The Isles of West Indies

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

IN the West-Indies as they call it, there are many Ilands some greater and some lesser. The greater are called S. Iohns Iland, Hispaniola, Cuba, Iamayca. The lesser are of two sorts, some of which are commonly call'd Stotavento situated Southward: the other called Barlovento doe lie Northward, and were first discoverd by Columbus. The chiefe of the Majorick Ilands is S. Iohns Iland,* 1.1 or the Rich-mans Haven, the length of it is 45. leagues, and the breadth of it 20. or 26. leagues, and hath abundance of all things which are in Hispaniola. It hath a wholesome ayre, and not too hot, for it rayneth there all our Summer time, namely, from the Moneth of May to September: in August there are cruell tempests, commonly called Huracanes, when the North winde spoyles that which hath beene sowed. There is a Towne in this Iland at the North side, situated Eastward in 18. degrees of Latitude. And it hath a Castle on a Hill, in which the Governour, and other publike officers doe dwell.* 1.2 The Inhabitants did call Hispaniola before the Spaniards came thither Haitij, it resembleth the leafe of a Chesnut Tree, being situate in 18. and 20. degrees Northward toward the Aequinoctiall Line. The compasse of it is 400. leagues, and it lyeth length-wayes from the East Westward. Heretofore it was full of native Inhabitants, very fruitfull, and devided into many Provinces, but now it is exhausted by the Spaniards tyranny. The Metropolis and head Towne thereof is S. Dominico, which Columbus called Nova Isabella, or new Isabell. There are also other lesse Townes, as Zeibo, Cotuy. The Silver Haven, Christs Mountaine, and also the Towne of S. Iames, and others which the Spaniards doe inhabit. The Iland Cuba followeth,* 1.3 which hath on the North Terra Florida, on the West New Spaine, on the South the Iland Iamayca, it is 200. leagues long, and 45. broad. The Metropolis is S. Iames his Towne, in which there is a Bishop, the next unto it is Havena, which hath a good Haven, and is the chiefe Towne for trading in the whole Iland, there are also other Townes, as Baracoa, Bayamo, or S. Saviours Towne. There is also Iamayca,* 1.4 which Columbus called S. Iames his Iland, the compasse of it is 120. leagues, and it is 50. long, and 25. broad. It is as fruitfull and pleasant as any other Iland, and the Inhabitants are sharpe witted. It hath two chiefe Townes Orestan, and Sevilla, in the latter there is a Church and Abbey. The lesser Ilands are devided into Leucayae and Cambales. The Leucajan Iles are those which looke Northward toward the rich Port, and the other greater Ilands. The Canibals lie South-West toward America, and the most of them are inhabited by Canibals, or Men-eaters, the names of these Ilands are these, Anegada, Anguilla, Antigua, Barbadoes, St. Bartholmews, St. Christophers, d'Esienda, S. Dominico, S. Estasia, Granada, Guadalupe, S. Lutia, the White Ilands, Maregalante, St. Martine, Mantinina, Montferrat, Redonda, Saba, S. Crucis, Sombrera All-Saints, S. Vincent, the Virgins Iland, and also the Ilands called the Bermudas from their first Discoverer, which lye in 33. degrees of Northerne Latitude, and are 3300. English miles in length, they have abundance of Cedar, and the English of late have begun to plant Tobacco in them.

THE Ilands Cuba, Hispaniola, Iam•ica, S. Iohns,* 1.1 and Saint Margarites, are next to be unfolded and described according to the order of our method.

The Iland Cuba was so called by the Inhabitants and the Spaniards doe call it Fernandina and Ioanna: also Alpha and Omega, if we beleeve Peter Martyr. On the West it is parted with the Sea from Iucatana, on the East with the Sea from Hispaniola,* 1.2 on the South is Iamaica. The length of it from the East to the West is 300. miles, or rather Spanish leagues, and it is 15. and in some places 20. in breadth. The Tropick of Cancer cutteth thorow the midst of it. Those that have seene Cuba doe liken it and resemble it to a Willow leafe, because it is longer than broad.* 1.3 The Country is very temperate▪ but in some places coulder, and it hath a kinde of course Gold, and it is very rich in Brasse. It bringeth forth great store of Madder for Dyers. Also great store of Sugar, Wheate, Corne, and other fruits, and Hearbes. Moreover it beareth Cassia, Ginger, Mastick, Aloes, and Cinamon. Serpents, of which there are a great number, are counted great dainties.* 1.4 And the woods doe breed and feed great store of Hogs and Oxen. It hath 6. Citties, the chiefe whereof are S Iames Towne and Havana, the former was built by Iames Valasius, and is a Bishops seate. It is the Mart Towne and Haven for the whole Iland: here the Kings Ships doe usually ride, untill the time of the yeere, and the winde standing faire, doe promise them a good voyage for Spaine. There are now some Galleyes in it which defend all the Coast from Enemies. This Iland hath many Gold-bearing Rivers, the water whereof is sweet and pleasant to drinke.* 1.5 It hath also many sweet and salt Lakes, so that there is plenty of Salt here. The Country is rugged, high, and Mountainous.* 1.6 And the Mountaines have veines of Gold in them. There is also in the same Iland a Mountaine not farre from the Sea, out of which there runneth good Pitch for Ships. Gonzalus Ovetanus doth describe another strange thing in this Iland. That there is a Valley between the Mountaines, that is, two or three Spanish miles long (the ancients did call it the Stone field as that in Gallia Narbonensis) which hath such a number of round stones, that many Ships might be loaden with them, being naturally made in such a Sphaericall round forme, that nothing can be made rounder with a paire of Compasses. The people of this Country are content with the bounty of nature,* 1.7 neither doe they know what belongs to mine, or thine, or money, but have all things in common, even as nature bestoweth the light of the Sunne and water on all men equally: therefore their Gardens are open and unfenced, and nature teacheth them that which is right without lawes. They went commonly naked. And in their marriages they observed a strange kinde of custome: for the Bridegroome did not lye with his Bride the first night, but if he were a Gentleman, a Gentleman did supply his place, but if the Bridegoome were a Merchant or Country-man, than a Mercbant or Country-man did supply their places. The men did repudiate and put away their Wives for any light cause. But the Women could not put away their Husbands for any cause: the men were very lustfull and obscene. The Spaniards found it well inhabited with people, but now it is inhabited onely by Spaniards, because the native Inhabitants are all dead partly by famine, and labour, and the veneriall disease, and besides after that Cortes had subdued and planted himselfe in this Iland, they carried the most part of the Inhabitants into new Spaine, so that there is scarcely one Indian now upon the whole Iland.

HISPANIOLA. (Book Hispanola)

• 1.1THe Inhabitants did heretofore call this Iland Haity, and Quisqueja, and afterward also it was called Cipangi. The Spaniards called it after their owne name Spaniola, or Hispaniola and from Dominick, St. Domingo,* 1.2 or St. Dominicks Ile: and built a Citty in honour of him, which is the chiefest Citty of the Iland. The compasse of this Iland is 1300. miles, or 350. leagues. The length is 500. miles, the breadth of it in respect of the many Bayes and Promontories is various and different.* 1.3 Peter Martyr calleth it the Mother of all other Ilands. The middle of the Iland is distant from the Aequinoctiall Line almost 19.* 1.4 degrees. It is long Northward, and the breadth of it is from East to West. It hath a temperate ayre, so that the trees are continually greene: and it is more pleasant and fruitfull than the rest. They say that here are Sugar Canes that are higher and thicker than any where else. Besides this is an Argument of the fertility thereof, for wheate being sowed yeeldeth an hundred fold increase. At Valentia in Spaine one Cane will scarcely fill 7. Pots: but in Hispaniola one Cane will fill 20. or 30. Moreover this Country doth yeeld Cassia, Ginger, Mastick, Aloes, and Cinamon. It hath also great store of Salt. There are rich Mines of Gold and Silver, and other Mineralls, especially of a blue kinde of colour. Before the Spaniards comming, there were onely three kindes of beasts,* 1.5 but now it is so stored with beasts that have beene brought thither, so that great store of Hides and Skins are yeerely transported from thence into Spaine. There are many Citties in this Iland, the chiefe is St. Dominico at the mouth of the River Ozama, where the Bishop and the Vice-Roy are resident. There are other lesse Citties, as St. Iohns, Meguma, Portus Platae, the Kings Porte, Canana, Xaragua, and others. For there are in this Iland many Rivers, Lakes, and Springs very full of Fish. But there are 7. great Rivers which affoord most pleasure and commodity to the Inhabitants, which running out of the high Rocks which are in the middle of the Iland, doe spread abroad divers wayes. Iuna runneth to the East, Attibunicus to the West, Iacchus to the North, Natabus to the South, and that the Iland is devided into foure parts. Moreover there is in Bainoa a great Lake, the Indians doe call it Hagveigabon, and we the Caspian Sea, which is enlarged every where with infinite Rivers, yet it never emptieth it selfe, but is devoured in its hollow Channell: it is conjectured that the spongie Rocks doe receive and let in the Sea-water by Subterranean passages, because many Sea Fishes are found there, and the water tasteth salt. Moreover there are other lesser salt Lakes in this Iland. And besides the aforesaid Lakes there is a great salt River which runneth into the Sea, although it receiveth many Rivers and Fountaines of fresh water.

IAMAICA· (Book Jamaica)

IAMAICA which they call now the Iland of St. Iames, lyeth 15. leagues Eastward from Hispaniola, and 16. degrees from the Aequinoctiall Line. On the North it is neere to Cuba. On the South it looketh to St. Bernards Ilands and Carthagena, on the West it hath Fordura.* 1.1 The compasse of it is 600. miles. This Country hath a pleasant temperate ayre, also it hath Gold, and great store of Sugar and Cotton,* 1.2 and also divers kindes of living Creatures. It had heretofore great store of Inhabitants, but now the Natives are either killed or dead, so that there are two Citties onely inhabited: the chiefe whereof is Sevill, or Hispalis, in which there is a Church and an Abbey, of which Peter Martyr Anglerius of Mediolanum was Primate, a man very diligent in handling the affaires of India. The other is called Oristan, here are many Rivers and Fishfull Lakes. The people doe differ in nothing, neither in Lawes, Rites, nor Customes, from those of Hispaniola, and Cuba, but onely it is reported that they were more cruell.

St. IOHNS Iland. (Book St. Johns Island)

• 1.1SAint Iohns Iland, commonly so called from the rich Haven, and heretofore called Borichena or Borica, hath on the East the Iland of the holy Crosse,* 1.2 and many small Ilands. On the West and the North the Iland of S. Dominico, on the South the Promontory of the maine Land, from whence it is distant 136. miles. The Iland lyeth length-wayes, and is 12. or 17. mile broad, and the greatest breadth of it is 48. Germane Miles. It hath abundance of Fruit, Cattell, and Gold. Moreover this Iland is devided into two parts, namely the Northerne and Southerne part. The Northerne hath great store of Gold: the Southerne hath plenty of fruit, and Fowle. The chiefe Citty in it is St. Iohns Citty, which hath a very good Haven.* 1.3 Here are some Rivers, among which Cairabonus is the greatest, which runneth Northward, and though they have all golden Sands, yet the Northerne side thereof as we said before, hath the best Mines. The Southerne part hath better Havens, and more fruit, it produceth Maiz, and other things necessary to life.

MARGARITA. (Book Margarita)

THe Iland Margarita, or the Iland of Pearles, is called by another name Cubagua, it is 10. miles in compasse, and it lyeth 10. degrees and▪ from the Aequinoctiall Line, being every where plaine and barren: having neither trees nor water. So that they want water so much, especially when the winde standeth contrary, so that nothing can be brought from Cumana, that sometimes a Hogshead of Wine is exchanged for a Hogshead of Water. It hath great store of Connies, Salt, and Fish. But especially it hath great store of Pearles. The Inhabitants are of a Swart colour, thinne hayred, and without Beards, fierce and cruell. They feed on Oysters, out of which Pearles are gotten.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

The Caribby Isles, or the Antilles.

UNder the Name of Antilles are generally known, all the Islands of the North Sea which are between Florida, New Spain, and the Firm-Land of Southern America.

The Luccayes, seem to be so called from that of Lucayonequo. Bahama gives its name there to a Channel wondrously rapid from the South to the North, and famous at present for the passage of the Spanish Fleets in their return from Mexico, and from the Terra Firma of America in Europe. Bimini which is a place of no easie access, by reason of the Flats and Rocks thereabouts, has had the renown of having a Fountain which made people young again, because the Women there were extraordinary Beautiful, and that for their sakes several Men went to dwell there. Guanahani is that which was first spyed out by Columbus, who called it San. Salvador, by reason it was the cause of saving him from the Conspiracy of his Men, who a little before would have cast him into the Sea, as not in their mind meeting soon enough with those Lands, whereof he had given them such hopes.

Hispagniola [otherwise Saint Domingo] is the first Country in the New World, where the Spaniards built Towns and Fortresses. It has abundance of Cattle, Hides, Cassia, Sugar, and Ginger, Cocheneal, Guiacum, and other Herbs for Physick and Dying. It has Mines, from whence came the first and finest Gold of America; Here was found that rare piece of Gold which weighed full thirty seven pound, and was lost in the way when it was bringing to Spain. It has little Birds called Cuyeros, which gives such a light in the night time, that by it one may see ones way plainly, and hunt, & fish, & read and write; and the Priests make use of them by night instead of Candles to read in their Breviaries. Amongst the fish that are taken upon that Coast, there is the Manate, which is a Sea Calf above twenty foot long: the Revers which is very small, and serves to catch Fish of another sort, by fastening them on the thorns of its back. St. Domingo, the Metropolis of the Isle Hispaniola, drove formerly a more considerable Trade than it does at present: The French have possessed the most Western part of this Island, where they have a great number of Buccaniers, as well as the little Island la Tortue, which is near it; this has made the Spaniards change the Course they held when they returned into Spain. Cuba is more fertil and temperate than Hispaniola. It has Parrots, Partridges, Turtles, and Gold sand in its Rivers; for which reason, some Authors have placed here the Country of Ophir, from whence Solomon sent for his Gold.

One of the Caciques or petty Kings of that Island, having made his escape out of the hands of the Spaniards, told his people that the Gold and Silver of their Country was the God of their Enemies, since that to possess it, they sought for it in their very Entrails, and that so to enjoy their own repose, they must aband on it all to them. Another of those C aciques being Condemned to be burnt, was sollicited by a Priest to turn Christian, that he might go into Paradice, but he openly protested he would not go thither, since Spaniards were there too. The poor Savages abhorred them to that degree, that they abstained from their Wives, that their Children might not become slaves of such Masters; And when they fell upon them to boucanize them, or to eat their flesh, it was rather out of revenge, than out of any relish they found therein; for they frankly said, That the flesh of a Spaniard was too hard, and that to make it fit for eating, it was first to be souz'd and mollified for two or three dayes in Vinegar. St. Jago is the Capital City with a Sea Port, and Havana the Key and Staple of all the West Indies, the Magazine of the riches of America, by reason of the scituation, the bigness, and conveniency of its Harbour, which can shelter above a thousand Ships. 'Tis the usual Rendevouze of the Spanish Fleets when they return into Europe, and is defended by three Castles, whose strength is compar'd by the Spaniards to that of the Cittadels of Antwerp and Milan. Yet for all this, the English plundered the City in the Year 1662. The Port de Matanzas is the same where in the Year 1629. Peter Hein a Hollander, made himself Master of the Spanish Fleet, which was prodigiously rich. Jamaica now belonging to the English, who have setled themselves there, since the Year 1655. has three small Cities, wherof Seville is the most considerable. It produces so much Yuca whereof Cassia is made, that it passes for the Granary of the Antilles. The Civil Wars of the Spaniards in America began in this Island, where Christopher Columbus to free himself out of danger foretold the Savages an Eclipse of the Moon with as much prudence as success. These Savages had Letters missive in admiration, thinking one must necessarily partake of Divinity, to discover by a scrowl'd paper ones sentiments to another a great way off. Porto-rico with the City, of St. John, has Sugar, Ginger, Cassia and Skins; this is the Island where the Spaniards passed for immortals, till one Salsedo was drowned, at the Passage of the River Guarabo.

The Caribby Islands are twenty eight principal Ones, possessed for the most part by Europeans, sometimes they have been called by the Name of Camereanes, and because they are more Eastern, and as in the head of the Others, they have had particularly attributed to them that of the Antilles, which seems ought to be common to all the Neighbouring Islands. They enjoy so temperate an Air, that they feel there no excessive heats, nor do they ever see any Ice. There is indeed but three Seasons, the Spring, Summer, and Autumn, unless we give the name of Winter to the rainy Season. They have all manner of good Pulse very plentifully; but their Corn does not attain to its maturity, and can only serve to make Green-sawce of. There are Trees which produce excellent Fruits, and others which furnish Wood for Physick, for Dying, for the Carpenters use, and Wainscotting. Those parts of these Islands go under the Name of Cabissi-terre, which have the Cape to the Wind, which in those parts blows almost alwayes from the East: and Buss-terre is called what is towards the West. They name the little Mountains Marnes, the Villages Carbets, the great Winds of short continuance, Rufales; and those that take their Turn around the Horizon, Huricanes. These Hurrycanes often cause great disorders: They commonly happen at the times of the Equinox upon the Eastern Coasts. The Pilots foreseeing them, get their Ships off from the Shoar. Saint Christophers has Colonies of the French, who in the Year 1627. shared it with the English, establishing Customs, which have since been received in the Neighbouring Islands: No place is there out of France, where the French have a greater Establishment; Its Governour is said to be able to bring seven or eight thousand Foot into the Field, besides several Troops of Horse; and they have four good Forts. Martinico has about 1000. French, besides Indians, and Negroes in great numbers. Guadaloupa, vulgarly Gardeloupa, furnishes fresh Water to the Ships that come from Europe. It has made great advantage of the ruins of the Dutch Colony of Recif in Brafil. This occasioned its being Cultivated with Sugar Canes, whereby it has profited more than by the Tobacco Trade, drove before.