Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/227

 numerous there, and ome of them of good Credit and Circumtances. The Women (not unlike the Mulatto Generation every where ele) are fond of Strangers; not only the Courtezans, whoe Interet may be uppoed to wind up their Affections, but alo the marryed Women who think themelves obliged, when you favour them with the Secrecy of an Appointment; but the Unhappines of puruing Amours, is, that the generallity of both Sexes are touched with veneral Taints, without o much as one Surgeon among them, or any Body killed in Phyick, to cure or palliate the progreive Michief: The only Peron pretending that Way, is an Irih Father, whoe Knowledge is all comprehended in the Virtues of two or three Simples, and thoe, with the Salubrity of the Air and Temperance, is what they depend on, for ubduing the wort of Malignity; and it may not be unworthy Notice, that tho’ few are exempted from the Mifortune of a Running, Eruptions, or the like, yet I could hear of none precipitated into thoe deplorable Circumtances we ee common in unkillful mercurial Procees.

There are three Monateries, and about ix Churches, none of them Rich or Magnificent, unles one dedicated to St. Antonio, the Patron of their Kingdom, which hines all over with exquiite Pieces of Paint and Gold.

The Export of Brail (beides Gold) is chiefly Sugars and Tobacco; the latter are ent off in Rowls of a Quintal Weight, kept continually moitened with Mulous, which, with the Soil it prings from, imparts a trong and peculiar Scent, more enible in the Snuff made from it, which tho’ under Prohibition of importing to Libon, ells here at 2 s. per l. as the Tobacco does at about 6 Millraies a Rowl. The finet of their Sugars ells at 8 s. per Roove, and a mall ill tated Rum drawn from Rh