weft Indies. Antigua is divided into fix pari(hes and eleven diftrids, and contains fix towns Jind vil- lages. Saint John's (gj^ (the capital) Parham, Falmouth, Willoughby Bay, Old Road, and James Fort j of which, the two firft arc legal ports of entry. — No ifland, in this part of the Weft Indies, can boaft of fo many excellent har- bours. Of thefe, the principal are Englifli har- bour and Saint John's, both well fortified, and at the former, the Britifh government has efta* bliflied a royal navy-yard and arfenal, and con-i veniencies for careening ftiips of war. " ^" The military eftablilhment generally confifts of two regiments of infantry, and two of foot militia. There are likewife a fquadron of dra- goons, and a battalion of artillery, both raifcd in the ifland, and the regulars receive additional p^y, as in Jamaica. -•'t .*"- r-") It hath been already obferved, that the go- vernor or captain-general of the leeward Cha- ■ \ Cg) The town of Saint John was nearly deftroycd by fire on the 17th of Auguft 17^9; upwards of 260 hoiifes being confumed; befides wharfs, cranes, &c. &c. .yv}i. > raibean 7 will be year more to its cx- iflands in riftics and as find vil- ) Parham, <.oad, and I arc legal rart of the cellcnt har- ingUfli liar- )rtified, and :nt has efta- xl, and conn irally confifts two of foot dron of dra- both raifcd ve additional that the go- eeward Cha? ly deftroycci by Is of 260 hovifes [. &c. raibean WEST INDIES.' raibean iflands, although diredcd l>y his inftruc- tions to vifit occafionally each iltand within his government, is generally ftationary at Antigua : he is chancellor of each illand by his office, but commonly holds the court in Antigua, and iti hearing and determining caul'es from the other iflands, prefides alone. In cauil-s arillng in An- tigua, he is affifted by his council, after the prac- tice of Barbadoes ; and, by an aft of the aliem- bly of this ifland, confirmed by the crown, the prefident and a certain number of the council may determine chancery caufes during the ab* fence of the governor-general. The other courts of this ifland are a court of king's-bench, a court of common-pleas, and a court of exchequer. Thb legiflatiire of Antigua is compofed of the commander in chief, a council of twelve members, and an aflcmbly of twenty-five j and it is very much to its honour that it prefented the firft example to the After iflands of a melio- ration of the criminal law refpcfting negroe flaves, . by giving the accufed party the benefit of a trial by jury : and allowing in the cafe of ca* pital conviftions four days between the time of fentence and execution. And it is ftill more to the honour of Antigua, that its inhabitants have encouraged, in a particular manner, the laudable endeavours of certain pious men, who have un- dertaken, from the pureft and beft motives, to I i 4 enlighten 487 u. f r HISTORY OF THE BOOK enlighten the minds of the negroes, and lead '"• them into the knowledge of religious truth. la the report of the lords of the committee of coun- cil on the Have-trade, is an account of the la- bours of the fociety known by the name of the Unitas Fpatrum, (commonly called Moraviam) in this truly glorious purfuit ; from which it appears that tlicir condudt in this bufinefs dif- plays fuch found judgment, breathes fuch a fpirit of genuine chriftianity, and has been attended with fuch eminent fuccefs, as to entitle its bre- thren and miflionaries to the mod favourable reception, from every man whom the accidents of fortune have invefted with power over the poor Africans j and who believes (as I hope every planter believes) that they are his fellow-crea- tures, and of equal importance with himfelf in the eyes of an all-feeing and impartial governor of the univerfe. With an abridgment of that ac- count, I (hall clofe the fubjedt of my prefent difcuflion. " The church of the united brethren have, ever fmce the year 1732, been aftive in preach- ing the gofpel to different heathenf nations in many parts of the world, but not with equal fuccefs in all places. The method here dc- fcribed, and made ufe of by the miflionaries of the faid church, in leading the negro-ilaves in the Weft Indies to the knowledge and pradice of M'^^liii^ and lead truth. I» :e of coun- of the la- ame of the Moravians) n which it Qufmefs dif- fuch a fpirit en attended title its brc- l favourable he accidents wer over the I hope every J fellow-crea- tth himfelf in al governor of It of that ac- >f my prefent irethren have, ive in preach- ;rf nations in )t with equal lod here dc- niffionaries of egro-ilaves in and practice of WEST INDIES. of chriftianity, is followed, ia all points that are rot l(Kal, in ail the miiTions of the brethren. After many years unfucccfsful labouf, expe- rience has taught them, that the plain tcilimony concerning the death and palTion of JcfusChrift the Son of God, together with its caufe and happy confequences, delivered by a mifllonary touched with an experimental fenfe of it, is the fureft way of enlightening the benighted minds of the negroes, in order to lead them afterwards flep by rtep into all truth : they therefore make it a rule, never to enter into an extenfive dif- euflion of the dodtrincs of God's being an infi- nite fpirit, of the holy trinity, &c. nor to feck to open their underftandings in thofe points, until they believe in Jefus, and that the word of the crofs has proved itfelf the power of God unto falvation, by the true converfion of their hearts. Both in the beginning and progrefs of their inftrudlions, the miflionaries endeavour to deliver themfelves as plainly and intelligibly to the faculties of their hearers as pofiib" ■ ; and the Lord has given his bleffing even to the moft unlearned, that went forth in reliance upon him, to learn the difficult languages of the negroes, fo as tq attain to great fluency in them : one great difficulty arifes indeed from the new ideas ^d words necelTary to exprefs the divine truths . to 489 Wl V- ,1 1 III. ii i'fjij il i ?,:... 490 HISTORY OF THE F o o K to be introduced into thenii but even this haj been furmounted through God's grace. As it is required of all iDelievers, that they prove their faith by their works; the brethren teach, that no habit of fin, in any land or place, nor any prev^ling cuftom whatever, can be admitted as a plea for a behaviour not conform-, able to the moral law of God, given unto all mankind. Upon the fulfilment of this, the miffionaries infift every where. Every thing that is accounted decent and virtuous among chrif- tians, is inculcated into the minds of the peo> pie, Drunkennefs, adultery, whoredom, for- cery, theft, anger and revenge, and all other works of the flefli, as enumerated by our Lord and his Apoftles as proceeding from the heart, being plain proofs that man is either unconverted, or again fallen into heathenifm and idolatry, it fol- lows of courfe, that any one guilty of thefe things is put away from the congregation, and not re-admitted before a true and fincere repent-, ancc is apparent, and the offence done away 3 but it is not fufficient that the believers abftain from open fcandal, their private behaviour in their families, and in every occurrence of life, muft evidence a thorough change of h^art and principles : indeed the believing negroes in An- tigua, and in other places where the brethren hav« en this ha« e. v?i >vn , that they he brethren ad or placer rer, can be ot conform- ren "unto all of this, the ry thing that imong chrif- , of the peo- oredom, for- 11 other works Lord and his heart, being :iConverted, or lolatry, it fol- ilty of thefe jregatioD, and Ifincere repents done away : ;lievers abftain behaviour in irrence of lifc» L of h^art and Inegroes in An- the brethren hav« WEST INDIES. ^ 49t \^w miflions, are fo much under the influence c ii a i», of tneir mailers, and of a variety of circum- "v. ftanccs that attend their being Haves, that it may perhaps feem more difficult to effect a change of cuftoms and praftices, and to enforce a fteady chriftian condudt in all cafes amongft them, than amongft free heathens ; and yet it muft be own- ed, to the praife of God, that this is vifible at prefent in many thoufand converted negroes. The miffionaries, however, have frequent occafion to fee with forrovv, how deeply rooted the habit of fin, and the tendency to excufe it, is in the minds of the negroes ; who, when un-» converted, are particularly given to an unbound- ed gratification of every fenfual lull ; but on this very account it becomes the more needful to watch, and not to fuft'er the leaft deviation from the right path, to remain unnoticed in the believers. It has been before obferved, that baptifm is adminiftered to none, but to fuch in whom a thorough converfion of heart is already perceivable. As foon as they are confidered as candidates for baptifm, they are fubjed to the difcipline of the church, by which, if they offend, and private admonition and reproof have not the defired effect, they are excluded from the fellovvlhip of the reft, though they may attend publick fervlce, and every means is ftiil fiiith- fuUy applied to bring them back. Thus a com- municant. l(»'WI* : « HISTORY OF THE munlcant, in cafe of an offence given, is not ad- mitted to the Lord's fvpper. This difcipline has, by God's bleffing, had (o good an effedt, that many a believing negro would rather fuffer the fevereft bodily punifliment than incur it. If they confefs their fins, and heartily repent, they are willingly, and, according to the nature of the offence, either privately, or in the prefence of a part or the whole of the congregation, re- admitted to the fellowfhip of the church. The believing negroes are not fuffered to attend any where, where the unconverted meet for the fake of feafting, dancing, gaming, &c. and the ufual plea of not entering into the finftil part of theje di^ verJiottSy is never admitted, inafmuch as the leaft ilep towards vice and immorality, generally plunges them by degrees into grofs fins. The hankering after the vain traditions of their fore- fathers, is confidered as a falling off from that love to the Lord Jefus and his dodlrines, whiciv once prompted them to forfake all ungodlinefs, and devote themfelves unto God j and if they per- fift in evil ways, the faithfulnefs due to the reft of the flock on the part of the miflionarles, demands their (eparation, left they feduce others. The polygamy of the negroes has caufed no fmall embarraffnient to the miflionaries. The following is a fhort account of the brethren's manner of treating them in this particular: When nr , is not ad- } difcipUne 1 an effeft, ather fuffer n incur it. tily repent, ) the nature the prefence regation, re- lurch. The ■o attend any for the fake ind the ufual irt of theje di- ch as the leaft ity, generally ofs fins. The ^ of their fore- off from that ,arines, whicU- 11 ungodlinefe, .ndiftheyper- le to the reft of aries, demands Ihers. has caufed no konaries. The the brethren's lis particular: When IV. WEST INDIES. 493 Wlien a negro man or woman applies as above chap, defcribed, to be baptized or received into the congregation, ftrid enquiry is made concerning every circumftance attending his or her fituation and connexions in life. If it is imind that a man has more than one wife, the qccilion arifes, how the brethren have f o aclvife him in this particular : St. Paul fays, " if any brotlier hath a wife that believeth not, and (he be pleafed to dwell with him, let him not put her away," 1 Cor. vii. 12 J but again he fays, " a bifliop muft be blamelefsj the hufband of one wife," 2 Tim. iii. 2. We read of no further precept in the holy fcriptures concerning this fubjed j the brethren therefore were of opinion, that the mif- fionaries (hould keep ftridtly to the following refolutions: L That they could not compel a man, who liad, before his converfion, taken more than one wife, to put away one or more of them, without her or their confent. II. But yet, that they could not appoint fuch a man to be a helper or fervant in the church; and, III. That a man who believeth jn Chrift, if he marry, (hould take only one wife in mar- riage. And that he is bound to keep himfelf only to that woman, till death parts them. The inftances that a man has three wives ■- are !i i ( I 1 ( '! History Of TriE are few; all miftrefles muft of caurfe be pt!{ away without exception ; befides this, the mif* fionaries lofe no opportunity of inculcating intd the minds of the man-led people, how to walk in this ftate conformable to the rules laid down in holy writ, and every deviation from them is feverely cenfured. If any baptized man leaves his wife, and takes another, and takes one or more wives befidcs the firft, or in cafe he has had two, and one dies, and he (hould marry another, he is excluded the fellowfhlp of the church. Neither can the brethren admit of the heathenifli cuftoms in courting a wife, but they expeft, that in cafe a believer wifli to marrj', he do all things in a decent and chriillan manner : it is of courfe expected that all baptized parents edu- cate their children in the fear of the Lord,-fliew- ing them a good example. If by a fale of -ne^ groes by audllon, or in any other Vay, wives are torn from their hufbands, or hufbands from their wives, and carried off to dlftant iflands, though the brethren do not advife, yet they cannot binder a regular marriage with another perfon, efpecially, if a family of young children, or other clrcumdances, feeni to render an helpmate ne- cclTiiry ; and, as is moftly the cafe, no hopes remain of the former ever returning. A certifi- cate of baptifm is given to every baptized negro, that muft thus leave the congregation ; and ^ there :^: :■? h ■fe be ptlt 3, the mif^ .eating intci 3W to walk i laid down om them Is man leaves akes one or fe he has had larry another, the church. :he heathenlfli they expeft, irry, he do all anner : it is of i parents edu- ,e Lord,niew- ly a fale of ne- way, wives are inds from their iflands, though et they cannot [another perfon, iiklren, or other In helpmate ne- cafe, no hopes ing. A^^^^'^^^' baptized negro, igrcgationi and ' there IV. WEST INDIES* Jtif there have been inftances that by their godly chap. walk and converfation in diftant parts, they have caufed others to hearken to their word and believe. Though all the above injunctions are of fuch a nature, that they not only war againft their heathenifli propenfities, but even againft what fome might call excufable indulgences j yet it is a faft, that at this prefent time, fome thou» fand negroes in Antigua, and other iflands, fub-r mit to them with willingnefs. The number of converted Negro Haves under the care of the brethren, at the end of the year 1787, was, ... .. . ,,,... M V . 5.465 - 80 - 100 In Antigua, exadly - - - - In St. Kitt's, a new miffion In Barbadoes and Jamaica, about In St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. Jan, about - . - . In Surinam, about - - Still living in the Weft Indies and" Surinam ----- as nearly as can be afcertained from the lateft ■iccounts/* ^ '\ 10,000 400 16,045 1' ' ■ ri II 49c/,;Mt' hW .*«;*fc. Niiiilii- Mllva. .i I" =i= Jo =4 KroolmoU-m I'olH' "% i« Diilfi'J ,kfrl. 1in«t £na 1«iiinita^' '>'':ixtsu Town /',., .Wr. ^•^ Coopers L '",. I ,;i I. (> iV I.<>ng:iUit1i-Wfn /A'/fi Lomlon. 3tt' ..b" 4 1/ 111 S! II;irll\i>loiiu-tT^. ^ •.► '' ^.' s SAIIiI S: CtlHISTOVIIF.HS S' KCSTATfA 111 xtctrg, i7:y\.biiJ. .iiiH-kt/iiUnwii.M/i/. ■f IV p 1 i ( ■' i 1^ f .. i li i ^ '! .J [jl 1 WEST INDIEJ. lite hiftorical account bv Mr s. i, i- juftice of ,hefc ifl,„d 1 « „ ' f"']''"^' ""« chief 1 can ava,| myfelf l/r 1^"' '-"'e of which « -ncerning ,2 ein I""'*!' "" P"''^"'"' commerce I isT ' """"'"'"'• " "'"> p^e^™.4.in:i:h! irrurr-^'''''' ftifinformed as f„ .1 ."" author » even '- *-!« in i5do, by Sir Francis Hroi, • co.un>hu.;si::-«;;^;"es.b^ "" gave them iJus apndJatinn In oii r ^ R.»iii„ i '""«■°"""■•'<< whole eroun mi vo . ''"" <-'^ggy. The i/lots, ! d L7andT t"' '"^^^*'^"^^' Tile English hold Tortola r/y This laft is likew-lfe called Penn;ft Spamfli Town. It 1,3, ""^d Feaniil, and Virgin Gorda fJiJ^ two verv good harbours, ton, and corruptly Jofvaa li HI -^. *^ if I- ■■Mi 1 f :" ) , 1 it i i^;!i ii ill 500 HISTORY OF THE BOOK Jofvan Dykes, Guana Ifle, Beef and Thatch ^^^- Illands, Anegada, Nichar, Prickly Peari Ca- mana's, Ginger, Cooper's, Salt Ifland, Peter's Ifland, and fevcral others of little value. The Danes poflefs Santa Cruz (i), St. Thomas, with about twelve fmaller iflands dependent thereon, and St. John^ which laft is of importance as hav- ing the bed harbour of any ifiand to the leeward of Antigua, and the Spaniards claim Crab Ifland, the Green or Serpent Ifland, the Tropick Keys, and Great and Little Paflagc. The firll poirelTors of fuch of thefe iflands as now belong to tlie Britifli government, were a party of Dutch Bucaniers who fixed thcmfelves at Tortola about the year 1648, and built a fort there for their protedion. In 1666, they were driven out by a ftronger party of the fame ad- venturers, who, calling themfelves Englifli, pre- tended to take poflcflion for tlic crown of Eng- land, and the Englilh monarch, if he did not commiflion the entcrprize, made no fcruple to claim the benefit of it ; for Tortola and its de- pendencies were foon afterwards annexed to the (i) Ste. Croix, or Santa Cruz, belonged originally to the French, and was fold by them to the Danes, in 1733, lor the fum of 75,000/. Its inhabitants are chiefly Englifli, and the lands being exceedingly fertile, the produce of this little ifland (mod of which I believe is fmuggled into Great Bri- tain as the produce of Tortola) is very confiderabIe> particu- larly fugar. Leeward WEST INDIES. Leeward Ifland governmenf ' ' ^" tary contribution. * ^^ ™'""- ,„;^2a,Vften,,it„a.in,poffi5iethat •-. wh:ren:i-i„':;r''"'^'''-- 1.26, white. ,„j^ ,. "*• 3'nounted to '0 b P t"'"f 'V'" '^-''^.■•-'onably hoped ' "" ""= '^•""^ footing with the fife ■'i'l ' Kks iflands^ If n If Hi If 1 i i' Mi .1 ■1, i ?;,i < i tr. : ■ s ;(ii ! i^ * ^ ■ r 1' t! ■502 HISTORY OF THE BOOK iflands, by the eftabliftiment of a perfe<5t civil III. government, and conftitutional courts of juftice among them ; but in this expedation they were not gratified until the year 1773. In that year, they prefented an humble petition to the cap- tain-general of the Leeward Ifland government, requefting his excellency to unite with them in an application to his Majefty, for permiffion to eleft an aflembly of reprefentatives out of the freeholders and planters, in order that fuch af- fembly, with the governor and council, might frame proper laws for their peace, welfare, and good government ; pledging themfelvesy in that cafe, to grant to his Majefty y his heirs and fuccejfors^ an imfofi of Jour and a half per centum^ injpeciey upon all goods and commodities the growth of thefs tjlandsy fimilar to that which was paid in the other Leeward IJlands. Their application (thus fweetened) proved fuccefsful. It was Signified to them that his Ma- jefty, fully confidering the perfons, circlimftances, and condition of his faid Virgin Iflands, and the neceflity there was, from the then ftate of their culture and inhabitancy, that fomc adequate and perfedt form of civil government (hould be efta-. bliflied therein ; " and finally trufting that his " faithful fubjeds in his faid Virgin Iflands, who *' fhould compofe the new aflTembly, would, as *' the firft adt of legiflation, cheerfully make 4 *' S^o^ feft civil >f jufticc they were that year, the cap- )vernment, h them in rmiffwn to out of the hat foch af- incil, migi^t welfare, and 'Ives, in that and fuccefors* mm, in Specie* rrowth of ihefi \id in the other [tened) proved n that his Ma- circumftances, [Hands, and the [n ftate of their c adequate and |(hould be efta- pfting that his rin Hands, who nbly, would, as :heerfuUy make *' POod cc (( <« (( WEST INDIES. good the engagement of granting to his Ma- jefty, his heirs and fucceffors, the impoft of ** four and a half per centum on all the produce ** of the Virgin Illands, to be raifed and paid in •* the fame manner as the four and a half per centum is made payable in the other Leeward IJlands^* did c .St his royal pleafure to be fig- nified to the governor in chief, that he Ihould iflue writs in his Majefty's name, for convening an aflembl'_, or houfe of reprefentatives, who, together with a council, to be compofed of twelve perfons, to be appointed by the governor for that purpofe, might frame and pafs fuch laws as fhould be neceffary for the welfare and good government of the faid Iflands. Accordingly, on the 30th of November 1773, the governor in chief of the Leeward Iflands, in obedience to his Majefty's orders, iffued a proclamation for convening an aflembly or houfe of reprefentatives of the Virgin Iflands, who met on the ift of February following, and very honourably complied with their engagement to the crown ; the very firft aft pafTed by thenji being the grant before mentioned of four and a half per centum, 051 the produce of the colony for ever. They afterwards pafled a grant of £. 400 currency per annum, as their proportion towards the falary of the governor-general. K k 4 Sucu m ■if 1 1 ■■ ! ' , 5«+ ill , HISTORY OF THE Such was the price at which the Virgin Mands purchafed the eftablifhment of a conftitutional legiflature. If it be difficult to reconcile this precedent with the dodtrines which have been maintained in the cafe of Grenada, it may per- haps be faid (as I believe the faft was) that the inhabitants of thefe iflands were unapprifed of the rights which they inherited as Britifh fub- jeds, when they voluntarily propofed to fubje<5t themfelves and their pofterity to the tax in queftion for permiffion to enjoy themj ancj their pofterity may perhaps difpute the autho-. rity which their forefathers exercifed on thi$ qci cafion. ^ The chief, and almoft the only ftaple pro^ dudions of thefe iflands are fugar and cotton. Of the quantity of land appropriated to the cultivation of either, I have no account, ^or can I venture even to guefs, at the quantity of un- improved land which may yet be brought into cultivation : Tortola itfelf is not more than fift teen miles long, and fix miles broad ; the ex-* ports of 1 787 will prefently be given, and I have only to add, that they were raifed by the labour of about one thouland two hundred whites, and nine thoufand blacks. . ij HAVING fo far treated of the feveral iflands which conftitute what is called the Lee- warc3( , 1 Hands Uional le this e been ay per- hat the rifed of tfti fub- , fubje6: tax in mi and \Q autho-' [1 this oc^ :aple pro- id cotton, zd to thQ It, nor can ity of un- jught into |e than fif^ . the ex- [and I havQ the labour fhites, and WEST INDIES; 505 ward Ifland Government, as they (land didinil c hap, from each other, I clofe my account, as in for- 'v. mer cafes, with an authentick Table of their Returns for 1787 ; after which, I Ihall, as pro*, pofed, offer a few obfervjitions on circiimftances which ftre common to them all, f •>.. ' "t •■'■ S S 1 ■',;■•.'? '1 ! • ''1 • - •■',:;.i.i,;;a |^ :r,.\i I." ■'- i,-^i ', . *■ i ~ -< .T'l. : ' i .- ^■:i^\ :•- i -"-' — , '., ^ / f^.■. '. , ".-iV/, . S\ % the feveral ;d the Lee- ward An Ill 1 ' 506 HISTORY OFTHE An ACCOUNT of the Number of Veffelr, tl-c. tlint Iiavc AiUigua, Nevis, and the Virgin Iflands, betweea the jth January Cargoes, and the Value thereof. * CHRIS. St. ^K' hither bound. To Great Britain — — lrcl»nd — ■ — — American States — — Britifh Colonies in America - Foreign Weft Indies — •^ Total from St. duiftophei's — SHIPPING. ^9. S3 3 21 '9 104 200 Tannage 11,992 350 «.457 1,201 7.«SS 23>iS5 Men, 764 30 140 no 546 1,590 Sugar. F.un]. Civt. qn, Ibt. I 231,397 2 12 3,099 — — 386— >~ 646 235,528 2 12 Gallont. •'8,299 8,500 167,740 65,000 IS1070 334.609 ■A AN. To Great Britain — — Ireland __ _ — . American States — — Britirti Colonies in America - Foreign V'eft Indies — — Total from Antigua — — 6S 13,806 901 10 1,909 1S9 7> 8,281 55* 34 2,127 »77 47 233 a,S40 a 59 28,663 2,048 »S4,57S ' '8 22,295 — — 6,779 844 33 284,526 I 18 128,936 97,400 37S.>SO 109,320 S>740 716,546 MONTSERRA To Great Brlcain — — American Statei — — Briiid) Colonies in America - Foreign Weft Indies — — Africa — — • •— Total from Montferrat and Nevit 23 5.37' 341 20 1,850 138 7 379 40 7J 3,085 377 I 102 8 122 10,787 904 • I 108,325 — 21 1,895 64 110,284 — SI 4,406 I22,7Jo| 21,300 I 140,660 I 289,0761 VIRG '.313 MSLA To Gie.u Britain — — American States — — Britllh Colonies in America - Foreign Wert Indies — — Total fiom the Virgin Iflancs - CpvAnd Total — ■— *5 5''37 344 3 57i 21 4 226 20 8 581 5' 40 595 6,516 435 69,131 4.978 78,749 1 6 91 363 79,203 1 6 709,542 2 1 51 2',4l 1,361,6^ l.OIl '-.388I OH , SiC. tliatliavc the Sth January St. CHRIS. WEST INDIES, . 507 cleared outwards from the Iflands of St. Chriftopher*s, Montfcrrat, CHAP, 1787, and the Jth January 1788; together with an Account of their IV. .TOPHER'S. jar I F.umi nr,.lh.\ Gallont. I'e 167.740 1 Lv6 65,000 Z \ 'S'°7^ | AN. 4.575 _^ 07,400 ^'V^ 109.1W montserraJ .„Q-JC — 111 4.+°*! f MolaiTet Indigo. Cotton. 1 Gallons. 8,154 lis. Hi lit. 484,640 1 ___ _i~ ...-. 1 — — ' ^— 1 8,154 318 484,640 ^1 Dying Woods, in Value. 5,8t4 I 6 165-- 5,989 1 6 MifcelUneoui Articles, in Value. £- '■ ^. 33,195 16 10 20 n — . 186 10 — 19 15 16 33,456 19 4 -TIG UA. TOTAL. £• '■ rt- 480,178 IS 5 6,03s 6 — >S.5'» '5 — 6,788 10 — 1,498 14 — 510,014 i,7co 700 5,910 «" 1 1^^ 26 160,510 1 ,742 6 6 »,4oo — — 4,142 6 6 ADD NEVIS. 46,466 1 3 3 43 407 s — 14 7 — J.e75 484,483 19 50,768 ij 44.679 19 11,031 Ji 1,632 5 6 8 2 4 48,006 10 3 592,596 IS 8 *' -■ 1.313 140 9'.97* 500 '.3'3 140 92,472 352 7 6 352 7 6 1,162 3 2 70 10 — 41 6 3 «9 4 — 1.363 3 S 185,709 10 ir 13,981 12 6 a.oSJ »4 3 12,396 19 — 214,141 16 8 ISLANDS. 7*'^;^J.-1 i?.9l^' 1 7og>54* 17,388 — 287.577 J .500 — 289,077 484 1,016,699 6,561 2 6 90 6,651 2 C 17,134 18 — 2,313 i8 s 6 4- 10 s — 10 II — 2,340 18 5 85,147 II s 164,128 17 6 1,499 9 — 1,230 15 — 100 II — 166,959 12 6 1,483,712 5 3 III! i} i|: ! i^ ^'■rp! t H- PHI ' P^'liH^Ji i I , eo8 HISTORY OF THE i ' t! i ,r . t IN furveylng tliefe iflands .coUedivcly, the circumllancc that firfl: prefcnts itfelf to notice is the burthen of the four and half per centum on their exported produce, to which they are all fubjed equally with Barbadoes, and which, though granted by their own aflemblies, was in mod other cafes, as well as the Virgin Illands, the' price of a conftitutional Icgiflature, and a com- munication of tliQ common privileges of Britifh fu^bjeds. " . • It would without doubt be fatIsfa(^ory to the reader to be furnilhed with an account of the produce of this duty, and the particulars of its difpofal ; but no fuch information, to my know- ledge, has of late years been given to the pub- lick. The laft return that I am poflefled of, is dated fo long ago as the year 1 735. From thence it appears, that the whole money colleded on this account, both in Barbadoes and tlie Lee- ward Iflands, in twenty-one years, (from Chrift- mas 1713 to Chriftmas 1734) amounted to £.326,529. 2 J. 3<'/J. fterling, of which it is fhameful to relate that no more than £.140,032. 13 J. c^di. was paid into the Britifli Exchequer ; vpwards of £. 8o,oao having been retained in the :ly, the otice is ntum on ' are all , though in mod nds. the' A a com- 3f Britifh •aaory to ant of the Liars of its aiy know- the pub- fled of, is om thence leded on the Lee- lam Chrift- ounted ta hich it is .140,032. xchequer ; •etained in the IV. WEST INDIES. 509 the Iflaiids for the charges of collcfting, and chap. £. 105,000 n.oie, expended in Great Britain in the payment of freight, duties, commifllons, fees of office, and other claims and dcduftions (kj. From the net money paid into the exche- quer, the Governor General of thefe iflands re- ceives a falary of £. 1,200 fterling, exclulive of the feveral fums granted him by the colonial af- femblies (/)y and I believe that falaries are al- lowed from the fame fund to the Licutenant- General, and the feveral Lieutenant Governors. I have been informed too, that the Governors of the Bahama and Bermudas iflands are likcwife paid out of this duty. The balance which re- mains, after thefe and fome other dedudions are made, is wholly at the king's difpofal. But it is impoffible not to obfcrve, that al- moft all the iflands within this government, as well as Barbadoes, have been, for many years pafl:, progreflively on the decline ; and it is there- fore probable that the prefent net produce of this (kj Some years after this, a new mode of collefting the duties was, I believe, adopted, which rendered the tax more prodvidive to government. (I) Tliefe grants are as follow : Antigua and St. Chrifto- pher'S;^. 1,000 currency each. Nevis j^. 400. Montfcrrat £. 400. Virgin Iflands /^. 400.' Tlie ufual rate of excliange is 165 /xrr cent. Thefe funis therefore, added to jT, i,2co fterling, paid out of the exchequer, make his whole falary £• 3,000 fterling per annum, duty ,'1 !i ! I. : 5 I ■ '! I m iU u I. & ii:: I J m |:l ' i, U ■ , ': 1 pi I $10 HI^TORYOFTHE K o o K duty is nor more thiin fufficlent to defray the fe- 111. veral incumbrances with which it is loaded. The negroes indeed have been kept up, and even augmented, by purchale, becaufe, as the lands liavc become impoverifhed, they have required a greater expcnce of labour to make them any way productive ; but as the returns have not in- creafed in the fame degree, nothing could have faved the planters from ruin, but the advanced price of fugar in the markets of Europe. Jr appears from authentick accounts laid be- fore parliament, that the import of fugar into Great Britain from all the Britiih Weft Indies (Jamaica excepted) has decrealed, in the courfe of twenty years from 3,762,804 cwt. to 2,563,228 cwt. fmj. The difference in value, at a me* dium price, cannot be Icfs than jT. 400,000 fler-^ ling, and it will be found to have lallcn chiefly on thofe iflands which are fubjcdl to the duty in queftion j to the eftedts of which, therefore, the deficiency muft be chiefly attributed : for being laid, not on the land, but on the produce of the land, it operates as a tax on induftry, and a pe- nalty which falls heavicft on the man who con- tributes moft to augment tlie wealth, commerce, navigation, and revenues of the mother-country. It is confidered by the planters as equal to ten (m) Being the average of two periods, the firft from !;;& to i775j the fecond from 1788 to i79». he Ce* . The i even ; lands jqu'ircd jm any not in- ild have dvanccd i laid bc- agar into »ft Indies the courfe 2,563,22,8 at a me* 0,000 fter- |Ucn chiefly [be duty in ;retbrc, the ,.. for being Iduce of the , and a pe- vvho con- commerce, ,er-country. Lual to ten Ifirft from 1772- per WEST INDIES. sit per cent, on the net produce of their eftates for chap. ever. Under fuch a burthen, which while it ^^* opprefTcs the colonies, yields a profit of no great ccaifideration to the crown, they have been un- able to (land a competition with the Britilh planters in the other iflands, and have been de- preffed ftill more by the rapid growth and ex- tenfive opulence of the French colonies in their neighbourhood. Thus a check has been given to the fpirit of improvement, and much of that land, which, though fomewhat impovcriflied by long cultivation, would ftill, with the aid of ma- nure, contribute greatly to the general leturns, is abandoned, becaufe the produce of the pooreft: foil is taxed as high as that of the moft fertile. To the lofs arifing from a decreafe of produce, accompanied with an increafe of contingent ex- pences, muft be added the ruinous eftcds of capture in the late American war. The damages fuftained in St. Chriftopher's alone, by DeGraJJds invafion in 1782, from the deftruftion of ne- groes and cattle, and the burning of the canes, were eftimatcd at ^. 160,000 fterling, which fum was made up to the fufferersby a poll-tax on the ilaves, of no lefs than forty fliillings. The an- nual taxes for defraying the current charges of their internal governments, in all the iflands, are alfo exceedingly burthenfome j befides parhh taxes I! 1 .: J I vl\ ,*. I: I III. 51ft MiSTORYOFTHIi BOOK taxes for the repair of the roads, the maintenance of the clergy, and tlie relief of the poor. Bu r, under all thefe and the other difcou- ragcmcnts which are felt by the proprietors, the wealth which flill flows from thcfe liille depen- dencies into the mother-country, mull fill every refleding mind with furprill* and admimtion. An extent of cultivated territory, not equal to one-tenth part of the county of lilfex, adding yearly one million and a half to ll;c national in- come, is a circumllance that dcmonlliaics be- yond all abflrad; realoning, the vr.ft impoitance to Great Britain of havinp; fugar iflands of her own. At the fame time, it is both amufing and inftruftive to confider how little the prcfent re- turns from thcfe iflands arc anfvverablc to the hopes and expedations of their firll European poflcffors ; or rather it affords an animated il- luftration of the wifdoni of Providence, wiiich frequently renders the follies and weaknelTes of man produdive of good. The firfl: Englifli adventurers were influenced wholly by the hopes of opening a golden fountain, limilar to that which was flowing from Peru and Mexico into Sjiain. The nation was told of countries where the mountains were compofed of diamonds, and the cities built wholly of ingots of gold. Such were the dreams of Cabot, Frobilher, and CJil- bcrt, m HtKi to t ruin. no n Vc laintcnancfi jr. her difcou- rieiors, the lulc (Icpcn- ;ll fill every aclmirnhon. ot equal to Tex, adding national in- nllraics be- impoitancc ands of her Linufing and prcfcnt re- able to the [I European inimatcd il- encc, vvijich eaknefles of irft Englifli by the hopes lilar to that Mexico into ntries where ainonds, and gold. Such icr, and Ciil- bcrt, IV. ^VKST INDIKS. -''«1 in ;'■ • ' 6"'" '""'■"■s of naiional profnuritv variable and fl,,ft„.„- u "™ "■■' '"o™ pored. bo.h fto„> .1, t fyc";"";" "" -J it is mournful ,o add , au,^ r /n"' """ ' laken policy of „-,„ ;7 ""='^"i«> or mif- 'ivetiu'evLi,:: trr-'""^''^ ■ At flv. r .S^*^ °^ Omnipotence ! Africin l.r "^'"""^ '"'ft'-^fl" of the Airican labourers m thefe mH .i , «f ">= Weft Indies. ?„u 2 '"h"''^'''^"''' '0 the publick indignation I r "^'^"^ ™' • ™in. Softro„gandunli7r '''''°'' ""^ "" room for the ^'I " '^ '^'"P'"''>' «"°«s ^^^^^tortl,efoberexcrcifeofreafon.„rit would I ; i 111 w Is: '■■ n ( I li 'i '■ I l\ i III. 5^4 ■ H I S T O R Y O F T H E BOOK would be remembered, that the condition of that unfortunate race, muft depend greatly on the condition and circumftances of their owners. Op- preffion towards the principal, will be felt with double force by his dependants, and the blow that wounds the mailer, will exterminate the Have. The propriety of thefe remarks will be feen in fubfequent parts of my work, when I come in courfe to treat of the flave trade and flavery ; and to confider the commercial fyftem of Great Britain towards her Weft Indian dependencies, of which I have now completed the catalogue. Here then I might clofe the third book of my hiftory; but it has probably occurred to the reader, that 1-have omitted the two government* of Bahama and Bermudas (n) j to which indeed it was my intention, when I began my work, to appropriate a diftindl chapter. An examination of my materials has induced me to alter my pur- pofe ; finding myfelf poirefled of fcarce any me- morials concerning the civil hiftory of thofs illands, that are not given in the numerous geo- graphical treatifes with which the (helves of the bookfeilers are loaded. Of the prefent ftate of the Bahama iflands, I need not be alhamcd to !■ ■ (n) I have alio paiTed over unnoticed the fmall iflands of Anguilla and Barbuda, as being of too little importance to merit particular dcfcription. The former belongs to the Leeward Ifland government; the latter is the private properly of the Codrington family . ; , > acknowledgf ^ on the [lers. Op- ; felt with . blow that le flave. I be feen ia 1 come \^ nd ilavery i ;m of Great lependencie^, le catalogue, book of my :urred to the ) government-s wbkh indeed n my work, to ^n examination alter my V^'^' fcarce any me- ^ftory of thofs numerous geo- Ihelves of the prefint ftate o^ be albamcd to tbefmalliflandsof Ivutle importance to Ler belongs to- the • the private propevij ackno\vled&'^' WEST INDIES. 515 acknowledge my ignorance, inafmuch as even chap. the lords of the committee of council for the af- iv. fairs of trade and plantations, were unable to ob- tain fatisfaftory information concerning it. To their lordfliips enquiries, in 1789, as to the ex- tent of territory in thofe illands, — ^^the quantity of land in cultivation, — the number of white in- habitants, — produftions and exports, &c. the only anfwer that could be obtained from^ the Governor was this, t/iai it zvas at that time impoj- fible to ^/certain any of thofe particulars. It ap- pears, however, from the teilimony of other per- fons, that thefe illands in general are rocky and barren ; that the only article cultivated for ex- portation is cotton, of which the medium export is fifteen hundred bags of two cwt. j that the inhabitants (who in 1773 confided of two thou- fand and fifty-two whites, and two thoufand two hundred and forty-one blacks) have been of late years confiderably augmented by emigrants from North A merica ; but of their prefcnt numbers no precife account is given ('o^. . . (0) The Bahama Iflands, comprehending tliofe which, ei- ther from their fmalhiels, the barreiinels of the i'oil, or the want of water, are uninhabited, are fome hundreds in number. They are fituated berwee.i the azd and 23d degrees of nortli latitude. The principal of them arc I'rovidence (twtnty-fevei) miles long and eleven broad), Bahama, Abaco, Harbour Ifland, Eluthera, Exnma, St. Salvr.dore, Longlfland, Andros, Bimini, &c. The feat of government is at the town of Naf- fau in Providence. Vid. vol. i. p. 7. L 1 2 CONCERN- mi Si6 m-'f KM' HISTORY OF THE Concerning Bermudas, Governor Brown k more explicit. From his anfwers to their Lord- fhips' queries, it appears that they contain from twelve to thirteen thoufand acres of very poor land, of which nine parts in ten are either un- cultivated, or referved in woods for the fupply- ing of timber for building fmall (hips, floops, and fliallops for fale j this being in truth the prin- cipal occupation and employment of the inha- bitants J and the veflels which they furnifti, be- ing built of cedar, are light, buoyant, and un- cxpenfive. ' Vj- ■ Of the land in cultivation, no part was ap- propriated to any other purpofe than that of raifing Indian corn, and efculcnt roots and ve- getables (of which a confiderable fupply is fent to the Weft Indian Iflands) until the year 1785, when the growth of cotton was attempted, but with no great fuccefs, there not being at prefent more than two hundred acres applied in this line of culture. < , The number of white people of all ages in Bermudas is five thoufand four hundred and fixty-two ; of blacks four thoufand nine hun- dred and nineteen (pj. ■ . V Thus (p) It were an aft of great injuftice to the inhabitants of Bermudas, to omit the very honourable teAimony which Governor Brown has tranfmitted to government, concerning the treatment of their negro flaves. '♦ Nothing (he ob- fcives) can better ftiew the ftate of flavery in Bermudas than 3 the jrown is ;\r Lord- lain front rery poo^ either un- tie fuppiy- [loops, and the prin- l the inha- :urni(h, be- lt, and un- part was ap- than that of oots and ve- pply is fent to e year 1785' tempted, but ingat prefent >plied in this of all ages in ] hundred and Ld nine hun- Thus the inhabitants of ' teOimony which nmcnt,concerninS Nothing (he ob- , in Bermudas tha" the .WEST INDIES. 5'7 Thus it appears that the lands become lefs chap. fertile as we recede from the tropicks, and were ^'^• there not, as there certainly is, an unaccountable propenfity in the greater part of mankind, to under-rate what they have in actual pofleflion, it would require but little effort to convince the publlck of the vaft importance of our Weft In^ dian dependencies j of which the progreffive growth has now been traced from the firft let- tlement. What remains is to convey that con- viction to the Englifh reader. This then, after taking a curfory furvey, for the gratification of curiofity, of the prefent inhabitants and the fyf- tem of agriculture, I fliall endeavour to accom- plish in the next volume. the behaviour of the blacks in the late war. There were af one time between fifteen and twenty privateers fitted out Ironi hence, which were partly manned by negro flaves, who be- haved both as failors and marines irreproachably ; and when- ever they were captured, always returned, if it was in their power. There were feveral inftances wherein they had been condemned with the veflel and fold, and afterwards found means to efcape ; and through many difliculties and hardfhips returned to tlieir mafters fervice. In the iliip Regulator, a privateer, there were feventy flaves. She was taken and car- ried into Bofton. Sixty of them returned in a flag of truce dirctftly to Bermudas. >> inc others returned by the way of New York. One only was miffing, who died in the cruize, or in captivity." Report of the Privy Council on the Slave Trade. Part III. ;:i:il It!. ■i;;i m i ■iil; I I'll rf I' ■ i:l::|,p^; ■'■:■'■' If:' ■ I "^' i ' M 518 HISTORY OF THE appendix!) ^ Since the Publication of tlie former Editions of this Work, thJ jfn A C C OU N T of the Duty of Four and an Half per Centum^ arifiAhda and 1 796 ; with the Amount of the Charges and Payments to vj/iick UUk, Receiver General of the Cu/ioms. Grofs Receipt by the Huiband arifing from Produce configned to him. Receipt in the Plantations in lieu of Produce. Total Receipt. Charges pa MkHuR Years. Duties, Freight, Ice. &c. Annuities. I'. itJtion leers. 1794 179s 1796 £. s. d. 70,230 I 2 62,800 6 — 57.6^5 I 9 £. s. d. 7,480 — 95 6,921 16 4 14,907 12 8 £. .. d. 77,710 I 114 '69,722 2 4 72.57a 14 S 27,979 8 18,956 18 17,010 15 d. 9 4 3 £■ >■ 1,586 - 6,200 — 4,500 - f. '. d "5 10 i.6 7 I 3 I 3 Total i(;o,695 8 II 29.309 9 95 220,C04 18 8| 63,947 2 4 12,286 - Note. The Difierence between the Net Proceeds and the Payments arifcs eitkrBljving ,, , ,!,, , .i.'.Y-;, Indies not having been pajd within the YMlcuJarly Cuftom Hoi^fe, London, ..,.' . '. .'> 17th March 179S. ^ ... , be ..7' • WEST INDIES. Sir »pENDl VOL. I. N" I. ini' Paper has been laid before the Houfe of Commons. CIS of this Wo rk,ih^ ""i;__ ■i;mhrh(/oes ami the Leeward IJlands^ in Ariierica, for the Years 1 794* ' 79S» alf per Centum, ttrip^" . i:,A mUh the Net Proceeds thereof, with the Payments into the Exchequer by tnc I Payments to w"™ ^ ' Duties, Fieightf tec. &c. Charges pail Annuities. E Hufband. billies kntition leers. i J. d. charges of -Management in the Plantations. Payments by Receiver General. Total of Charges. 7.979 * 91 'i ■ S.956'« 4W.-o-»'' ' 7,01015 3I 4.5°o-»3 ^ 53'947 I A\ 4,84,1 5 I 4,619 z iii 4.747 * 4i 380 380 380 '4)207 9 5* '>i40 36.579 9 9 3-.jp4» 17 loi" 27,530 19 96,059 7 4^ Payments Net Proceeds. by Receiver Qeneral into ^\^^ Exchequer. £. ,. '-'.' pro Compt' Gen'. Jai Nev^ry, Infpcdor and Exam' of Plant" Coir' Acc«'. ir'n Lawlefs, Afting Hufbandof the Duty of 4"il)er Cent. J*. Gregory, Conipi' of DO. ll>! I'll Ilk i- 11 , ; S«f HISTORY OF THE An A C C O U N T of the feveral Charges upon the Fund. arifing by the Duties of Four Pounds and One Hnlf Pound pfr Cintum during the Years 1794, 1795* and 1796, paid at the Exchequer. m :U'\ SALARIES and PENSIONS paid at the Exchequer. 1794. «79S. 1796. £' '- 'I' £. s. d. 2,000 — — Governors of Barbadoci . . ■> . »,coo — — 2,000 Bahama Iflands 700 — — 700 — — 700 — — Bermuda . - - - 750 — — 750 — — 75° 1,300 Leeward Iflands - - 1,200 — — 1.200 — — Tobago . - . - 1,300 — — 1,300 1,500 — — .1' Grenada - - - . 1,364 1,364 1,364 Dominica • - - - 1,300 — — 1,300 1,300 — — St. Vincent's - - - 1,300 1,300 1,300 — — Lieut. Governors of Leeward Iflands 300 — — 300 — — 300 — — Tortola - - - aoo — — " 200 — — 200 — — Antigua aoo '■ 200 — — 200 — — Nevis - - . 300 300 — — 300 — — Montferrat - - 200 — — 200 200 — — St. Kitts - aoo — — 200 — — 2C0 — — Grenada - - - 600 — — 600 — — 600 — — . Dominica - 400 — — 400 — — 400 — — Agents of Grenada - - - - 200 — — 2CO — — 200 — — Turks Ifland ... 100 .— — 100 — 100 — — Auditor General of Plantations - - 250 — — 250 — 250 — — Chief Juftice of Virgin Iflands - - 200 — — • 200 ~ .— 200 — — « Governor of the Bahama Iflands T to make up the Deficiencies of >- 328 4 I 244 17 10 108 8 6 his Fees at_£. 500 per Annum - j Governor of Barbadots for his Ser-7 vices - - - - -;" . 1,500 •' Governor of Martinlco for his Outfit »mm , ,. I, SCO 1,922 4 5^ D° - - - - his Salary — _ 1.97" 'S ^i Countefs Dowager of Chatham, |ohn Earl of Chatham, and the k " - Right Honourable William Pitt, . 3,oco 3,coo — — 3,000 — — during their Lives, I'cverally and fucceliively - - - .. , Reprcfcntatives of the Earl of Kin- ;' noul (Perpetuity) - - -5 1,000 -^ — 1,000 1,000 — — Carried forward - j^. 18,892 4 1 a'-^yS' 2 3i 19,250 4 — ;; 'l i WEST INDIES. 5»i ./ Fund. jund pff ,d at the 179 6. 108 S 6 5^4 ..9:- '5 3,000 (continue J.) SALARIES and PENSIONS paid at the Eicchequer. Broog' * *brward - £. ] Henry S'. • ey, t,., ', Secretary T to the CuinmilTio. ^.r reftoring / Peace in Nurth'America, during f Life J Henry Ellis, Efq. late Governor of Georgia and Nova Scotia, dur- ing FleafurQ . - . . Mary Elliott, Widow of Grey E1-"J, liott, Efq. late additional Clerk / in Ordinary of theOffice of Trade t and Foreign Plantations - • J Sufannah Monclfton, Widow of > jjj the late Gen' Monckton - J peter Livius, Efq. formerly Chief 7 Juftice of Canada - - .3 Jofmh Henry"! children of tlie ' 8ar"hM«ti^fe?°;:^'T°''' Alice Martin J North Carolina llenry Pelham, Efq. late a Com- ] miflioner of Cuftoms - - - ] T- i„f .J e "1 Children of" Fredcfwed Savory I g^^^g, g^^, Charlotte Todd - > yere, Efq. _ rr 1 I late Gov'' of | Frances Tucker -J jj^^^^^^^ JampsCraufurdjEfq. lateGovtrnor") of Bermuda lllands - - . . j lli'nry Charles Selwyn, Efq. Lieut' ? tfuv. of Montferrac - - -J 1794. 18,892 J. d. 4 ' noi- 587-- 300 — — 100 ^ — 100 — — 75° — — ISO 50 — — 50 50 761 — — 40 30— 1-" 30 £. ,. d. 10,731 4 3i 587 300 — — * '' T \ 100 — — \ l\ < ' 21,890 4 I 1796. 19,150 4 d. -I 587 — — 300 — — « 130 — 100 •— — 100 — — * 322 5 I0| Ceafed. 150 SO 50 SO 150 50 JO 761 -»• — 761 — ^t— 4P 40 — — 30 — — 30 30 30 - - 407 10 — — — 100 — ^ 23,101, » 2 22,005 14 -|r ,Mtiroraiidum.^On the 24th Day of February 1796, the Sum of ^40,000 was di- . refted to be iflued out of thb 4^ per Cent, towards defraying tlic Charges and Expcnces of His Majefty's Civil Gpvernnjent, "|"rcafjry Chambers, White|iall, ayth April 1798. '' George Raje. i:.] m i 1 1 II 1 .11 'I, Vi .1. ■ •!! Ik. "Q^ • ■ I Sii HISTORY OF THE ;.^, t APPENDIX to Vol. L N^2. i ^--.^ -; ;w ^ .^^ t 1 Obfervattons on the Difpofttion^ CharaSfer^ Manners, and Habits of Life, of the MAROON NEGROES of the JjIanJ of Jamaica i and a Detail of the Origin, Pro- grefs, and 'Termination of the late War between thofe People and the White Inhabitants: firjl publijhed fepa^ rately in 1796, ' ^ SECTION I. - '/ < ■ ■ . ■ -t'. -1 ; ■'• ■..•■ JAMAICA, as we have feen, was conquered from the Spaniards, during the protedVorate of Cromwell, in the year 1655, by an armament under the command of Admiral Pennand General Venables. The Spanifli inha- bitants are faid to have poffefled, before the attack, about 1,500 enflaved Africans, moft of whom, on the furrender of their matters, retreated to the mountains, from whence they made frequent cxcurfions to harafs the Englifh. Major-general Sedgcwick, one of the Britifh officers, in a letter to Secretary Thurloe (1656) predifts, that thefc blacks would prove a thorn in the fides of the Englifti. He adds, that they gave no quarter to his men, but dc- ftroyed them whenever they found opportunity; fcarce a week paffing without their murdering one or more of them; and as the foldiers became more confident and carelefs, the negroes grew more enterprifing and bloody- minded. du ne d <]ue( mersy and ES of the igin, Pro- tween thofe ,lijhedp^' red from the IromweU, in ;ommand of • ipanifti inha- ittack, about the furrender [from whence ithe EngUftx. ofEcers, m .:s, that thefc the EngVifh. |men, but dc- lity, fcarcca . or more of [conftdent and ,2 and bloody- m'uwled. WEST INDIES. minded. " Having no moral fenfe," continues he, " and *' not underftanding what the laws and cuftoms of civil " nations mean, we know not how to capitulate or treat *» with any of them. But be aflured they muft either be *' dellroyed, or brought in, upon fomc terms or other j or ** elfe they will prove a great difcouragement to the fet- ** tling the country." What he foretold, foon came to pafs. At the latter part of the fame year (1656) the army gained fome trifling fuccefs againft them ; but this was immediately afterwards feverely retaliated by the flaugh- ter of forty foldiers, cut ofF as they were carelefsly ram- bling from their quarters. A detachment was immedi- ately fent in purfuit of the enemy, which came up with and killed fevcn or eight of them ; but they ftill found means to hold out, until being hard prcffed the year fol- lowing by Colonel D'Oyley, who, by his final overlhro,. of the Spaniards, had taken from them all hope of future fuccour from their ancient matters, they became very much ftreightened for want of provifions and ammuni- tion. The main body, under the command of a negro named Juan de Solas (whofe place of retreat in the parifli of Clarendon ftill retains his name) at length folicited for peace, and furrendered to the Englifli on terms of pardon and freedom. A large party, however, (who had now Required the name of Maroons*) remained in their re- • The vyord fignifies, among the Spanifh Amer'lans, according to Mr. Longt Ho^-bunttrs : the woods abounding with the wild boar, »nd the purfuit of them conftituting the chief employment of fugitive negroes. Marrano is the Spanifh word for a young pig. The following is the dc» riva'.ion, however, given in the Encyclopcdie, article A/jron : •' On ap- pellc marcns, dans les ifles Franjoifes les negrcs fugltifi. Cc terme vient du mot Efpagnol Simaran qui fignifje un Singe. Les EfpagnoU crurent ne devoir pas faire plus d'honneur a leurs malbeuieux efclaves fugitifs, que de les appellery/'o^fi, parcequ'ils fe retiroient comme ces animaux avtt, (ynds drs bois et n'cn foitoient que pour cueillir des fruits qui fe tnni- voient dans les iieux !cs plus voifins de leur retrait," The reader wili »-."pc which of thefe derivations he likes Left. treats 5»3 I I, i ! 1.1-' 5H i Ith' H I S T O R Y O F T H E treats within the mountainsj where they not only aug- mented their numbers by natural incrcafc, but, after the iflanil became thicker Town with plantations, they were frequently reinforced by fugitive flaves. At length they grew confident enough of their force to undertake defcents upon the interior planters, many of whom they murdered, from time to time, without the Icaft provocation; and by their barbarities and outragco intimidated the whites from venturing to any confiderablc diftancc from the fea coaft. In 1663 the Lieutenant-governor, Sir Charles Lyttel- tun, and his council, iflued a proclamation, offering a fult pardon, twenty acres of land, anJ freedom from all man- ner of flavery, to each of then^ who ibould furrunder. Hut 1 do not find that any of them were inclined to accept the terms offered, or quit their favage way of life. On the contrary, they were better pleafed with the more ample range they poifeii'ed in the woods, where their hunting grounds were not yet encroached upon by fettlements. They took effectual care, indeed, that no fettlement ihould be eflabliihed near them; for they butchered every white family that ventured to feat itfelf any con- fiderable diflance inland. When the Governor perceived that the proclamation wrought no effedl, Juan de Bolas, who was now made Colonel of the Black Regiment, was fent to endeavour their reduction ; but in the profecution of this fervice he fell into an ambufcade, and was cut to pieces. In March, 1664, Captain Colbeck, of the white militia, was employed for the fame purpofe. He went by fea to the north fide; and, having gained fume advantages over the Maroons, he returned with one who pretended to treat for the reft. This embaffy, however, was only cal- culated to amufe the whites, and gain fome refpite ; for the Maroons no fooncr found themfelves in a condition to ai^j and the white inhabitants lulled into fccurity, ♦^'.lan they began to renew hoftiiitics, murdering, as before, every white hav ban 'ii^ i^ •.Y^' n\y aug-! after the ney were ngth they ,e defceiits murdered, m and by ihites from ; fea coaft. rles Lyttel- teringafuU , jtn all mar>- cnder. But ;o accept the ife. On the more ample their hunting ^ fettlements. no fetilernent icy butchered itfelf any con- rnor perceived Juan de Bolas, R.egiment, was the profecution md was cut to ;k, of the white 1 He went by [ome advantages ho pretended to k was only cal- refpitej for the a condition to p fccurity, <»an [as before, every ' white WEST I N D I F. S. White perfon, without diflin£iion uf fex or age, who came within their reach. In this way, they continued to didrefs the ifland for up* tv?rds of forty years, during which time forty-four adls of Afl'embly were paflcd, and at leaft yf .240,000 expended for their fupprcflion. In 1730, they were grown fo formi- dable, under a very able general, named Cudjoe, that it was found expedient to ilrengthen the colony againft them by two regiments of regular troops, which were after- wards formed into independetit companies, and employed, with other hired parties, and the whole body of militia, ia their redudion. In the year 1734, Captain Stoddari, \.'ho commanded one of thcfe parties, projected, and executed with great fuccefs, an attack of the Maroon windward town, called Nanny, fituate on one of the higheft moun- tains in the ifland. Having provided fome portable fwi- vel guns, he filcntly approached, and reached within a fmall diflance of their quarters undifcovered. After halt- ing, for fome time, he began to afcend by the only path leading to their town. He found it fteep, rocky, and dif- ficult, and not wide enough to admit the paflage of two perfons abreaft. However, he furmounted thefe obftacles ; and having gained a fmall eminence, commanding the huts in which the negroes were afleep, he fixed his little train of artillery to the beft advantage, and fired upon them (o brifkly, that many were flain in their habitations, and feveral threw themfclves headlong down the preci- pice. Captain Stoddart purfued the advantage; killed numbers, took many prifoners, and in fliort fo completely deftroycd, or routed the whole body, that they were unable afterwards to cffedt any enterprize of moment in this quar- ter of the ifland. About the fame time another party of the Maroons, having perceived that a body of the militia (Rationed at the barrack of Bagnel's thicket, in St. Mary's parifh, under the 525 u •, Vi.'ki $26 ri' i;;'i ! 1 I HISTORY OF THE the command of Colonel Charlton, (Iraycd iieedkTsly from their quarters, and kept no order, formed a projedl to cut them off, and A'hilft the oiHccrs were at diiiner, attended by a very few of their men, the Maroons ruflied fuddcnly from the adjacent woods and attacked them. Several pieces were difeharged, th"; report of which alarmed the militia, who immediately ran to their arms, and came up in time to refcuc their o.Ticers from deftrudtion. The A'laroons were repulfed, and forced to take (hclter in the woods, but the militia did not think fit to purfue them. Some rumours of this (kirmifli reached Spanifli Town, which is diflant from the fpot about thirty miles; and, as all tlie circumllances were not known, the inhabitants Were thrown into the moft dicadful alarm, from apprehen- fions that the Maroons had defeated Charlton, and were in full march to attack the town. Ayfcough, then com- mander in chief, participating in the general panick, or- dered the trumpets to found, the drums to beat, and in a few hours collected a body of horfe and foot, who went to meet the enemy. On the fecond day after their departure, they came to a place where, by the fires which remained uncxtinguiflicd, they fuppofed the Maroons had lodged the preceding night. T'hey thervfore fuilowed the track, and foon after got fight of them. Captain EdmUiids, who commanded the detachment, difpofed his men for action; but the Maroons declined engaging, and fled different ways. Several of them, however, were flain in the pur- fuit, and others made prifoncrs. Thefe two vidlories re- duced their ftrength, and filled them with fo much terror that they never afterwards appeared in any confiderable body, nor dared to make any ftand; indeed, from the com- mencement of the war till this period, they had not once ventured a pitched battle, but (kulked about the fkirts of remote plantations, furprifing ftragglers, and murdering tlie whites by two or three at a timci or when they were too and carried ,hc fla,„ i^„ "'^ "'"'''«'>' ""''' find, -"hod of co„d„a4 . ': "" i:?; , "'■'"" """"<"/ '"■l-cwhitts, without m„r;,lj ■'"'J""™" •"'•''>•"( «Pt with a n..ir fo d^^ S?? !' ''"'"'' '" fclve., as to afford ,hcm a ormv f " "''■'"°'' "' "^"n- •h« '»oy could cithcZt^^' ;:!""'-■ "f ;"= "-«>">•> fo a'f. their ravages from pi cc „™L " '""' ""*"'« ''■q"«d. Such were the marvdf'^i'"' "^ ''''"'^ -".ccs •l-" Englift 1^ ,„ deal „"7,,^'''''''?"'"E-"nf «<»■ - , who . ;- '-J any .bin, .0 ,ot " Tr/' '"= ="""-■«« r£iwe parijhes ; it being forcfeen that thefe animals appen- Would prove extremely ferviceable, not only in guarding d i x. aga'mji furpr'txts in the night^hut in traclcing the enemy. This arrangement was the moft judicious hitherto contrived for their eiFedual redudlion i for fo many for- trefles, ftationed in the very centre of their ufual retreatsj well fupplied with every neceflary, gave the Maroons a conftant and vigbnus annoyance, and in (hort became th6 chief means of bringing on that treaty which afterwards put ah end to this tirefome war. About the year 1 737, the AfTembly refolved on taking two hundred of the Mofquito Indians into their pay, to haften the fuppreflion of the Maroons. They pafled an A& for rendering free Negroes, Mulattoes, and Indians more ufeful, and forming them into companies, with pro- per encouragements. Some (loops were difpatched to the Mofquito (bore; and that number of Indians was brought into the ifland, formed Into companies under their own officers, and allowed forty ihillings a month for pay, be- fides (hoes and other articles, White guides were af- • figned to condu^ them to the enemy, and they gave proofs of great fagacity in this fervice. It was their prac- tice to obferve the moft profound filence in marching to the enemy's quarters; and when they had once hit upon a track, they were fure to difcover the haunt to which it led. They effeded confiderable fervice, and were, in-, deed, the moft proper troops to be emoloyed in that fpecies of action, which is known in America by the name of bujh-fightlng. They were well rewarded for their good condudt, and afterwards difmiffed to their own country, when the pacification took place with the Maroons. For in 1738, Governor Trelawney, by the advice of the principal gentlemen of the ifland, propofed overtures of peace with the Maroon chiefs. Both parties were now grown heartily wearied out with this tedious conflidl. Vol. I. Mm The !M; I 11 I i -y^ E^ * / IP Si9 < HISTORY OF THE APPEN- The white inhabitants wifhed relief from the horrors ci DIX. continual alarms, the bardihip of military duty, and the intolerable burthen of maintaining the army. The Ma- roons were not lefs anxious for an accommwlation : they were hummed in, and clofely bdet on all fides; their pro- V/Aons deftroyed, and themfelves reduced to ib miferabie a condiiioM, by famine arul incefTant attacics, that Cud- joe afterwards declared, that if peace had not been offered to them, they had no choice left but either to be ftarved, lay violent hands on themfelves, or furrender to the Eng- liih at difcretion. . The extremity of their cafe, however, was not at that time known to the white inhabitants, and their number was fuppofed tf^ be twice as great as it was afterwards found to be. The articles of pacification (which I have fubjoined) were therefore ratified with the Ma- roon chiefs, and fifteen hundred acres of land ^afligned to one body of them *, and one thoufand acres to aiiotiicr, which the legiflature fecured to them and their pofterity in perpetuity. The AfTembly, by fubfequent laws, aug- mented the premium allowed the Maroons for apprehend- ing fugitive (laves, to three pounds per head; and they pafl'ed many other regulations for their better government and protection, for preventing their purchaftng and har- bouring negro flavcs,. and for diretSting in what manner they (hould be tried in the cafe of felony, and other crimes, committed againft the whites f, and thus an end was at length * This was the body that fettled In Trelawney Town, and are the «ncef- tOTS of thc'f^ who have lately taken up arms. The other Maroon negroes were thofe of Accompong Town, Crawford Town, and Nanny Town, to each of which lands were allotted. The aggregate number in 1795, waa about 1600 lAcn women and children. ^ ■J- On complaint made, on oath, to a juftice of peace, of any felony, burglary, robbery, or othei offence whntfocver, having been committed by Matcon negroes, he is requited to grant a warrant to apprehend the offci.dcrsy ortof d the • Ma- : they ir pro- ferable tCud- ofFered ftarved, e Eng- owever, [Its, and IS it was 1 (which ibe Ma- Rgned to I anoti.cr, pofterity iws, aug- pprehend- and they >vernment r and har- ,at manner \er crimes, end was at lengih are tlie »ncef- [aroon negroes nny Town, to in I795» *" of any felony, een commVtted appichcnd the WEST INDIES. Si\ length happily put to this tedious and ruinous coptcft; a appen« conteft which) while it lafted, fecmed to portend nothing d I X . leTs than the ruin of the whole colony. Articles of pacif cation with the Maroons of Treiawney Townt concluded March the firji^ 1738. In the name of God, Amen, Whereas Captain Cudjoe, Captain Accompong, Captain Johnny, Captain Cuffce, Captain Quaco, and feveral other Negroes, their depen- dents and adhere j, have been in a flate of war and ho(H> lity, for feveral years paft> againft our fovcreign lord the King, and the inhabitants of this ifland ; and whereas peace and friendlQiip among mankind, and the preventing the efFufion of blood, is agreeable to God, confonant to reafon, and defireu by every good man ; and whereas his Majefty, King George tlie Second, King of Great Bri- offenderst and to have all perfona brought before him, or feme other juf- tice, that ran give evidence } and if, upon examination, it appears that there are grounds for publicic trial, the ju<^ice is to commit the accufed^ unlefa the offence be bailable^ and bind over the witnefTes. They are to be tried where the quarter fefliona are. held, or where parochial buHnefs is ufually tranfafted) in the following mai>ner:— The juftice is to call in two other juilices (who muft attend, or forfeit twenty pounds each), and they are to fummon fifteen perfons, fuch as are ufually impanelled to ferve on juries, to appear at a fpecified time, who forfeit five pounds each if they nrgleft. There muft be ten days between the complaint and the trial. Of the fifteen perfons fummoned) tb* firft twelve who appear are to com- pofe a jury. If the Maroon be found guilty, the juftices may give fen- tence, according to law, of death, tranfportation, publicic whipping, or con- finement to hard labour for not more than twelve months. Execution of won/?n with child is to be refpited until a teafonable time after delivery ) and where fentence of death or tranfportation Ihall be pafled (except for rebellious confpiracles,) execution is to be refpited uncil the Governor's pleafure befignified; ths juftices may alfo refpitc the execution of any other fentence till his pleafuie be known, if they fee caufe. Where feve- ral are capitally convifted for the fame oftlnce, one only is to fuflsr death, CKcept for murder or rebellion. M m 2 tain. m lE ■," • 'Ml m ':■}'. $39 HlSTORYOFTHfi APPEN- t^i"! France and Ireland, of Jamaica Lord, Defender of Dix. the Faith, &c. has, by his letters patent, dated February the twenty-fourth, one thoufand feven hundred and thir-* ty-eight, in the twelfth year of his reign, granted full power and authority to John Guthrie and Francis Sad- ler, Efquires, to negotiate and finally conclude a treaty of peace and friendfhip with the aforofaid Captain Cudjoe^ and the reft of his captains, adb.-icnts, and ethers his men ; they mutually, fincerel^ ■ and amicably have agreed to the following articles : Firft, That all hoftilities {hall ceafeonboth fides .. ever. Secondly, That the faid Captain Cudjoe, the reft of his captains, adherents, and men, (ball be for ever hereafter in a perfeft ftate of free- dom and liberty, excepting thofe who have been taken by them, or fled to them, within two years laft paft> if fuch are willing to return to their Hiid mafters and ovi^ners, with full pardon and indemnity from their faid matters or owners for what is paft ; provided always, that, if they arc not willing to return, they (hall remain in fubje6lion to Captain Cudjoe and in fricndihip with us, according to the form and tenor of this treaty. Thirdly, That they fhall enjoy and pofl'efs, for themfelves and pof- terity for ever, all the lands fituate and lying between Trelawney Town and the Cockpits, to the amount of fifteen hundred acres, bearing northwcft from the faid Trelawney Town. Fourthly, That they fhall have liberty to plant the faid lands with coftee, cocoa, ginger, tobacco, and cotton, and to breed cattle, hogs, goats, or any other ftock, and difpofe of the produce or increafe of the faid commodities to the inhabitants of this ifland j pro- vided always, that when they bring the faid commodities to market, they fhall apply firft to the cuftos, or any other magiftrate of the refpen, whe* IS, how- ft of the vledge of •s of the 3f jufticc I) feWoin atrocious he whites bfulnefs of onduft, at r perfonal preferve manners and )urfuits un« ed to exalt pcrfons are an or native Ik firm, and a combina- neither hid- >ininent and :rfuUy acute, fe chara ind infuUing jnd giving an y of Maroons ebates and al- m repaired to dered him, in thwith, under eld, a planta- d himfelf, by the Maroons v iefiance to the :ir intention to ining to attack 111 the mean- Crafkell's life, r, and the in- pei- and difpo^»- tion WEST INDIES. ^bh of the Maroons, the maglftrates applied to General Palmer, requeuing him to call out the militia ; which Was done; and the General fent an exprefs to the Earl of Balcarres, in Spanifti Town, praying his Lordfliip to fend down a detachment of the Jamaica dragoons. Eighty meh were accordingly fent, well accoutred ^d tnounted. The militia aflembled on the 19th of July, to the number of four hundred ; and while they were waiting for orders, one of the Maroons, armed with a lance, made his appearance, and informed the commanding officer, that they wiflied to have a conference in Trelawney Town, with John Tharpi Efq. (the Cuftos and Chief Magiftratc of Trelawney) MefliVs. Stewart and Hodgesj the Members in the AiTembly, and Jarvis Gallimore, Efq. Colonel of the Militia. As this tncfliage feemed to manifeft a dinnclinatlon, on the part of the chief body of the Maroons, to proceed to hoftilities, the gentlemen afeove named very readily ac- fcepted the invitation, and proceeded to the town the next day (the 20th): They were accompanied by Colonel Thomas Reed, of the St. James's militia, a very dlf- tinguifhed and gallant officer, and a man of the higheft honour and chara£ter ; by other perfons of conildcration i and alfo by Major James, whofe Ton had formerly aAed as fuperintendant of the town, who was himfelf fuperin- tendant-general of all the Maroon towns in th6 ifland^ and was fuppofed to have more weight, and to poflefs greater influence^ with the Maroons, than any other mahU in the country. The Maroons received them under arms. There ap- peared aboiit three hundred able men, all of whom had painted their faces for battle, and feemed ready for adion; and they behaved with fo much infolence, that the gen- N n 2 tlemen i47 APPEM' DIX. n.i'i I 1; ■%■ f « it I4» HISTORY ( F THE tlcmcn were at firit cxcccdin^^ly alarmed for their owrt-' fafcty, A coiif rcncc htHv \ cnfucJ; in which it waw obfervable that the Maiwjiis complained — not. of the iii- jiirtice or feveriiy of the pui.ii' 'iicnt which had been iii- fli(Sted on two of their companions; but— of ihe dilgrace which ihey infiftcd the n "j;i(tratcs of Alontcgo Biy had put on their whole body, . ordering the punifhment to be inflicted in the workhoufe by the black ovcrfeer or driver, and in the prel^ncc of fugitive and felon negro flaves, many of whom they had thcnifelves apprehended*. Tbcy concludt d by demanding reparation for this indig- nity; an addition to the lands they poilcfied ; the difiniflion of Capt. Cralkell, and the appointment of Mr. James, their former fupcrintendant. The gentlemen had certainly no authority to agree to any of thefe requifitions; they promifed however to ftatc their grievances to the commander in chief, and to recommend to the legiflature to grant them an addition of land. In the meanwhile, they allured the Maroons they would rcqueft the Governor to provide otherwiic for Capt. Crafkell their fuperinteud mt, and to re-.ippoint in his room theip favourite Mr. James. With thefe aflurances the Ma- roons 'cemcd pacified, and decl.t:ed they had nothing fur- tJxr to a(k , and the gentlemen, having diftributcd a con- fiderable fuin of money amonglt them, returned to Mon- tego Bay. It foon appeared however, that the Maroons, in de- firing this conference, v/crc actuated folely by motives of treachery. 1 hey were apprized that a fleet of 150 (hips V'^as to (ail for groat Britain on the morning of the 26th J • It certainly is to be wiHiedf that fome littft attention had been paid, by the magiftrates, to the pride or the prejudices of the Maroons in thi« refpe£l. The law however is wholly filent on this head, and the couit had a right to exercifc its difcietioni :r, • owrt' it vvaB' Lhc iii- cn in- lilgracc iient to ;rfccr or n negro enJcd *. is indig- lifmiffion r. James, , agree to ftatc their icommend lid. In the ild rcqueft ,t. CraHcell room their- I the Ma- ithing fur- tcd a con- to Mon- jns, in de- motives of 150 {hips thei6thi lad been paiJ» [aroons in thi« anJ thecouit and WEST INDIES. and they knew that very few Hritift troops remained in a the ifland, except the 8 jil regiment, and that this very re- giment was, at that juncture, tinder orders to embark, for St. Domingo ; they hopuil, tlKTcforc, hy the fpecioub and dclufivc appearance of ddiring a conference, to qu'ct fiif- picion, until the July fleet wn'^ f;tilcd, and the regulars fairly departed. In the meain/hilc-, they plealcd them- felves with the hope of pr(.v:i ing on ihe negro fluves throughout the Iflatul to joip m : and by riling in a mals, to enable them to «. .mmato the whites at a blow. The very day the conference was held, they begaa tampering with the negroes on the tiunK-rous and cxten- ftve plantations in the neigiibouniood of Mwuego Hay *. On fomc of thefc plantations their eniillai its were cor- dially received and fecreted : on others, the Haves them- lelvcs voluntarily apprized their ovcrfcers, that the Ma- roons were endeavouring to feducc them from their alle- giance. Information of this nature was tranfmitted from many refpedtable quarters; but molt of the gcnllcmen who had vifitcd the Maroons on the 20th, were fo con- fident of their fidility and uffetiton^ that the Governor, difbelieving tlie charges againtt thein, was prevailed on to let the troops embark as originally intended, and they actually failed from Port Royal on the morning of the 29th, under convoy ot the Succcfs frigate. In the courfe of that, and the tv/o futceeding days, how- ever, fuch intelligence was received at the Government houfc, as left no poffible room to doubt the treachery of tht^c faithful and affectionate people; anil t c Earl of Balcarres, with that promptitude and decliion which dif- tinguiih iiis charadter, determined on a line of conduft * Trclawiiey Town is ficuated widiin C'Ae3;v miles of tiietown and h,3r- l)Our of ^ontcgo Bay. ^9 ilM Nn 3 adapted I'r .^.'^ >^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // <,^.*^5^ ^^J^ % & ^ ;!'i< 1.0 I.I ■50 IL25 1 1.4 1.6 o>^^. V] >«^^ / S Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4S03 v ^v •w \\ v" ^ ^A O^ ^. '<«^ v^ 4fp % r 55° 1:^ ■|| r. HISTORY OF THE adapted to the importance of the occafiotii The cowrie from Port Royal to St. Domingo (as the reader is per- haps informed) is altogether againft the wind, and there; is fumetimes a ftrong lee current ; as was fortunately the; cafe at this jundture. Thefe were favourable circum- flances, and afforded the Governor room to hope that the tranfports which conveyed the troops might poffibly be overtaken at fea, by a faft failing boat, from the eaft end of the ifland, furnifhed with oars for rowing in the night. His Lordfhip was not miftaken ; the boat which was pro- vided came up with them on the 2d of Auguft, off the north-eaft end of Jamaica, and d livered orders to Cap- tain Pigot of the Succef?, forthwith to change his courfe, and proceed with the tranfports down the north fide of the Ifland to Montego Bay. Captain Pigot immediately obeyed; and it is probable that by this happy accident the country was favcd. The 83d regiment, confifting of upwards of one thou- fand efFsctive men, commanded by Colonel Fitch, landed at Montego Bay on Tvcfday the 4th of Auguft. At this moment, although the militia of this part of the coun* try were under arms, and had been joined by the detach- ment of hght dragoons, the utmoft anxiety was vifible in every countenance. The July fleet was failed ; and the certainty that the Maroons had collected great quantities of arms and ammunition ;— that they had been tamper- ing with the flaves, and ..he uncertainty of the fuccefs and extent of their machinations, had caft a gloom on the face of every man ; and while rumours of plots and con- fpiracies diftradled the minds of the ignorant, many among the moft tl'.oughtful and confiderate, anticipated all the horrors of St. Domingo, and in imagination already be« held their houfes and plantations in flames, and their wives and children bleeding under the fwords of the moft merciiefs of aflaflins. The .. WEST INDIES. , . The fudden and unexpected arrival of fo powerful a reinforcement, in the moft critical moment, immediately changed the fcene. But further meafures were adopted. By the advice of a council of war, compofcd chiefly of members of the Affembly, the Governor put the whole illand under martial law. A further reinforcement of 130 well-mounted dragoons under the command of Colo- nel Sandford, and a detachment of 100 men uf the 62d regiment, were fent down on tlie 3d: Colonel Wal- pole, with 150 difmounted dragoons, embarked at the fame time for Black River, to command the foices of St. Elizabeth and Weftmoreland, and on the morning of the 4th, the Governor himfelf left Spanifh Town for Mon- tego Bay } determined to command oh the fcene of adion in perfon. The reader willeafily conceive, that meafures of fuch extent and magnitude were not adopted folely in the fae- Jief that the Maroons alone were concerned. It muft be repeated, that the moft certain and abundant proofs had been tranfmittcd to the commander in chief, of their at- tempts to create a general revolt of the enflaved negroes, and it was impoflible to forefee the refult. The fitua- tion of the flaves, under prevailing circumftances, re- quired the mofl: ferious attention. With the recent ex- ample before their eyes of the dreadful inOarredtion in St. Domingo, they had been accultomed, for the preceding {even years, to hear of nothing but Mr. Wilbcrforce, and his efforts to ferve them in Great Britain. Means of in- formation were not wanting. Inftructors were con- llantly found among the black fervants continually re- turning from England; and I have not thu imallcft doubt that the negroes on every plantation in the Welt Indies, were taught to believe tliat their maiters were generally confidered in the mother-country, as a fet of odious and abominable mifcreantSj whom it was laudable to malTacre .' N n 4 The 55» ii I ill' ■if I! S5^ ■I t I HISTORY OF THE The wifdom, decifion, and a£livity o( the Earl of Balcarrcs, on the prefent occafion, defeated their projedls. The efFedl of his Lordftiip's condudt thenceforward, on the minds of the enflaved negroes throughout the whole country, was wonderful. Submiffion, tranquillity, and good order prevailed univcrfally among them. The cir- cumftancc attending the return of the 83d regiment, in- duced them to believe that Heaven itfelf had declared in favour of the whites, and that all attempts at refiftance were unavailing and impious. The Maroons themfelves became divided in their councils. Many of the old and experienced among them, even in Trclawney Town, the head quarters of fedition, recommended peace; and advifed their companions to poftpone their vengeance to abetter opportunity; and the whole of the Acompcng people declared in favour of the whites. It was determined, however, by a very great majority of the T'relawncy Maroons, to fight the Bucras (meaning the white people). The violent councils of the younger part of their community prevailed ; moft of whom were inflamed with a degree of favage fury againft the whites, which fet at nought all confiderations of prudence and policy. The commander in chief, however, previous to any hoftile movement, determined to try once more to efFeft an accommodation. As it was evident the Maroons con- fultcd fome perfon who could read and write, his Lord- fliip, on the 8th of Auguft, fent into their town a written melfage or fummons in the following words : r:.Cr' To the Maroons of Trelaxvney Toivn, < 'ou have entered into a moft unprovoked, ungrate- ful .d moft dangerous rebel^on, f'YoH 1;'' si; :ii!i: iUUI ! t ii C 'H ![ iRib' RiK Si D iRT^i rr. (//^^ Maroon s 'il..'J./.iwJ;i A//// ■\'f-i;-/:t/a/e,Actadii{f TRTETLAWNll WEST INDIES. *' You have driven away the fuperintendant placed over you by the laws of this country. *' You have treated him, your Commander, with in- dignity and contempt. You have endeavoured to maf- facre him. " You have put the Magiftrates of the country, and all the white people, at defiance. ** You have challenged and offered them battle. *' You have forced the country, which has long che-r rifhed and foftered you as its children, to confidcr you as an enemy. " Martial law has in confequence been proclaimed. " Every pafs to your town has been occupied and guarded by the militia and regular forces. " You are furrounded by thoufands. " Look at Montego Bay, and you will fee the force brought agatnft you, *' I have iffued a proelamation, offering a reward for your heads ; that terrible edict will not be put in force before Thurfday, the 13th day of Auguft. ** To avert thefe proceedings, I advifa and com- mand every Maroon of Trelawney Town, capable of bearing arms, to appear before me at Montego Eay, on Wednefday the 12th day of Auguft inftaut, and there fubmit themfelves to his Majefty's mercy. '^r^/ ■ " On fo doing, you will efcape the effcdis of the dicr.v'- ful command, ordered to be put into execution on Thurl- day, the 13th day of Auguft j on which day, in failure of your obedience to this fummons, your town ftiall be burnt to the ground, and for ever deftroyed, " And whereas it appears that other negroes, befides the Maroons of Trelawney Town, were there under arms on the day that town was vifited by John Tharp, Efq, and feveral other magiftrates of the parilh of Trelawney, you are ftridlly commanded and enjoined to bring fuch ftianger 553 i , < ill)' 'I'i: :|'l m HISTORY OF THE ARPBM- ftnnger negroes to Montego Bay, at prifoners, on or be- DIX. fore the beforementioned Wednefday, the lath day of Auguft inftant. « BALCARRES." t:!i ■9' i ■Si "if i. ! ■ '■ Apprbhensitb, however* that this fiimmons would have but little efFeA, the Governor at the fame time gavo orders that the regulars and militia ihould take pofleffion of all the known paths leading to I'rulawney Town from the furrounding pariflies ; and the troops arrived at their refpeflive flations early on the 9th. On the morning of the i ith, thirty-^ight pf the Tre-> lawney Maroons, being chiefly old men, furrendered themfelves to the Governor's mercy, at Vaughan's-field, and frankly declared, that, with regard to the reft of the town, they were determined on war. ** The /ievil^ they faid, had got into themy" and nothing but fupcriority of force would bring them to reafon. Two of the thirty-eight were, however, Ibnt back to tryy for the laft time, if perfuafion would avail ; but they were detained by the reft, who, having fecreted their wo- men and children, pajftd tbt Rubicon the enfuing night, by fetting fire themfelves to their town, and commencing hoftilities on the outpofts of the army* The attack fell cluefly on the St. James's company of free people of co- lour, of whom two were killed and fix wounded : and thus began this unfortunate war. The Maroons immediately afterwards aflemblcd iqi a body, near a fmall village which was called their Neiv Town, behind which were their provifion grounds.— On die afternoon of the ilth, orders were given to Lieutenant Colonel Sandford to march with a detachment of the i8th and 20th dragoons, and a party of the horfe militia, and take pofleffion of thofe grounds the fame evening ; it be- ing the Governor's intention to attack the Maroons at the fame i:l;^. .;';! WEST INDIES. fame time, in front. Colonel Sandford proceeded accord- ^ngly, accompanied by a body of volunteers i bvit having been informed that the Maroons had retired to the ruini of their old town, he was pcrfuaded, inftcad df waiting at his poft for further orders from the Governor, to proceed beyond his limits, and to puHi afccr the enemy i a moil unfortunate and fatal determination, to which this gallant .officer, and many valuable men, fell a facrifice. The rc» treat of the Maroons from the New Town, was a feint to draw the whites intoanambufcade, which unfortunately fucceedcd. The road between the new and old towns was very bad and very narrow; and the troops had marched about ha^f way, the regulars in front, the militi^ in the centre, and the volunteers in the rear, when a heavy fire enfued from the bufhcs. Colonel Sandford was among the firft that fell, and with him periihcd Quar- ter Mafter M*Bride, fix privates of the 2oth, and eight of the 1 8th light dragoons. Of the militia, thirteen were ilain outright, and, among the reft, the commanding of- ficer. Colonel Gallimore ; eight of the volunteers alfq were killed, and many of all defcriptions wounded. The troops, howeiver, pulhed forward, and drove the Maroons from their hiding places, and after a night of unparalleled hardfbip, the furvivors got back to Vaughan's-ficld in the morning, and brought with them moft of their wounded companions *. Hi * Among the officers of the militja who efcaped on this occafion, wa, my late excellent and lamented friend Gicrge Goadin Barren. He wa* attended on that day by a favourite Negro Servant } of whom it is related that) during the firft attack, perceiving a Maroon from behind a tree pre- fent his gun at his beloved mafter, he inftantly ruflicd forward to proteft him, by interpofing his own perfon; and adlually received the fliot in his |>reaft. I rejoice to add, that the wound was not mortal, and that the poor fellow has been rewarded as he dcferved, for fuch an inftance of Jieroick fidelity at biftoty has feldom recorded. Thus $5« HISTORY OF THE Thus terminated this difaftrous and bloody conflid | in which it was never known with certainty, that a Angle Maroon loft his life. Their triumph therefore was great, and many of the beft informed among the planters, in con- fequence of it, again anticipated the moil dreadful impend> ing calamities. So general was the alarm, that the Gover- nor thought it neceOary, in a proclamation which he ifTued on the occafion, to make publick the orders he had given to Colonel Sandford, and to declare in cxprefs terms, that if the detachment under that officer's command had remained at the poft which it was diredlcd to oc- cupy, the Maroons, in all probability, would have been compelled to furrender themfclves prif6ne.-s of war. ^' Soldiers will learn from this fatal lefl'on (adds his Lord- (hip moft truly) the indifpenfible necefTity of ftri£tly ad- hering to orders. An excei'i of ardour is often as preju- dicial to the accompliOiment of any military enterprize, as cowardice itfelf." — The truth was, that the whole de- tachment held the enemy in too great contempt. They marched forth in the confidence of certain vidpry, and never having had any experience of the Maroons mode of fighting, difrcgarded the advice of fome faithful negro attendants, who apprized them of it. Happily the dafs of people on whom the Maroons relied for fupport, re- mained peaceably dii'pofcd ; nor did an inftance occur to raifc a doubt of their continuing to do fo. By the death of Sandford, the command, in the Go- vernor's abfence, devolved on Colonel Fitch, an officer whofe general deportment and character excited great ex- pedlationj but the Maroons fouqd means to elude his vigilance. They had now eftablifhed their head quar- ters at a place in the interior country, of moft difficult accefs, called the Cockpits ; a fort of valley or dell, fur- rounded by fteep precipices and broken rocks, and by piountains of prodigious height j in the caverns of which they WEST INDIES. m the Go- officer Ireat ex- llude his id quar- I difficult 2ll, fur- and by If which they Ihcy had fecrctcd their women and children} and depofited AP p £K< their ammunition. From this retreat (almod inacceflible Dix. to any but thcmfelves) they fent out fmall parties of their ableft and mod enterprising young men, fome of which Were employed in prowling about the country in fcarch of provifions, and others in fetting fire by night to fuch houfes and plantations as were unprovided with a fuf« ficient guard. In the beginning of September, they burnt the habitation and fcttlement of Mr. George Gordon, called Kenmure} and foon afterwards the dwelhng- houfe and buildings of a coffee plantation, called Lap- land i the proprietor too fuftained the ftill greater lofs of thirty valuable negroes, whom the Maroons compelled to go with them, loaden with plunder. Another plantation^ called Catadupa, was dellroyed by them in the fame man- ner, and ten of the negroes carried oiF. About the fame time, they burnt the property of John Shand, Efq.} a fet- tlement belonging to MeiTrs. Stevens and Bernard, a plantation called Bandon, a boufe of a Mr. Lewis, and various others. At thefe places feveral white people unfortunately fell into their hands, all of whom were murdered in cold blood, without any diftindlion ot fex, or regatd to age. Even women in childbed, and infants at the bread, were alike indifcriminately flaughtered by this lavage ene- my; and the ibrieksof the miferable victims, which were diftindtly heard at the pods of the Britilh detachments, frequently conveyed the firft notice, that the Maroons wore in the neighbourhood. The fate of Mr. Gowdie, a refpeftable and venerable planter, who lived within a few miles of Trelawney Town, was remarkable. This gentleman, having a bet- ter opinion of the Maroons than they deferved, had em- ployed one of their chief men to a£l as the overfeer or fuperintendant of his plantation, whom he treated with fingular . ' HISTORY OF THE Tmgular kindnefs, afnd allowed him (he fame wages al would have been paid to a white perfon in the fame ca- pacity. Although, on the commencement of hoftilities^ this man had joined the infufgents, Mr. Qowdie con- tinued to place a fatal dependance on his fidelity! ^<^ was induced to vifit his own plantation, as often as hi^ necefTary attendance on military duty would allow. Her bad the mod perte£l confidence that his Maroon bverfeef Would interfere to protefl him from danger j yet did thi^ barbarous villain come himfelf to the houfe of his bene- fadtor, at the head of a band of favages, and having coolly informed Mr. Gowdie^ that the Maroons had taken an oath, after their manner, to murder all the whites with- out diflindlion, he maffacred both him and his nephew (the only white perfon with him) without compuniilioit or remorfe. But, perhaps, no one circumftance in the courfe of . this moft unfortunate war excited greater indignation, or awakened more general , fympathy, than the death of Colonel Fitchf who, notwithflanding the recent example t)f Colonel Sandford''s fate, periflicd nearly in the fame manner as that unfortunate officer had done ; being like him furprifed by an enemy in ambufh. On the I2th of Sep- tember he went out with a detachment of the 83d regi- ment, confifting of thirty-two men, to reliere fome dif- tant out-pofts} at one of which he left a guard, and pro- ceeded onwards with the reft of his men ; but after get- ting about half a mile farther, he was attacked by a volley of mufquetry from the bufties, and received a wound in the breaft, with which he dropt. After expreffing a wifh, and receiving aflurances, that he fliould not fall alive into the hands of the mercilefs favages, he raifed himfelf up ; when another ball took place in his forehead. Which in- ftantly put art end to his life. A corporal and three pri- Vateis of the 83d, and two negro fervSnts, were alfo killed, y antf !.-'-i.i|, 1 WEST INDIES. S» wages as fame ca- loftilitiesy vdie con- elity, and :en as hi^ loW. He n bverfeef et did thi^ his bene- /inig coolly i taken ati lites with- «s nephew nnpun£liort 5 courfe of ignation, or le death of ;nt example in the fame J being lilce lathof Sep- e 83d regi- re feme dif- rd, and pro- ut after get- 3y a volley a wound in Eng a wifli,' all alive into limfelf upj which in- ^d three pri- c alfo killed, and and Captain Leigh and nine of the party wounded ; and appeN' if the guard, which had been left behind, had not puflied d i X. forward to their affiftance, immediately on hearing the firing, not one of the whole detachment would have efcaped with life; two of them actually fell into the hands of the enemy, and were put to death with circumftances of outrageous barbarity, and Captain Leigh afterwards died of his wounds. The misfortune of this day was aggravated too by a circumftance, which, though ihock* ing to relate, muft not be omitted, as it ftrongiy marks die bafe arid ferocious character of the Maroons. When the remains of Colonel Fitch were found, a day of two afterwards, by a party fent to give them the rites of fepul- ture, it was perceived that the head had been feparated from the body, and was entombed in the ill'/ated oncer's 9wn hewels ! It now became evident, that it would prove a work of greater difficulty than was imagined, to flop the de- predations which were daily and hourly committed by this horde of lavages, and it was allowed that extraor- dinary meafiires were neceflary in order to counteraft their conftant pradiice of planting ambufhes. Neither the courage nor conduft of the beft difciplined troops in the world could always avail againft men, who, lurking in fecret like the tygers of Africa, (themfelves unfeen) had no objeA but murder. The legiflative bodies of the ifland were foon to meet, and the hopes of the whole communis refted on their councils. I sfo HISTORY OF THE I i m §ECTIO>f IV. THE General Aflembly was convened the latter end of September, and their firft deliberations were direfted to the fubjeft of the Maroon rebellion, with a folicitude equal to its importance. On this oc- cafion it was natural to recur to the experience of former times, and enquire into the meafures that had been fuc- cefsfully adopted in the long and bloody war, which, pre> Vious to the treaty of 1738, had been carried on againft the fame enemy. The expedient which had then been re- forted to, of employing dogs to difcover the coi^cealment of thfe Maroons, and prevent the fatal cfFc£ls which re- fulted fronfi their mode of fighting in ambufcadc, was recommended as a fit example to be followed in the pre- fent conjuntSlure; and it being known that the Spanifli Americans pollbfled a certain fpecies of thofe animals, which it was judged would be proper for fuch a fervice, the Aflembly refolved to fend to the ifland of Cuba for one hundred of themj and to engage a fufficient number of the Spanifh humfmen, to attend and diredt their ope- rations. The employment to which thefe dogs are generally put by the Spaniards, is the purfuit of wild bul- locks, which they flaughter for the hides j and the great tife of the dog is to drive the cattle from fuch heights and recefles in the mountainous parts of the country, as are leaft acteflible to the hunters. The Aflembly were not unapprized that the mea- fure of calling in fuch auxiliaries, and urging the canine fpecies to the purfuit of human beings, would probably give rife to much bbfcrvation and animadvcrfion in the mother- m ■ m le latter jerations ■ebelliony I this oc- of former been fuc- lich, pre- )n againft I been re- t^cca\ment which re- cade, was in the pre- lie Spanifh e animals, a fervice, f Cuba for ;nt number their ope- dogs are wild bul- the great ;h heights ountry, as the mea- Ithc canine Id probably lion in the mother- WEST INDIES. fhother-country. Painful experience on other occafions, had taught them, that their condu*^ in the prcfent cafe, would be fcrutinized with all the rigid and jealous cir- cumfpedlion, which ignorance and hatred, and envy and malice, and pretended humanity, and fanaticifm, could exercife. The horrible enormities of the Spaniards in the conqueft of the new world, would be brought again to remembrance. It is mournfully true, that dogs were ufed by thofe chriftian barbarians againft the peaceful and in- ofFenfive Americans, and the juft indignation of all man- kind has ever fince branded, and will continue to brand, the Spanifh nation with infamy, for fuch atrocities. It was forefeen, and ftrongly urged as an argument againft: recurring to the fame weapon in the prefent cafe, that the prejudices of party and the virulent zeal of faiStion and bigotry, would place the proceedings of the Aflem- bly on this occafion, in a point of view equally odious with the condudl of Spain on the fame blood-ftained theatre, in times paft. No reafonable allowance would be made for the wide difference exifting between the two cafes. Some gentlemen even thought that the co-opera- tion of dogs with Britifh troops, would give not only a cruel, but alfo a very daftardly complexion to the pro- ceedings of government. To thefe, and fimilar objections it was anfwered, that the fafety of the ifland, and the lives of the in- habitants were not to be facrificed to perverfe mifcon- ftrudion or wilful mifreprefentation in the mother- country. It W2S maintained that the grounds of the meafurc needed on' to be fully examined into, and fairly ftated, to induce all reafonable men to admit its propriety and neceffity. To hold it as a principle, that it is an ai^ of cruelty or cowardice in man to employ other animals as inftruments of war, is a pofition contradided by the pradice of all natigns,^-The Afiaticks have ever ufed Voifi Ii O elephants 5 6. ,,;:it > I' « ! y\ ill 'i *: ?i- ■■] i\ rt HISTORY OF THE elephants in their battles; and if lions and tygers pofTe/Tc^ the docility of the elephant, no one can doubt that thefe alfo would be made to aflift the military operations of man, in thofe regions of which they are inhabitants. Even the ufe of cavalry, as eftabliflied among the moft civilized and polifhed nations of Europe, muft be rejedted, if this principle be admitted ; for wherein, it was afked, does the humanity of that dodtrine confift, which allows the employment of troops of horfe in the purfuit of dif- comfited and flying infantry; yet fhrinks at the pre- ventive meafure of fparing the effufion of human blood, by tracing with hounds the haunts of murderers, and roufing from ambufh favages more ferocious and blood* thirfty than the animals which track them ? The merits of the queftion, it was faid, depended al- together on the origin and caufe of the war ; and the ob- je£ls fought to be obtained by its continuance ; and the authority of the firft writers on publick law, was adduced in fupport of this conftrudion. " If the caufe and end of war (fays Paley*) be juftifiable, all the means that appear neceflary to that end are juftifiable alfo. This is the principle which defends thofe extremities to which the violence of war ufually proceeds : for fince war is a con- teft by force between parties who acknowledge no com- mon fuperior, and fmce it includes not in its idea the fup- pofition of any convention which fhould place limits to the operations of force, it has naturally no boundary but that in which force terminates ; the deftru£Uon of the life againft which the force is dire(^ed." It was allowed (with the fame author) that gratuitous barbarities bor- row no excufe from the licence of war, of which kind is every cruelty and every infult that ferves only to exafpe- rate the fufFerings, or to incenfe the hatred of an enemy, without weakening his ftrength, or in any manner tend- * Moral Pbjlofophy, vol* ii. p. 417, ing m DfleffcJ at thefe ions of bitants. tiemoft •ejefted, IS afked, 1 allows it of dif- the pre- in blood, rers, and id blood* icnded al- id the ob- ; and the IS adduced e and end neans that This is which the ir is a con- [e no com- iea the fup- :e limits to lundary but ion of the allowed larities bor- lich kind is to exafpc- an enemy, inner tend- ^VEST INDIES; Ihg to procure his fubmiffion ; f'xh as the flaughter of captives, the fubjedling them to indignities or torture, the violation of women, and in general the deftru£lion or defacing of works that conduce nothing to annoyance or defence. Thefe enormities are prohibited not only by the practice of civilized nations, but by the law of nature itfelf ; as having no proper tendency to accelerate the termination, or accomplifh the objeA of the war ; and as containing that which in peace and war is qually un- juftifiable, namely, ultimate and gratuitous mif chief. Now all thefe very enormities were pradiifed, not by the Whites againft the Maroons, but by the Maroons themfelves againft the Whites. Humanity therefore, it was faid^ was no way concerned in the fort of expedient that was propofed, or any other, by which fuch an enemy could moft fpeedily be extirpated. They were not an unarmed, innocent and defencelcfs race of men, like the ancient Americans \ but a banditti of aflaffins : and tendernefs towards fuch an enemy, was cruelty to all the reft of the community. Happily, in the interval between the determination of the Affembly to procure the Spanifli dogs, and the adtual arrival of thofe auxiliaries from Cuba, fuch mea- fures were purfued as promifed to render their affiftance altogether unnecefTary. — On the death of Colonel Fitchj the chief conJucl of the war, in the ablencc of the Go- vernor, was entrufted to Major General Walpole, art officer whofe indefatij^able zeal and alacrity, whofe gal- lantry, circumfpeaion, and a6tivity, in a very fbort time gave a new afpe£l to affairs, and reduced the enemy to the laft extremity. Although the country to which the Maroons retiredj was perhaps the ftrongeft and moft imprafticable of any on the face of the earth, it was entirely deftitute of fprings and rivers. All the water which the rains had left in the hollows of the O o a rocks 563 APPEN- DIX. ing j64 HISTORY OF THE rocks was exhaufted, and the enemy's only rcfource vrai in the leaves of the wild-pine ; a wonderful contrivancej by which Divine Providence has rendered the fterile and rocky defarts of the torrid zone in fome degree habita<' ble • J but even this refource was at length exhaufted, and the fufFerings of the rebels, for want both of water and food, were cxceffive. By the unremitting diligence and indefatigable exertions of the troops, all or moft of the pafTes to other parts of the country were efFeflually occupied ; and a perfeverance in the fame fyftem muft, it was thought, foon force the enemy to an unconditional furrender. In fpite of all thefe precautions, however, a rebel Captain of the name of Johnfon, found means to conduy the Maroons without difficulty. Habituated to em- ploy their naked feet with Angular efFe(St, in climbing up trees and precipices, they had acquired a dexterity in the pra£lice, which to Britifh troops was altogether aftonifli- ing and wholly inimitable. On the other hand, all the officers and privates, both of the regulars and militia, from a well-founded confidence in their chief commanders, feem to have felt a noble emulation which fhnuld mofl: diflinguifh themfelves for zeal in the cau(e, obedience to orders, and a cheerful alacrity in puiliing forward on (every fervice of difficulty and danger \ fuftaining with- put a murmur many extraordinary baruihipsj among O 3 which^ I! nil 566 lis HISTORY OF THE which, diftrefs for want of water, and thirft even to tXt tremity, were none of the leaft. , It was eafily forefeen that a perfeverance in the fame line of conduct, muft ultimately prove fuccefsfuli and intimations were at length received, by means of enflaved negroes whom the Maroons had forced into their fer- vice, and pqrpofely difmiffed, that they were extremely defirous of an accommodation, on any terms (hort of ^capital puniihment, or tranfportation from ' the country. They exprelTed a willingnefs, it was faid, to deliver up their arms, and all the fugitive Haves that had joined them, to furrcnder their lands, at^d intermix with the genera^ body of free blacks, in fuch parts of the country as the colonial government fliould approve. Although thefe rvertures were evidently dictated by deprecation and de- fr air 5 it was the opinion of many wife and worthy men among the inhabitants, that they ought to be accepted ; and it was faid that General Walpole himfelf concurred in the fame fentlment. It was urged that the war, if con- tinued on the only principle by which it could be main- tained, muft be a war of extermination. Some" few of the Maroons, however, would probably elude the laft purfuit of vengeance ; and thefe would form a central point to which the runaway negroes would refort. Thus hoftilities would be perpetuated for ever ; and it was ob- ferved that a fingle Maroon, in the feafon of crop, with no other weapon than a firebrand, might deftroy the cane- fields of many opulent parifhes, and confume in a few hours, property of immenfe value. To thefe confidera- tions, was to be added the vaft expence of continuing the war. The country had already expended j^.500,000, cx- clufive of the Ibfs which was fuftained by individual pro- prietors confequent on the removal from their planta- tions of all the white fervants, to attend military duty. In the meanwhile, cultivation was fufpended, the courts WEST INDIES. of law had long been fhut up ; and the Ifland at large feemed more like a garrifon, under the power of the law-martial, than a country of agriculture and com- merce, of civil judicature, induftry and profpcrity. On the other hand, it was luudly declared ihat a com- promife with a lawlcfs banditti, who hud (luuglitcred fo many excellent men, and had murdered in cold blood even women in child-bed, and infants at the bread, was a ihameful facrifice of the publick honour } a total dif- regard to the dictates of juftice ; an encouragement to the reft of the Maroons to commit fimilar outrages, and a dreadful example to the negroes in fervitude; tending to imprefs on their minds an idea not of the lenity of the Whites, but of their inability to punifh fuch atrocious offenders. It was alledged withal, that the rebel Ma- roons were not themfelves ferioufly defirous of fuch an accommodation. Their only purpofe was to gain cime, and procure an opportunity to get into butter qu.irters ; judging perhaps that tho militia of the country, a large proportion of whom were at the di (lance of one hundred miles from their places of refidciice, woulJ foon be tired of the couteft. Many, fads were indeed related, and fome ftrong circumftanccs adduced, which gave a colour to this charge } and proved that the Maroons had not al- together relinquilhed their hopes of creating a general revolt among the enflaved negroes. Such an event was not likely to h.ippen, while the country con- tinued in arms. The difmiflion of the troops, on the fallacious idea of an accommodation with the Maroons, would alone, it was faid, realize the danger. Fortunately for all parties, this unnatural and de- ftru£tive revolt, was brought to a happy termination much fooner than might have been apprehended. On the 14th of December, the commiffioner who went to the Havan-. O o 4 nail 567 n S6I HISTORY OP THE APPEK- nah for affiftance, arrived at Montego Bay with forty SIX. chaffiurs or Spanifh hunters (chiefly people of colour) an^ about one hundred Spanifti do^^s. Such extraordinary ac- counts were immediately fpread of the terrificic appear- ance, and favage nature of thefe animals, as made an im- preflion on the minds of the negroes that was equally furprifmg and unexpetSled*. WHtiHER thefe reports were propagated through folly or delign, they had certainly a powerful and very falutary efFe(St on the fears of the rebel Maroons, a large party of whom now difplayed ftrong and indubitable evi- dences of terror, humiliation, and fubmiilion, and renewed their (ulii-iiations for peace with great earneftnefs and anxiety. A negociation was at length opened, and a treaty concluded on the 21ft of December, of which the chief articles were, ift. That the Maroons (hould, on their knees, a(k the King's pardon, adly. That they ihould fix their future refidence in fuch part of the ifland, as the ie^j,inature (houlJ point oat : And 3dly. That they Ihould deliver up all the fugitive negro flaves that had joined them. On thefe conditions it was ftipulated and agreed, that their lives fhould be granted them, and that they (hould not be tranfported from the ifland) and they were allowed ten days to coUefi their families and per^ form the treaty. frc ma ord * Though thefe dogs ire not In general larger than the fliepherdt dogi in Great Britain, (which in truth they mtich rcfemble) they were re> piefenied at equjl to the maftiff in bulk, to the bull-dog in courage, to the blokd-hoand in fcent, and to the grey>hound in agility^ If entire credit had been given to the defcription that wa« tranfntitted through the tountiy of this excraurdinary animal, it might have been fuppofed that the Spaniards had obtained the ancient and genuine breed of Ctrbmit himfelf, the ouny-headed munfler that guarded the infein«l regions. S9 WEST INDIES. 5«9 ^ peN S9 So great however was the terror of thefe wretched appem- people, ariling from the confcioufnefs of their enormities, dix. or their unaccountable infatuation, that only twenty-one of their number furrendered by the time hmited} and thirteen others three days afterwards. On the 14th of January, therefore, orders were iflued from the commander in chief to General Walpole, to inarch without further delay againft the rebels. Thefe orders were pun£tually obeyed ; but, from regard to hu- manity, the Spaniih dogs were ordered in the rear of the army. The efFedt, however, was immediate. General Walpole had advanced but a fliort way in the woods* when a fupplication for mercy was bruught him from the enemy> and 260 of them fuon afterwards furrendered on no other condition than a promije oj their lives. It is pleating to obferve, that not a drop of blood was fpilc after the dogs arrived in the ifland. Some of the young men, however, ftill held out, and it was not until the middle ot March that th« r*bellio(l was entirely extinguiflied by the furrender of the whole body ) nor even then^ or at any time before^ were any of tht fugitive negroes that had joined them delivered up. It might be fuppofed therefore, that no queftion could have arifen whether the treaty was obferved or not, oa the part of the Maroons. Neverthelefs it did fo happen, that doubts on this head were fuggefted on fuch rcfpedtable authority, as induced the commander in chief, with great prudence and propriety, to leave the whole matter to the inveftigation and determination of the Council and AlTem- bly, who appointed a joint and fecret committee to re- ceive evidence and report on the fadts before them. On the report of this Committee the Aflembly, by a majority of 21 to 13, came to the following refolutions, ^mong others, viz. <* That 570 * f3i ■ >■ ^ W ( i! Ill HISTORY OF THE ^ That all the Maroons who furrendered after the ilrft of January, not having complied with the terms of the treaty, are not entitled to the benefit thereof, and ought to be (hipped off the ifland i but that they ought to be fent to a country in which they will be free, and fuch as may be bed calculated, by Atuation, to fecure the ifland againft the danger of their return i that they ought to be provided with fuitable clothing and neceflaries for the voyage, and maintained at the publiclc expence of thia ifland for a reafonable time after their arrival at the place of their deftination. " That it i« the opinion of this Houfe, that as there may be among the rebels a few who, by their repentance, fervices, and good behaviour, Ance their furrender, have merited protedlion and favour, it be recommended to the lieutenant-governor to permit fuch to remain in the ifland, together with their wives and children; and to dif- tinguifh them by any other marks of favour he may think proper." Of the policy of ridding the country of fuch an enemy (admitting the juftice of the war on the part of the Whites) there could not have been, I ihould have thought, but one opinion. After fuch a war, carried on in fuch a oianner, it is impoflible to believe, that a cordial reconciliation be« tween the white inhabitants and the Maroons could ever have taken place. The latter would probably have con- tinued a fullen, fubjugated people, employed only in feducing the enflaved negroes from their fidelity, and ready to revolt themfclves, whenever occafion fhould offer. *< No country on earth," fays Rutherford, « would fufFer a body of men to live within its territories, unlefs they would agree to be accountable to its laws, as far as the general fecurity requires." To expe6l fuch condud): from the Maroons, was to manifeft a total ignorance of their difpofition. The determination therefore of the 6 . . legiflaturq 'i;. m WE5T INDIES. after the le tertni of lercof} and hey ought free, and I fecure the they ought :e(raries for cnce of thia at the place dhat as there repentance* •cnder, have :nded to the \ain in the ; and to dif- xe may think; ch an enem^ the Whites) ght) but one 1 a onanner, ictliation be* IS could ever r have con- yed only in fidelity, and Hon ihould ord, " would tories, unlefe wSi as far as iich condu£): ignorance of efore of the legidaturq tn legiflature of the colony to trunrport thcfc people firom the atprk^ ifland being thus fixed, it remuitts onlv to point out in dix. what manner it was cnforccLl. In the beginning .>f June 1796, his Majefty's fliip 0ie Dover, with two tranljiorts in company, having on board the Trelawney Maroons (in number about lix hundred) provided with all manner oFneceiTarios, as well for their accommodation at Tea, as for the change of cli- mate, failed from Ijlue-Helds in Jamaica, for Hulitax in North America. 'Ihcy were accompanied by William Dawes Quarrt'll, and Alexander Ouchtcrlony, Efquires, commiflioners appointed by the Aflembly, with authority and inftrudtions (fubjedt to his Majcfty's approbation and further orders) to purchafc lands in Nova Scotia, Lower Canada, or where elfe his Majefty (hould pleafc to ap- point, for the future cftablilhment and fubfiltence of thofe Maroons, as a free people. The commiflioners had orders withal, to provide them the means of a comfortable main- tenance, until they were habituated to ihc countryand cli- mate. The fum of £. 25,000 was allowed by the affembly for thofe purpofes. They arrived at Halifax in the month of July, and the following letter from Sir John Wcntworth, Bart, the governor of the province, to a friend in London, dated the loth of November, 1796, will convey to the reader the clcarcft and molt fatisfadtory account of their reception in the province, and of the meafures happily adopted for their future cftablifliment and improvement. With this letter, which I have been permitted to copy from the original, I (hall clofe my account. « The Maroons are now comfortably fettled, and their fituation will be daily improving. They are hit!.erto quiet, orderly, and contented. I have long had expe- rience ufeful for this occalion, and l.ave not a doubt, but that thefe will be an happy and ufeful people. In this country they can do no harm j nor uo they fcem difpofed to 579 APPEN- DIX. # . HISTORY OF THE to do any. They are exceedingly attached to me. X have appointed a miilionary and chaplain, with an affiftant teacher, to perform the fervice of the church of England; to inftrudl them in Chriilianity, and to teach the youth and children to read, write, and cypher. Laft Sunday I attended publick worfliip in their chapel, at opening the church. The Maroons were particularly attentive, de- cent, and moft exceedingly delighted Next Sunday many are to be baptized, and the remainder in duecourfe. They are folicitous for this duty, and appear defirous of inftru£lion, from whence civilization will naturally re- fult. The climate is &nd will be falutary to them. The children were emaciated, and moft of the adults worn down by war, imprifonment, and fea - fickneis : they are now healthy, ftrong, and as hearty as any white peo- ple in the province. They are therefore, and I have no doubt will continue to be, infinitely benefited by their re- moval to Nova Scotia; and the mofl judicious and feu- fible among them, arc perte£lly fatisficd, and happy iq. their future profpedts." The following Votes and Proceedings of the AJfembly, art added by way of Illufiraiion, HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY^ ^ " Fridayy yfpril 22y ij()6. ., RESOLVED, nem, con. That the Receiver General do remit the fum of feven hundred guineas to the agent of the ifland, for the purpofe of purchaflng a fword, to be prefentcd to the Right Hon. Alexander Earl of Balcar- WEST INDIES. S7i to me. X an aiTiftant f England} the youth ,aft Sunday opening the entive, de- ext Sunday I due courfe. defirous of laturally re- hem. The adults wora cnefe: they r white peo- id I have no by their re- 3US and fen,- nd happy itx Wemblyii on LY> irer General the agent fword, to iR Earl of Balcar- Balcarres, as a teftimony of the grateful fenfe which appen* the Houfe entertain of his diftinguifhed fervices, dif- pix. played both in the field and cabinet ; and under whofe aufpices, by the blefling of Divine Providence, a happy and con lete termination has been put to a moft dange- rous rebellion of the Trelawney-Town Maroons, where- by the general value of property, as well as fecurity of the ifland, have been highly augmented. Ordered, that a copy of the above refolution be fent to his honour the Lieutenant-Governor. Resolved, nem. con. That Mr. Speaker be requefted to prcfent the thanks of the Houfe to the Hon. Major- General Walpole, for the fignal fervices performed by him to this ifland, in the late rebellion of the Trelawney- Town Maroons. Resolved, nem con. That the Receiver- General do remit to the agent of this ifland, five hundred guineas, for the purpofe of purchafing a fword, to be prefented to the Hon. Major-General Walpole ; as a teftimony of the grateful fcnfc which the Houfe entertain of klc important ^rvices and diftinguifhed merit, in the fupprefllon of the late rebellion of the Trelawney-Town Maroons. Resolved, nem. con. That Mr. Speaker be requefted to give the thanks of the Houfe to the brave Officers and Privates of the regulars and militia, for their gallant fer- vices to the ifland, during the late rebellion of the Tre- lawney-Town Maroons ; and that the Commander in Chief, under whofe aufpices they fought, be requefted by Mr. Speaker, to communicate the high fenfe which the Houfe entertain of their diftinguiftied merit. . i Thurfday t Jpril 2S. ' A Motion being made, that a Committee be appointed Co enquire and report to the Houfe the names of fuch peribns as have fallen in battle during the late rebellion,- that m HISTORY OF THE that a monument may be ereiled to perpetuate their m€-i mories, and the gratitude of this country for their emi' nent fervices } Ordered, that Mr. Fitch, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Ma- thifon, Mr. Stewart, and Mr. Hodges, be a Committee for that purpofe. Saturday^ jipr'tl 30. The Lieutenant-Governor's aiifwer to the meflage from the Houfe, with the refolvtion of the 22d inil. Mr, Speaker^ and Gentlemen of, the Houfe of JJJ'embly^ The prefent you have made me, by your unanimous refolution of the 22d inftant, is ineftimable. A foldier's honour, with emblem and emphafis, is placed in his fword ; and 1 (hall tranfmit your precious gift to my pofterity, as an everlafting mark of the reve- rence, the attachment, and the gratitude, I bear to the ifland of J^mnim, Balcarres^ The following addrefs was this day prefented to his honour the Lieutenant-Governor : WE, his Majefty's dutiful and loyal fubje^lis, the Afiembly of Jamaica, beg leave to offer to your honour,' our moft fincere and cordial congratulations on the happy and complete termination of the rebellion of the Trelaw- ney-Town Maroons. This groat and important event muft be productive of fubftantial benefits and falutary confequences to the country ; in every point of view in which it can be con- templated : tranquillity and the enjoyment of our civil rights, are reilored \ publick credit, fo cfl'ential to the Aipport '«i. WEST IKDIES. te their mi-i r their emi- ri, Mr. Ma- i Committee the meffage 2d inft. ? Houfe of r unanimous emphafis, is ?our precious : of the reve- [ bear to the Balcarres^ iff 'ented to his ubje(9:s, the rour honour,' Dn the happy the Trelaw- le produ£live nces to the can be con- of our civil ntial to the fupport fupport of government, and to the profperityj if not to the appeN'' very exiftence of the country, is re-eftabliftied, and our dix. internal fecurity greatly increafed and confirmed. From all thefe ineftimable advantages, we look for- ward with confidence to the augmentation of the value of property, which is likely to take place ; and which, in time, we truft, will compenfate all the lofTes and expen- diture of treafure unavoidably incurred in the profecution of the war. It Is with peculiar falisfadlion and gratitude we ac- knowledge the lively impreffion made on us by the energy difplayed by your Lordfliip in difficult operations of war ; which affords the mofl convincing proof, that the zeal, ardour, and activity manifefled in your military condu£^, have only been equalled by the found policy, and decifive meafures, which marked the wifdom of your councils. HIS honour's answer. Mr. Speaker^ and C<,»thmt>n qf the Houfe of Ajfembly, Your addrefs excites in my bofom every fenfation of pleafure, the mind of man is capable of receiving. The pifture you have drawn of the future profperity ©f the Ifland, is flrong and impreffive. After contemplating the unavoidable calamities of war, a fentiment arifes, giateful and foothing to a feeling heart— That, during your contefl; with an enemy the mofl ferocious that ever difgraced the annals of hiftory : That, during your conteft with an army of favages, who have indifcriminately mafTacred every prifoner whom the fortune of war had placed in their power — no barba- rity, nor a fmgle a£i of retaliation, has fuliied the bright- nefs of your arms. %IPRAy 1^ 5r« HISTORY, Scci t PRAY that the energy, the vigour, and the humanity^ which you have fo honourably difplayed, may defcend to your children ; and fecure to them for ever, thofe blef-j; fings which you have hitherto enjoyed, under the mild and happy government of the illuftrious Houfe of Hanover. ii k ^11 # j^" It muft not be omitted (though I mention it with great concern) that Major-General Walpole, being dif- fatisfied with the refolution of the Legiflatureto tranfport the Maroons from the country, declined the acceptance of the fword voted by the Aflembly. Jill! < ■\_. ' - »-ert «*»»■■ END OF THE FIRST VOLUMK. )i'j ,■ , ,,':\ . :'r..\-,-'. ■;1 /• ' i. 1. ,. .>,!•' -■ ■/I.Vtr-J^*'^ .h:.. y •-,,'!' ^' ..< I* m I; 6 7IS5 4 61 le humani^l \y defcend to r, thofe blefj. der the mild > Houfe of ntion it with ;, being dif- : to tranfport acceptance ■ i'