Page:A voyage to New Holland - Dampier.djvu/47

Rh They are also well stocked with Horses, Cows, Asses, Mules, Sheep, Goats, Hogs, Conies, and plenty of Deer. The Lancerot Horses are said to be the most mettlesome, fleet, and loyal Horses that are. Lastly, here are many Fowls, as Cocks and Hens, Ducks, Pidgeons, Patridges, &c. with plenty of Fish, as Mackril, &c. All the Canary Islands have of these Commodities and Provisions more or less: But as Lancerota is most fam'd for Horses, and Grand Canary, Teneriffe, and Palma for Wines, Teneriffe especially for the best Malmesy, (for which reason these 3 Islands have the chief Trade) so is Forteventura for Dunghil-Fowls, and Gomera for Deer. Fowls and other Eatables are dear on the Trading Islands; but very plentiful and cheap on the other; and therefore 'tis best for such Ships as are going out on long Voyages, and who design to take in but little Wine, to touch rather at these last; where also they may be supply'd with Wine enough, and good cheap: And for my own part, if I had known it before I came hither, I should have gone rather to one of those Islands than to Teneriffe: But enough of this.

'Tis reported they can raise 12000 armed Men on this Island. The Governor or General (as he is call'd) of all the Canary Islands lives at Laguna: His Name is Don Pedro de Ponto. He is a Native of this Island, and was not long since President of Panama in the South Seas; who bringing some very rich