A True Relation of certain Engliſh perſons, who in Queen Elizabeths time, making a Voyage to the Eaſt Indies were caſt away, and wracked near to the Coaſt of Terra Auſtralis, Incognita, and all drowned, except one Man and four Women. And now lately Anno Dom. 1667. a Dutch Ship making a Voyage to the Eaſt Indies, driven by foul weather there, by chance have found their Posterity, (ſpeaking good Engliſh) to amount (as they ſuppoſe) to ten or twelve thouſand perſons. The whole Relation (written and left by the Man himſelf a little before his death, and delivered to the Dutch by his Grandchild) Is here annexed with the Longitude and Latitude of the Iſland, the ſituation and felicity thereof, with other matter obſervable.
Licenſed July 27. 1668.
London, Printed for Allen Banks and Charles Harper next door to the three Squerrills in Fleet-ſtreet, over againſt St Dunſtans Church, 1668.
Two Letters concerning the Iſland of Pines to a Credible perſon in Covent Garden.
IT is written by the laſt Poſt from Rochel, to a Merchant in this City, that there was a French ſhip arrived, the Mailer and Company of which reports, that about 2 or 300 Leagues Northweſt from Cape Finis Terre, they fell in with an Iſland, where they went on ſhore, and found about 2000 Engliſh people without cloathes, only ſome ſmall coverings about their middle, and that they related to them, that at their firſt coming to this Iſland (which was in Queen Elizabeths time) they were but five in number men and women, being caſt on ſhore by diſtreſs or otherwiſe, and had there remained ever ſince, without having any correſpondence with any other people, or any ſhip coming to them. This ſtory ſeems very fabulous, yet the Letter is come to a known Merchant, and from a good hand in France, ſo that I thought fit to mention it, it may be that there may be ſome miſtake in the number of the Leagues, as alſo of the exact point of the Compaſs, from Cape Finis Terre; I ſhall enquire more particularly about it. Some Engliſh here ſuppoſe it may be the Iſland of Braſile which have been so oft ſought for, Southweſt from Ireland, if true, we ſhall hear further about it; your friend and Brother, Abraham Keek.
Amſterdam, July the 6th 1668.
IT is ſaid that the Ship that diſcovered the Iſland, of which I hinted to you in my laſt, is departed from Rochel, on her way to Zealand, ſeveral perſons here have writ thither to enquire for the ſaid Veſſel, to know the truth of this buſineſs. I was promiſed a Copy of the Letter Amſterdam, June the 29th 1668, that came from France, adviſing the diſcovery of the Iſland above-ſaid, but its not yet come to my hand; when it cometh, or any further news about this Iſland, I ſhall acquaint you with it,
Your Friend and Brother,
A. Keck.
{{1 }} Discovered Near to the Coaſt of Terra Auſtralis Incognita, by Henry Cornelius Van Sloetten, in a Letter to a friend in London, declaring the truth of his Voyage to the Eaſt Indies.
SIR,
I Received your Letter of this ſecond inſtant, wherein you deſire me to give you a further account concerning the Land of Pines, on which we were driven by diſtreſs of Weather the laſt Summer, I alſo peruſed the Printed Book thereof you ſent me, the Copy of which was ſurreptiouſly taken out of my hands, elſe ſhould I have given you a more fuller account upon what occaſion we came thither, how we were entertained, with ſome other {{2 }}circumſtances of note wherein that relation is defective. To ſatisfie therefore your deſires, I ſhall briefly yet ſully give you a particular account thereof, with a true Copy of the Relation it ſelf; deſiring you to bear with my blunt Phraſes, as being more a Seaman then a Scholler.
April the 26th 1667. We ſet ſail from Amſterdam, intending for the Eaſt-Indies; our ſhip had to name the place from whence we came, the Amſterdam burthen 350. Tun, and having a fair gale of Wind, on the 27 of May following we had a ſight of the high Peak Tenriffe belonging to the Canaries, we have touched at the Iſland Palma, but having endeavoured it twice, and finding the winds contrary, we ſteered on our course by the Iſles of Cape Ferd, or Inſula Capitis Viridis, where at St. James's we took in freſh water, with ſome few Goats, and Hens, wherewith that Iſland doth plentifully abound.
June the 14. we had a ſight of Madagaſcar, or the Iſland of St Laurence, an Iſland of 4000 miles in compaſs, and ſcituate under the Southern Tropick; thither we ſteered our courſe, and trafficked with the inhabitants for Knives, Beads, Glaſſes and the like, having in exchange thereof Cloves and Silver. Departing from thence we were incountred with a violent ſtorm, and the winds holding contrary, for the ſpace of a fortnight, brought us back almoſt as far as the Iſle Del Principe; during which time many of our men fell ſick, and ſome dyed, but at the end of that time it pleaſed God the wind favoured us again, and we ſteered on our courſe merrily, for the ſpace of ten days: when on a ſudden we were encountered with ſuch a violent ſtorm, as if all the four winds together had conſpired for our deſtruction, ſo that the ſtouteſt ſpirit of us all quailed, expecting every hour to be devoured by that mercileſs element of water, ſixteen dayes together {{3 }} did this ſtorm continue, though not with ſuch violence as at the firſt, the Weather being ſo dark all the while, and the Sea ſo rough, that we knew not in what place we were, at length all on a ſudden the Wind ceaſed, and the Air cleared, the Clouds were all diſperſed, and a very ſerene Sky followed, for which we gave hearty thanks to the Almighty, it being beyond our expectation that we ſhould have eſcaped the violence of that ſtorm.
At length one of our men mounting the Main-maſt eſpyed fire, an evident ſign of ſome Countrey near adjoyning, which preſently after we apparently diſcovered, and ſteering our courſe more nigher, we ſaw ſeveral perſons promiſcuouſly running about the shore, as it were wondering and admiring at what they ſaw: Being now near to the Land, we manned out our long Boat with ten perſons, who approaching the ſhore, asked them in our Dutch Tongue What Eyland is dit? to which they returned this Anſwer in Engliſh, "that they knew not what we ſaid." One of our Company named Jeremiah Hanzen who underſtood Engliſh very well, hearing their words diſcourſt to them in their own Language; ſo that in fine we were very kindly invited on ſhore, great numbers of them flocking about us, admiring at our Cloaths which we did wear, as we on the other ſide did to find in ſuch a ſtrange place, ſo many that could ſpeak Engliſh and yet to go naked.
Four of our men returning back in the long Boat to our Ships company, could hardly make them believe the truth of what they had ſeen and heard, but when we had brought our ſhip into harbour, you would have bleſt your ſelf to ſee how the naked Iſlanders flocked unto us, ſo wondering at our ſhip, as if it had been the greateſt miracle of Nature in whole World. {{4 }}
We were very courteouſly entertained by them, preſenting us with ſuch food as that Countrey afforded, which indeed was not to be deſpiſed; we eat of the Fleſh both of Beaſts, and Fowls, which they had cleanly dreſt, though with no great curioſity, as wanting materials, wherewithal to do it; and for bread we had the inſide or Kernel of a great Nut as big as an Apple, which was very wholſome, and found for the body, and taſted to the Pallat very delicious.
Having refreſhed our ſelves, they invited us to the Pallace of their Prince or chief Ruler, ſome two miles diſtant off from the place where we landed; which we found to be about the bigneſs of one of our ordinary village houſes, it was ſupported with rough unhewn pieces of Timber, and covered very artificially with boughs, ſo that it would keep out the greateſt ſhowers of Rain, the ſides thereof were adorned with ſeveral forts of Flowers, which the fragrant fields there do yield in great variety. The Prince himſelf (whoſe name was William Pine the Grandchild of George Pine that was firſt on ſhore in this Iſland) came to his Pallace door and ſaluted us very courteouſly, for though he had nothing of Majeſty in him, yet had he a courteous noble and deboneyre ſpirit, wherewith your Engliſh Nation (eſpecially thoſe of the Gentry) are very much indued.
Scarce had he done ſaluting us when his Lady or Wife, came likewiſe forth of their Houſe or Pallace, attended on by two Maid-ſervants, the was a woman of an exquiſite beauty, and had on her head as it were a Chaplet of Flowers, which being intermixt with ſeveral variety of colours became her admirably. Her privities were hid with ſome pieces of old Garments, the Relicts of thoſe Cloaths (I ſuppoſe) of them which firſt came hither, and yet being adorned with Flowers thoſe very rags ſeemeth beautiful; and {{5 }} indeed modeſty ſo far prevaileth over all the Female Sex of that Iſland, that with graſs and flowers interwoven and made ſtrong by the peelings of young Elms (which grow there in great plenty) they do plant together ſo many of them as ſerve to cover thoſe parts which nature would have hidden.
We carried him as a preſent ſome few Knives, of which we thought they had great need, an Ax or Hatchet to fell Wood, which was very acceptable unto him, the Old one which was caſt on ſhore at the firſt, and the only one that they ever had, being now ſo quite blunt and dulled, that it would not cut at all, ſome few other things we alſo gave him, which he very thankfully accepted, inviting us into his Houſe or Pallace, and cauſing us to ſit down with him, where we refreſhed our ſelves again, with ſome more Countrey viands which were no other then ſuch we taſted of before; Prince and peaſant here faring alike, nor is there any difference betwixt their drink, being only freſh ſweet water, which the rivers yield them in great abundance.
After ſome little pauſe, our Companion (who could ſpeak Engliſh) by our requeſt deſired to know of him ſomething concerning their Original and how that people ſpeaking the Language of ſuch a remote Countrey, ſhould come to inhabit there, having not, as we could ſee, any ships or Boats amongſt them the means to bring them thither, and which was more, altogether ignorant and meer ſtrangers to ſhips, or shipping, the main thing conducible to that means, to which requeſt of ours, the courteous Prince thus replyed.
Friends (for ſo your actions declare you to be, and ſhall by ours find no leſs) know that we are inhabitants of this Iſland of no great ſtanding, my Grandfather being the firſt that ever ſet foot on this ſhore, whoſe native Countrey was {{6 }} a place called England, far diſtant from this our Land, as he let us to underſtand; He came from that place upon the Waters, in a thing called a Ship, of which no queſtion but you may have heard; ſeveral other perſons were in his company, not intending to have come hither (as he ſaid) but to a place called India, when tempeſtuous weather brought him and his company upon this Coaſt, where falling among the Rocks his ſhip ſplit all in pieces; the whole company perishing in the Waters, ſaving only him and four women, which by means of a broken piece of that Ship, by Divine aſſiſtance got on Land.
What after paſſed (ſaid he) during my Grandfathers life, I ſhall ſhow you in a Relation thereof written by his own hand, which he delivered to my Father being his eldeſt Son, charging him to have a ſpecial care thereof, and aſhuring him that time would bring ſome people or other thither to whom he would have him to impart it, that the truth of our firſt planting here might not be quite loſt, which his commands my Father dutifully obeyed; but no one coming, he at his death delivered the ſame with the like charge to me, and you being the firſt people, which (beſides our ſelves) ever ſet footing in this Iſland, I shall therefore in obedience to my Grandfathers and Fathers commands, willingly impart the ſame unto you.
Then ſtepping into a kind of inner room, which as we conceived was his lodging Chamber, he brought forth two sheets of paper fairly written in Engliſhy (being the ſame Relation which you had Printed with you at London) and very diſtinctly read the ſame over unto us, which we hearkened unto with great delight and admiration, freely proffering us a Copy of the ſame, which we afterward took and brought away along with us; which Copy hereafter followeth.{1}
1 Here begins the first part of the tract.
A Way to the Eaſt India's being lately diſcovered by Sea, to the {{7 }} South of Affrich by certain Portugals, far more ſafe and profitable then had been heretofore; certain Engliſh Merchants encouraged by the great advantages ariſing from the Eaſtern Commodities, to ſettle a Factory there for the advantage of Trade. And having to that purpoſe obtained the Queens Royal Licence Anno Dom. 1569. 11. or 12. Eliz. furniſht out for thoſe parts four ſhips, my Maſter being ſent as Factor to deal and Negotiate for them, and to ſettle there, took with him his whole Family, (that is to ſay) his Wife, and one Son of about twelve years of age, and one Daughter of about fourteen years, two Maidſervants, one Negro female slave, and my Self, who went under him as his Book-keeper, with this company on Monday the third of April next following, (having all neceſſaries for Houſekeeping when we ſhould come there), we Embarqued our ſelves in the good ſhip called the India Merchant, of about four hundred and fifty Tuns burthen, and having a good wind, we on the fourteenth day of May had ſight of the Canaries, and not long after of the Iſles of Cafe Vert or Verd, where taking in ſuch things as were neceſſary for our Voyage, and ſome freſh Proviſions, we ſtearing our courſe South, and a point Eaſt, about the firſt of Auguſt came within ſight of the Iſland of St Hellen, where we took in ſome freſh water, we then ſet our faces for the Cape of Good Hope, where by Gods bleſſing after ſome ſickneſs, whereof ſome of our company died, though none of our family; and hitherto we had met with none but calm weather, yet ſo it pleaſed God, when we were almoſt in fight of St. Laurence, an Iſland ſo called, one of the greateſt in the world, as Marriners ſay, we were overtaken and diſperſed by a great ſtorm of Wind, which continued with luch violence {{8 }} many days, that loſing all hope of ſafety, being out of our own knowledge, and whether we ſhould fall on Flats or Rocks, uncertain in the nights, not having the leaſt benefit of the light, we feared moſt, alwayes wiſhing for day, and then for Land, but it came too ſoon for our good; for about the firſt of October, our fears having made us forget how the time paſſed to a certainty; we about the break of day diſcerned Land (but what we knew not) the Land ſeemed high and Rockey, and the Sea continued ſtill very ſtormy and tempeſtuous, inſomuch as there ſeemed no hope of ſafety, but looked ſuddenly to periſh. As we grew near Land, perceiving no ſafety in the ſhip, which we looked would ſuddenly be beat in pieces: The Captain, my Maſter, and ſome others got into the long Boat, thinking by that means to ſave their lives, and preſently after all the Seamen caſt themſelves overboard, thinking to ſave their lives by ſwimming, onely myſelf my Maſters Daughters, the two Maids, and the Negro were left on board, for we could not ſwim; but thoſe that left us, might as well have tarried with us, for we ſaw them, or moſt of them periſh, our ſelves now ready after to follow their fortune, but God was pleaſed to ſpare our lives, as it were by miracle, though to further ſorrow; for when we came againſt the Rocks, our ſhip having endured two or three blows againſt the Rocks, (being now broken and quite foundred in the Waters), we having with much ado gotten our ſelves on the Bowſpright, which being broken off, was driven by the Waves into a ſmall Creek, wherein fell a little River, which being encompaſſed by the Rocks was ſheltered from the Wind, ſo that we had opportunity to land our ſelves, (though almoſt drowned) in all four perſons, beſides the Negro: when we were got upon the Rock, we could perceive the miſerable Wrack to our great terrour, I had in my {{9 }} pocket a little Tinder-box, and Steel, and Flint to ſtrike fire at any time upon occaſion, which ſerved now to good Purpoſe, for its being ſo cloſe, preſerved the Tinder dry, with this, and the help of ſome old rotten Wood which we got together, we kindled a fire and dryed our ſelves, which done, I left my female company, and went to ſee, if I could find any of our Ships company, that were eſcaped, but could hear of none, though I hooted, and made all the noiſe I could; neither could I perceive the foot-ſteps of any living Creature (ſave a few Birds, and other Fowls). At length it drawing towards the Evening, I went back to my company, who were very much troubled for want of me. I being now all their ſtay in this loſt condition, we were at firſt afraid that the wild people of the Countrey might find us out, although we ſaw no footſteps of any, not ſo much as a Path; the Woods round about being full of Briers and Brambles, we alſo ſtood in fear of wild Beaſts, of ſuch alſo we ſaw none, nor ſign of any: But above all, and that we had greateſt reaſon to fear, was to be ſtarved to death for want of Food, but God had otherwiſe provided for us, as you ſhall know hereafter; this done, we ſpent our time in getting ſome broken pieces of Boards, and Planks, and ſome of the Sails and Rigging on ſhore for ſhelter; I ſet up two or three Poles, and drew two or three of the Cords and Lines from Tree to Tree, over which throwing ſome Sail-cloathes, and having gotten Wood by us, and three or four Sea-gowns, which we had dryed, we took up our Lodging for that night altogether (the Blackmoor being left ſenſible then the reſt we made our Centry) we ſlept ſoundly that night, as having not ſlept in three or four nights before (our fears of what happened preventing us) neither could our hard lodging, fear, and danger hinder us we were ſo over wacht. {{10 }}
On the morrow, being well refreſht with ſleep, the winde ceaſed, and the weather was very warm; we went down the Rocks on the ſands at low water, where we found great part of our lading, either on shore or floating near it. I by the help of my company, dragged moſt of it on ſhore; what was too heavy for us broke, and we unbound the Casks and Cherts, and, taking out the goods, ſecured all; ſo that we wanted no clothes, nor any other proviſion neceſſary for Houſekeeping, to furniſh a better houſe than any we were like to have; but no victuals (the laſt water having ſpoiled all) only one Cask of bisket, being lighter than the reſt was dry; this ſerved for bread a while, and we found on Land a ſort of fowl about the bigneſs of a Swan, very heavie and fat, that by reaſon of their weight could not fly, of theſe we found little difficulty to kill, ſo that was our preſent food; we carried out of England certain Hens and Cocks to eat by the way, ſome of theſe when the ſhip was broken, by ſome means got to land, & bred exceedingly, ſo that in the future they were a great help unto us; we found alſo, by a little River, in the flags, ſtore of eggs, of a ſort of foul much like our Ducks, which were very good meat, ſo that we wanted nothing to keep us alive.
On the morrow, which was the third day, as ſoon as it was morning, ſeeing nothing to diſturb us, I lookt out a convenient place to dwell in, that we might build us a Hut to ſhelter us from the weather, and from any other danger of annoyance, from wild beaſts (if any ſhould finde us out: So cloſe by a large ſpring which roſe out of a high hill over-looking the Sea, on the ſide of a wood, having a proſpect towards the Sea) by the help of an Ax and ſome other implements (for we had all neceſſaries, the working of the Sea, having caſt up moſt of our goods) I cut down all the ſtraighteſt poles I could find, and which were enough {{11 }} for my purpoſe, by the help of my company (neceſſity being our Maſter) I digged holes in the earth ſetting my poles at an equl diſtance, and nailing the broken boards of the Caskes, Cherts, and Cabins, and ſuch like to them, making my door to the Seaward, and having covered the top, with ſail-clothes ſtrain'd and nail'd, I in the ſpace of a week had made a large Cabbin big enough to hold all our goods and our ſelves in it, I alſo placed our Hamocks for lodging, purpoſing (if it pleaſed God to ſend any Ship that way) we might be tranſported home, but it never came to paſs, the place, wherein we were (as I conceived) being much out of the way.
We having now lived in this manner full four months, and not ſo much as ſeeing or hearing of any wild people, or of any of our own company, more then our ſelves (they being found now by experience to be all drowned) and the place, as we after found, being a large Iſland, and diſjoyned, and out of fight of any other Land, was wholly uninhabited by any people, neither was there any hurtful beaſt to annoy us: But on the contrary the countrey ſo very pleaſant, being always clothed with green, and full of pleaſant fruits, and variety of birds, ever warm, and never colder then in England in September: So that this place (had it the culture, that skilful people might beſtow on it) would prove a Paradiſe.
The Woods afforded us a ſort of Nuts, as big as a large Apple, whoſe kernel being pleaſant and dry, we made uſe of inſtead of bread, that fowl before mentioned, and a ſort of water-fowl like Ducks, and their eggs, and a beaſt about the ſize of a Goat, and almoſt ſuch a like creature, which brought two young ones at a time, and that twice a year, of which the Low Lands and Woods were very full, being a very harmleſs creature and tame, ſo that we could eaſily {{12 }} take and kill them: Fiſh, alſo, eſpecially Shell-fiſh (which we could beſt come by) we had great ſtore of, ſo that in effect as to Food we wanted nothing; and thus, and by ſuch like helps, we continued ſix moneths without any diſturbance or want.
Idleneſs and Fulneſs of every thing begot in me a deſire of enjoying the women, beginning now to grow more familiar, I had perſwaded the two Maids to let me lie with them, which I did at firſt in private, but after, cuſtome taking away ſhame (there being none but us) we did it more openly, as our Luſts gave us liberty; afterwards my Maſters Daughter was content alſo to do as we did; the truth is, they were all handſome Women, when they had Cloathes, and well ſhaped, feeding well. For we wanted no Food, and living idlely, and ſeeing us at Liberty to do our wills, without hope of ever returning home made us thus bold: One of the firſt of my Comforts with whom I firſt accompanined (the talleſt and handſomeſt) proved preſently with child, the ſecond was my Maſters Daughter, and the other alſo not long after fell into the ſame condition: none now remaining but my Negro, who ſeeing what we did, longed alſo for her ſhare; one Night, I being aſleep, my Negro, (with the consent of the others) got cloſe to me, thinking it being dark, to beguile me, but I awaking and feeling her, and perceiving who it was, yet willing to try the difference, ſatisſied my ſelf with her, as well as with one of the reſt: that night, although the firſt time, she proved alſo with child, ſo that in the year of our being here, all my women were with child by me, and they all coming at different ſeaſons, were a great help to one another.
The firſt brought me a brave Boy, my Maſters Daughter was the youngeſt, ſhe brought me a Girl, ſo did the other {{13 }} Maid, who being ſomething fat ſped worſe at her labour: the Negro had no pain at all, brought me a fine white Girl, ſo I had one Boy and three Girls, the Women were ſoon well again, and the two firſt with child again before the two laſt were brought to bed, my cuſtome being not to lie with any of them after they were with child, till others were ſo likewiſe, and not with the black at all after ſhe was with child, which commonly was at the firſt time I lay with her, which was in the night and not elſe, my ſtomach would not ſerve me, although ſhe was one of the handſomeſt Blacks I had ſeen, and her children as comly as any of the reſt; we had no clothes for them, and therefore when they had ſuckt, we laid them in Moſſe to ſleep, and took no further care of them, for we knew, when they were gone more would come, the Women never failing once a year at leaſt, and none of the Children (for all the hardſhip we put them to) were ever ſick; ſo that wanting now nothing but Cloathes, nor them much neither, other than for decency, the warmth of the Countrey and Cuſtome ſupplying that Defect, we were now well ſatisſied with our condition, our Family beginning to grow large, there being nothing to hurt us, we many times lay abroad on Moſſey Banks, under the ſhelter of ſome Trees, or ſuch like (for having nothing elſe to do) I had made me ſeveral Arbors to ſleep in with my Women in the heat of the day, in theſe I and my women paſſed the time away, they being never willing to be out of my company.
And having now no thought of ever returning home, as having reſolved and ſworn each to other, never to part or leave one another, or the place; having by my ſeveral wives, forty ſeven Children, Boys and Girls, but moſt Girls, and growing up apace, we were all of us very fleſhly, the Country ſo well agreeing with us, that we never ailed any thing; {{14 }} my Negro having had twelve, was the firſt that left bearing, ſo I never medled with her more: My Maſters Daughter (by whom I had moſt children, being the youngeſt and handſomeſt) was moſt fond of me, and I of her. Thus we lived for ſixteen years, till perceiving my eldeſt Boy to mind the ordinary work of Nature, by ſeeing what we did, I gave him a Mate, and ſo I did to all the reſt, as faſt as they grew up, and were capable: My Wives having left bearing, my children began to breed apace, ſo we were like to be a multitude; My firſt Wife brought me thirteen children, my ſecond ſeven, my Maſters Daughter fifteen, and the Negro twelve, in all forty ſeven.
After we had lived there twenty two years, my Negro died ſuddenly, but I could not perceive any thing that ailed her; moſt of my children being grown, as faſt as we married them, I ſent them and placed them over the River by themſelves ſeverally, becauſe we would not peſter one another; and now they being all grown up, and gone, and married after our manner (except ſome two or three of the youngeſt) for (growing my ſelf into years) I liked not the wanton annoyance of young company.
Thus having lived to the fiftieth year of my age, and the fortieth of my coming thither, at which time I ſent for all of them to bring their children, and there were in number deſcended from me by theſe four Women, of my Children, Grand-children, and great Grand-children, five hundred ſixty five of both ſorts, I took off the Males of one Family, and married them to the Females of another, not letting any to marry their ſiſters, as we did formerly out of neceſſity, ſo bleſſing God for his Providence and goodneſs, I diſmiſt them, I having taught ſome of my children to read formerly, for I had left ſtill the Bible, I charged it ſhould be read once a moneth at {{15 }} a general meeting: At laſt one of my Wives died being ſixty eight years of age, which I buried in a place, ſet out on purpoſe, and within a year after another, ſo I had none now left but my Maſters Daughter, and we lived together twelve years longer, at length ſhe died alſo, ſo I buried her alſo next the place where I purpoſed to be buried my ſelf, and the tall Maid my firſt Wife next me on the other ſide, the Negro next without her, and the other Maid next my Maſters Daughter. I had now nothing to mind, but the place whether I was to go, being very old, almoſt eighty years, I gave my Cabin and Furniture that was left to my eldeſt ſon after my deceaſe, who had married my eldeſt Daughter by my beloved Wife, whom I made King and Governour of all the reſt: I informed them of the Manners of Europe, and charged them to remember the Chriſtian Religion, after the manner of them that ſpake the ſame Language, and to admit no other; if hereafter any should come and find them out.
And now once for all, I ſummoned them to come to me, that I might number them, which I did, and found the eſtimate to contain in or about the eightieth year of my age, and the fifty ninth of my coming there; in all, of all ſorts, one thouſand ſeven hundred eighty and nine. Thus praying God to multiply them, and lend them the true light of the Goſpel, I laſt of all diſmiſt them: For, being now very old, and my ſight decayed, I could not expect to live long. I gave this Narration (written with my own hand) to my eldeſt Son, who now lived with me, commanding him to keep it, and if any ſtrangers ſhould come hither by chance, to let them ſee it, and take a Copy of it if they would, that our name be not loſt from off the earth. I gave this people (deſcended from me) the name of the ENGLISH PINES, George Pine being my {{16 }} name, and my Maſters Daughters name Sarah Engliſh, my two other Wives were Mary Sparkes, and Elizabeth Trevor, ſo their ſeverall Defendants are called the ENGLISH, the SPARKS, and the TREVORS, and the PHILLS, from the Chriſtian Name of the Negro, which was Philippa, ſhe having no ſurname: And the general name of the whole the ENGLISH PINES; vvhom God bleſs vvith the dew of Heaven, and the fat of the Earth, AMEN.{1}
1 Here ended the first part.
After the reading and delivering unto us a Coppy of this Relation, then proceeded he on in his diſcourſe.
My Grandfather when he wrote this, was as you hear eighty yeares of age, there proceeding from his Loyns one thouſand ſeven hundred eighty nine children, which he had by them four women aforeſaid: My Father was his eldeſt ſon, and was named Henry, begotten of his wife Mary Sparkes, whom he apointed chief Governour and Ruler over the reſt; and having given him a charge not to exerciſe tyranny over them, ſeeing they were his fellow brethren by Fathers ſide (of which there could be no doubt made of double dealing therein) exhorting him to uſe juſtice and ſincerity amongſt them, and not to let Religion die with him, but to obſerve and keep thoſe Precepts which he had taught them, he quietly ſurrendred up his ſoul, and was buried with great lamentation of all his children.
My father coming to rule, and the people growing more populous, made them to range further in the diſcovery of the Countrey, which they found anſwerable to their deſires, full both of Fowls and Beaſts, and thoſe too not hurtful to mankinde, as if this Country (on which we were by providence caſt without arms or other weapons to defend our ſelves, or offend others,) ſhould by the ſame providence be ſo inhabited as not to have any need of ſuch like weapons of deſtruction wherewith to preſerve our lives. {{17 }}
But as it is impoſſible, but that in multitudes diſorders will grow, the ſtronger ſeeking to oppreſs the weaker; no tye of Religion being ſtrong enough to chain up the depraved nature of mankinde, even ſo amongſt them miſchiefs began to riſe, and they ſoon fell from thoſe good orders preſcribed them by my Grandfather. The ſource from whence thoſe miſchiefs ſpring, was at firſt, I conceive, the neglect of hearing the Bible read, which according to my Grandfathers proſcription, was once a moneth at a general meeting, but now many of them wandring far up into the Country, they quite neglected the coming to it, with all other means of Chriſtian inſtruction, whereby the ſence of ſin being quite loſt in them, they fell to whoredoms, inceſts, and adulteries; ſo that what my Grandfather was forced to do for neceſſity, they did for wantonneſs; nay not confining themſelves within the bound of any modeſty, but brother and ſiſter lay openly together; thoſe who would not yield to their lewd embraces, were by force ravished, yea many times endangered of their lives. To redreſs thoſe enormities, my father aſſembled all the Company near unto him, to whom he declared the wickedneſs of thoſe their brethren; who all with one conſent agreed that they ſhould be ſeverely puniſhed; and ſo arming themſelves with boughs, ſtones, and ſuch like weapons, they marched againſt them, who having notice of their coming, and fearing their deſerved puniſhment, ſome of them fled into woods, others paſſed over a great River, which runneth through the heart of our Countrey, hazarding drowning to eſcape puniſhment; But the grandeſt offender of them all was taken, whole name was John Phill, the ſecond ſon of the Negro-woman that came with my Grandfather into this Iſland.
He being proved guilty of divers raviſhings & tyrannies committed by him, {{18 }} was adjudged guilty of death, and accordingly was thrown down from a high Rock into the Sea, where he periſhed in the waters. Execution being done upon him, the reſt were pardoned for what was paſt, which being notified abroad, they returned from thoſe Defait and Obſcure places, wherein they were hidden.
Now as Seed being caſt into ſtinking Dung produceth good and wholeſome Corn for the Indentation of mans life, ſo bad manners produceth good and wholeſome Laws for the preſervation of Humane Society. Soon after my Father with the advice of ſome few others of his Counſel, ordained and ſet forth theſe Laws to be obſerved by them.
1. That whoſoever ſhould blaſpheme or talk irreverently of the name of God ſhould be put to death.
2. That who ſhould be abſent from the monethly aſſembly to hear the Bible read, without ſufficient cauſe ſhown to the contrary, ſhould for the firſt default be kept without any victuals or drink, for the ſpace of four days, and if he offend therein again, then to ſuffer death.
3. That who should force or raviſh any Maid or Woman should be burnt to death, the party ſo raviſhed putting fire to the wood that should burn him.
4. Whoſoever shall commit adultery, for the firſt crime the Male shall loſe his Privities, and the Woman have her right eye bored out, if after that she was again taken in the act, she should die without mercy.
5. That who ſo injured his Neighbour, by laming of his {{19 }} Limbs, or taking any thing away which he poſſeſſeth, ſhall ſuffer in the ſame kind himſelf by loſs of Limb; and for defrauding his Neighbour, to become ſervant to him, whilſt he had made him double ſatiſfaction.
6. That, who should defame or ſpeak evil of the Governour, or refuſe to come before him upon Summons, ſhould receive a puniſhment by whipping with Rods, and afterwards be exploded from the ſociety of the reſt of the inhabitants.
Having ſet forth theſe Laws, he choſe four ſeveral perſons under him to ſee them put in Execution, whereof one was of the Engliſhes, the Off-ſpring of Sarah Engliſh; another of his own Tribe, the Sparks; a third of the Trevors, and the fourth of the Phills, appointing them every year at a certain time to appear before him, and give an account of what they had done in the proſecution of thoſe Laws.
The Countrey being thus ſettled, my father lived quiet and peaceable till he attained to the age of ninety and four years, when dying, I ſucceeded in his place, in which I have continued peaceably and quietly till this very preſent time.
He having ended his Speech, we gave him very heartily thanks for our information, aſſuring him we should not be wanting to him in any thing which lay in our powers, wherewith we could pleaſure him in what he ſhould deſire, and thereupon preferred to depart, but before our going away, he would needs engage us to ſee him, the next day, when was to be their great aſſembly or monethly meeting for the celebration of their Religious Exerciſes.
Accordingly the next day we came thither again, and were courteouſly entertained as before, In a ſhort ſpace there was gathered ſuch a multitude of people together as made us to {{20 }} admire; and firſt there were ſeveral Weddings celebrated, the manner whereof was thus. The Bridegroom and Bride appeared before him who was their Prieſt or Reader of the Bible, together with the Parents of each party, or if any of their Parents were dead, then the next relation unto them, without whoſe conſent as well as the parties to be married, the Prieſt will not joyn them together; but being ſatisſied in thoſe particulars, after ſome ſhort Oraizons, and joyning of hands together, he pronounces them to be man and wife: and with exhortations to them to live lovingly towards each other, and quietly towards their neighbors, he concludes with ſome prayers, and ſo diſmiſſes them.
The Weddings being finiſhed, all the people took their places to hear the Word read, the new married perſons having the honour to be next unto the Prieſt that day, after he had read three or four Chapters he fell to expounding the moſt difficult places therein, the people being very attentive all that while, this exerciſe continued for two or three hours, which being done, with ſome few prayers he concluded, but all the reſt of that day was by the people kept very ſtrictly, abſtaining from all manner of playing or paſtimes, with which on other dayes they uſe to paſs their time away, as having need of nothing but victuals, and that they have in ſuch plenty as almoſt provided to their hands.
Their exerciſes of Religion being over, we returned again to our Ship, and the next day, taking with us two or three Fowling-pieces leaving half our Company to guard the Ship, the reſt of us reſolved to go up higher into the Country for a further diſcovery: All the way as we paſſed the firſt morning, we ſaw abundance of little Cabbins or Huts of theſe inhabitants, made under Trees, and faſhioned up with boughs, graſs, {{21 }} and ſuch like ſtuffe to defend them from the Sun and Rain; and as we went along, they came out of them much wondering at our Attire, and ſtanding aloof off from us as if they were afraid, but our companion that ſpake English, calling to them in their own Tongue, and giving them good words, they drew nigher, ſome of them freely proffering to go along with us, which we willingly accepted; but having paſſed ſome few miles, one of our company eſpying a Beaſt like unto a Goat come gazing on him, he diſcharged his Peece, ſending a brace of Bullets into his belly, which brought him dead upon the ground; these poor naked unarmed people hearing the noiſe of the Peece, and ſeeing the Beaſt lie tumbling in his gore, without ſpeaking any words betook them to their heels, running back again as fast as they could drive, nor could the perſwaſions of our Company, aſſuring them they ſhould have no hurt, prevail anything at all with them, ſo that we were forced to paſs along without their company: all the way that we went we heard the delightful harmony of ſinging Birds, the ground very fertile in Trees, Graſs, and ſuch flowers, as grow by the production of Nature, without the help of Art; many and ſeveral ſorts of Beads we ſaw, who were not ſo much wild as in other Countries; whether it were as having enough to ſatiate themſelves without ravening upon others, or that they never before ſaw the ſight of man, nor heard the report of murdering Guns, I leave it to others to determine. Some Trees bearing wild Fruits we alſo ſaw, and of thoſe ſome whereof we tailed, which were neither unwholſome nor diſtaſteful to the Pallate, and no queſtion had but Nature here the benefit of Art added unto it, it would equal, if not exceed many of our European Countries; the Vallyes were every where intermixt with running ſtreams, and no queſtion but the earth {{22 }} hath in it rich veins of Minerals, enough to ſatiſfie the deſires of the moſt covetous.
It was very ſtrange to us, to ſee that in ſuch a fertile Countrey which was as yet never inhabited, there ſhould be notwithſtanding ſuch a free and clear paſſage to us, without the hinderance of Buſhes, Thorns, and ſuch like fluff, wherewith moſt Iſlands of the like nature are peſtered: the length of the Graſs (which yet was very much intermixt with flowers) being the only impediment that we found.
Six dayes together did we thus travel, ſetting ſeveral marks in our way as we went for our better return, not knowing whether we ſhould have the benefit of the Stars for our guidance in our going back, which we made uſe of in our paſſage: at laſt we came to the vaſt Ocean on the other ſide of the Iſland, and by our coaſting it, conceive it to be of an oval form, only here and there ſhooting forth with ſome Promontories. I conceive it hath but few good Harbours belonging to it, the Rocks in moſt places making it inacceſſible. The length of it may be about two hundred, and the breadth one hundred miles, the whole in circumference about five hundred miles.
It lyeth about ſeventy ſix degrees of Longitude, and twenty of Latitude, being ſcituate under the third Climate, the longeſt day being about thirteen hours and fourty five minutes. The weather, as in all Southern Countries, is far more hot than with us in Europe; but what is by the Sun parched in the day, the night again refreſhes with cool pearly dews. The Air is found to be very healthful by the long lives {{23 }} of the preſent inhabitants, few dying there till ſuch time as they come to good years of maturity, many of them arriving to the extremity of old age.
And now ſpeaking concerning the length of their Lives, I think it will not be amiſſe in this place to ſpeak ſomething of their Burials, which they uſed to do thus.
When the party was dead, they ſtuck his Carkaſs all over with flowers, and after carried him to the place appointed for Burial, where ſetting him down, (the Prieſt having given ſome godly Exhortations concerning the frailty of life) then do they take ſtones (a heap being provided there for that purpoſe) and the neareſt of the kin begins to lay the firſt ſtone upon him, afterwards the reſt follows, they never leaving till they have covered the body deep in ſtones, ſo that no Beaſt can poſſibly come to him, and this firſt were they forced to make, having no Spades or Shovels wherewith to dig them Graves; which want of theirs we eſpying, beſtowed a Pick-ax and two Shovels upon them.
Here might I add their way of Chriſtening Children, but that being little different from yours in ENGLAND, and taught them by GEORGE PINES at firſt which they have ſince continued, I ſhall therefore forbear to ſpeak thereof.
After our return back from the diſcovery of the Countrey, the Wind not being fit for our purpoſe, and our men alſo willing thereto, we got all our cutting Inſtruments on Land, and {{24 }} fell to hewing down of Trees, with which, in a little time,(many hands making light work) we built up a Pallace for this William Pines the Lord of that Countrey; which, though much inferiour to the houſes of your Gentry in England. Yet to them which never had ſeen better, it appeared a very Lordly Place. This deed of ours was beyond expreſſion acceptable unto him, load-ing us with thanks for ſo great a benefit, of which he ſaid he ſhould never be able to make a requital.
And now acquainting him, that upon the firſt opportunity we were reſolved to leave the Iſland, as alſo how that we were near Neighbours to the Countrey of England, from whence his Anceſtors came; he ſeemed upon the news to be much diſcontented that we would leave him, deſiring, if it might ſtand with our commodity to continue ſtill with him, but ſeeing he could not prevail, he invited us to dine with him the next day, which we promiſed to do, againſt which time he provided, very ſumptuouſly (according to his eſtate) for us, and now was he attended after a more Royal manner than ever we ſaw him before, both for number of Servants, and multiplicity of Meat, on which we fed very heartily; but he having no other Beverage for us to drink, then water, we fetched from our Ship a Caſe of Brandy, preſenting ſome of it to him to drink, but when he had taſted of it, he would by no means be perſwaded to touch thereof again, preferring (as he ſaid) his own Countrey Water before all ſuch Liquors whatſoever.
After we had Dined, we were invited out into the Fields to behold their Country Dauncing, which they did with great agility of body; and though they had no other then only {{25 }} Vocal Muſick (ſeveral of them ſinging all that while) yet did they trip it very neatly, giving ſufficient ſatiſfaction to all that beheld them.
The next day we invited the Prince William Pines aboard our Ship, where was nothing wanting in what we could to entertain him, he had about a dozen of Servants to attend on him he much admired at the Tacklings of our Ship, but when we came to diſcharge a piece or two of Ordnance, it struck him into a wonder and amazement to behold the ſtrange effects of Powder; he was very ſparing in his Diet, neither could he, or any of his followers be induced to drink any thing but Water: We there preſented him with ſeveral things, as much as we could ſpare, which we thought would any wayes conduce to their benefit, all which he very gratefully received, aſſuring us of his real love and good will, whenſoever we ſhould come thither again.
And now we intended the next day to take our leaves, the Wind ſtanding fair, blowing with a gentle Gale South and by Eaſt, but as we were hoiſting of our Sails, and weighing Anchor, we were ſuddenly Allarm'd with a noiſe from the ſhore, the Prince, W. Pines imploring our aſſiſtance in an Inſurection which had happened amongſt them, of which this was the cauſe.
Henry Phil, the chief Ruler of the Tribe or Family of the Phils, being the Offſpring of George Pines which he had by the Negro-woman; this man had raviſhed the Wife of one of the principal of the Family of the Trevors, which act being made known, the Trevors aſſembled themſelves all together to bring the offender unto Juſtice: But he knowing his crime to be ſo great, as extended to the loſs of life: fought to defend that {{26 }} by force, which he had as unlawfully committed, whereupon the whole Iſland was in a great hurly burly, they being too great Potent Factions, the bandying of which againſt each other, threatned a general ruin to the whole State.
The Governour William Pines had interpoſed in the matter, but found his Authority too weak to repreſs ſuch Diſorders; for where the Hedge of Government is once broken down, the moſt vile bear the greateſt rule, whereupon he deſired our aſſiſtance, to which we readily condeſcended, and arming out twelve of us went on Shore, rather as to a ſurprize than fight, for what could nakedneſs do to encounter with Arms. Being conducted by him to the force of our Enemy, we firſt entered into parley, ſeeking to gain them rather by fair means then force, but that not prevailing, we were neceſitated to uſe violence, for this Henry Phill being of an undaunted reſolution, and having armed his fellows with Clubs and Stones, they ſent ſuch a Peal amongſt us, as made us at the firſt to give back, which encouraged them to follow us on with great violence, but we diſcharging off three or four Guns, when they ſaw ſome of themſelves wounded, and heard the terrible reports which they gave, they ran away with greater ſpeed then they came. The Band of the Trevors who were joyned with us, hotly purſued them, and having taken their Captain, returned with great triumph to their Governour, who fitting in Judgment upon him, he was adjudged to death, and thrown off a ſteep Rock into the Sea, the only way they have of puniſhing any by death, except burning.
And now at laſt we took our ſolemn leaves of the Governour, and departed from thence, having been there in all, the ſpace of three weeks and two dayes, we took with us good ſtore of the fleſh of a Beaſt which they call there Reval, being {{27 }} in taſte different either from Beef or Swines-fleſh, yet very delightful to the Pallate, and exceeding nutrimental. We took alſo with us alive, divers Fowls which they call Marde, about the bigneſs of a Pullet, and not different in taſte, they are very ſwift of flight, and yet ſo fearleſs of danger, that they will ſtand ſtill till ſuch time as you catch them: We had alſo ſent us in by the Governour about two buſhels of eggs, which as I conjecture were the Mards eggs, very luſious in taſte, and ſtrenthening to the body.
June 8. We had a ſight of Cambaia, a part of the Eaſt Indies, but; under the Government of the great Cham of Tartary here our Veſſel ſpringing a leak, we were forced to put to Chore, receiving much dammage in ſome of our Commodities; we were forced to ply the Pump for eighteen hours together, which, had that miſcarried, we had inevitably have periſhed; here we ſtai'd five dayes mending our Ship, and drying ſome of our Goodss and then hoiſting Sail, in four days time more we came to Calecute.
This Calecute is the chief Mart Town and Staple of all the Indian Traffique, it is very populous, and frequented by Merchants of all Nations. Here we unladed a great part of our Goods, and taking in others, which cauſed us to ſtay there a full Moneth, during which ſpace, at leiſure times I went abroad to take a ſurvey of the City, which I found to be large and populous, lying for three miles together upon the Sea-shore. Here is a great many of thoſe perſons whom thy call Brackmans, being their Prieſts or Teachers whom they much reverence. It is a cuſtome here for the King to give to ſome of thoſe Brachmain, the handelling of his Nuptial Bed; for which cauſe, not the Kings, but the Kings ſisters ſons ſucceed in the Kingdom, as being more certainly known to be of the true Royal blood: And theſe ſisters of his chooſe what Gentleman they {{28 }} pleaſe on whom to beſtow their Virginities; and if they prove not in a certain time to be with child, they betake themſelves to theſe Brachman Stalions, who never fail of doing their work.
The people are indifferently civil and ingenious, both men and women imitate a Majeſty in their Train and Apparel, which they ſweeten, with Oyles and Perfumes: adorning themſelves with Jewels and other Ornaments befitting each Rank and Quality of them.
They have many odd Cuſtoms amongſt them which they observe very ſtrictly; as firſt, not knowing their Wives after they have born them two children: Secondly, not accompanying them, if after five years cohabition they can raiſe no iſſue by them, but taking others in their rooms: Thirdly, never being rewarded for any Military exploit, unleſs they bring with them an enemies Head in their Hand, but that which is ſtrangeſt, and indeed moſt barbarous, is that when any of their friends falls ſick, they will rather chuſe to kill him, then that he ſhould be withered by ſickneſs.
Thus you ſee there is little employment there for Doctors, when to be ſick, is the next wan for to be ſlain, or perhaps the people may be of the mind rather to kill themſelves, then to let the Doctors do it.
Having diſpatched our buſineſs, and ſraighted again our Ship, we left Calecute, and put forth to Sea, and coaſted along several of the Iſlands belonging to India, at Camboia I met with our old friend Mr. David Prire, who was overjoyed to ſee me, to whom I related our Diſcovery of the Iſland of Pines, in the ſame manner as I have related it to you; he was then but newly recovered of a Feaver, the Air of that place not being agreeable to him; here we took in good ſtore of Aloes, and ſome other Commodities, and victualled our Ship for our return home. {{29 }}
After four dayes failing we met with two Portugal Ships which came from Lisbon, one whereof had in a ſtorm loſt its Top-maſt, and was forced in part to be towed by the other. We had no bad weather in eleven dayes ſpace, but then a ſudden ſtorm of Wind did us much harm in our Tacklings, and ſwept away one of our Sailors off from the Fore Caſtle. November the ſixth had like to have been a fatal day unto us, our Ship ſtriking twice upon a Rock, and at night was in danger of being fired by the negligence of a Boy, leaving a Candle careleſly in the Gun-room; the next day we were chafed by a Pyrate Argiere, but by the ſwiftneſs of our Sails we out ran him. December the firſt we came again to Madagaſcar, where we put in for a freſh recruit of Victuals and Water.
During our abode here, there hapned a very great Earthquake, which tumbled down many Houſes; The people of themſelves are very Unhoſpitable and Treacherous, hardly to to be drawn to Traffique with any people; and now, this calamitie happening upon them, ſo enraged them againſt the Chriſtians, imputing all luch calamities to the cauſe of them, that they fell upon ſome Portugais and wounded them, and we ſeeing their miſchievous Actions, with all the ſpeed we could put forth to Sea again, and ſailed to the Island of St. Hellens.
Here we ſtayed all the Chriſmas Holy-dayes, which was vere much celebrated by the Governour there under the King of Spain. Here we furniſhed ourſelves with all neceſſaries which we wanted; but upon our departure, our old acquaintance Mr. Petrus Ramazina, coming in a Skiff out of the Iſle del Principe, or the Princes Iſland, retarded our going for the ſpace of two dayes, for both my ſelf and our Purſer had Emergent buſineſs with him, he being concerned in thoſe Affairs of which I wrote to you in April laſt: Indeed we cannot but {{30 }} acknowledge his Courteſies unto us, of which you know he is never ſparing. January the firſt, we again hoiſted Sail, having a fair and proſperous gail of Wind, we touched at the Canaries, but made no tarriance, deſirous now to ſee our Native Countrey; but the Winds was very croſs unto us for the ſpace of a week, at laſt we were ſavoured with a gentle Gale, which brought us on merrily; though we were on a ſudden ſtricken again into a dump; a Sailor from the main Maſt diſcovering five Ships, which put us all in a great fear, we being Richly Laden, and not very well provided for Defence; but they bearing up to us, we found them to be Zealanders and our Friends; after many other paſſages concerning us, not ſo much worthy of Note, we at laſt ſafele arrived at home, May 26. 1668.
Thus Sir, have I given you a brief, but true Relation of our Voyage, Which I was the more willing to do, to prevent falſe Copies which might be ſpread of this nature: As for the Iſland of Pines it ſelf, which cauſed me to Write this Relation, I ſuppoſe it is a thing ſo ſtrange as will hardly be credited by ſome, although perhaps knowing perſons, eſpecially conſidering our laſt age being ſo full of Discoveries, that this Place ſhould lie Dormant for ſo long a ſpace of time; Others I know, ſuch.
Nullifidians as will believe nothing but what they ſee, applying that Proverb unto us, That travelers may lye by authority. But Sir, in writing to you, I queſtion not but to give Credence, you knowing my diſpoſition ſo hateful to divulge Falſities; I ſhall requeſt you to impart this my Relation to Mr. W. W. and Mr. P. L. remembring me very kindly unto them, not forgetting my old acquaintance, Mr. J. P. and Mr. J. B. no more at preſent, but only my beſt respects to you and your ſecond ſelf I reſt,
Yours in the beſt of friendſhip,
Henry Cornelius Fan Sloetten.
July 22. 1668.{{31 }}
POST-SCRIPT:
ONE thing concerning the Iſle of Pines, I had almoſt quite forgot, we had with us an Iriſh man named Dermot Conelly who had formerly been in England, and had learned there to play on the Bag-pipes, which he carried to Sea with him; yet ſo un-Engliſhed he was, that he had quite forgotten your Language, but ſtill retained his Art of Bagpipe-playing, in which he took extraordinary delight; being one day on Land in the Iſle of Pines, he played on them, but to ſee the admiration of thoſe naked people concerning them, would have ſtriken you into admiration; long time it was before we could perſwade them that it was not a living creature, although they were permitted to touch and feel it, and yet are the people very intelligible, retaining a great part of the Ingenuity and Gallantry of the Engliſh Nation, though they have not that happy means to expreſs themſelves; in this reſpect we may account them fortunate, in that poſſeſſing little, they enjoy all things, as being contented with what they have, wanting thoſe alurements to miſchief, which our European Countries are enriched with. I ſhall not dilate any further, no queſtion but time will make this Iſland known better to the world; all that I ſhall ever ſay of it is, that it is a place enriched with Natures abundance, deficient in nothing conducible to the ſuſtentation of mans life, which were it Manured by Agriculture and Gardening, as other of our European Countries are, no queſtion but it would equal, if not exceed many which now paſs for praiſeworthy.
