Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/203

 making him a clear Stage, that the bet Pair of Heels might carry it; o he lot the Suit of Cloaths, and before he could return to his Bag, others of them had beat off his Servant, and hared the ret.

Mot of the Ships from Guiney, of their own Nation, and frequently thoe of ours, call at one or other of thee Ilands, to recruit with freh Proviions, and take in Water, which on the Coat are not o good, nor o conveniently to come by: Their own Ships likewie, when they touch here, are obliged to leave the King his Cutom for their Slaves, which is always in Gold, at o much a Head, without any Deduction at Brail, for the Mortality that may happen afterwards; this by being a contant Bank to pay off the civil and military Charges of the Government, prevents the Inconveniency of Remittances, and keeps both it and Princes Ile rich enough to pay ready Money for every Thing they want of Europeans.

Their Beefs are mall and lean, (two hundred Weight or a little more,) but the Goats, Hogs and Fowls very good, their Sugar coure and dirty, and Rum very ordinary; as thee Refrehments lay mot with People who are in want of other Necearies, they come to us in Way of bartering, very cheap: A good Hog for an old Cutlah; a fat Fowl for a Span of Brail Tobacco, (no other Sort being valued, &c.) But with Money you give eight Dollars per Head for Cattle; three Dollars for a Goat; ix Dollars for a grown Hog; a Tetune and a Half for a Fowl; a Dollar per Gallon for Rum; two Dollars a Roove for Sugar; and half a Dollar for a Dozen of Paraquets: Here is Plenty likewie of Corn and Farine, of Limes, Citrons and Yamms.

The Iland is reckoned nigh a Square, each Side 18 Leagues long, hilly, and lays under the   noctial,