Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/184

12 A Voyage to JAMAICA It has hard Fat, Flesh of a sharp Tast, opening the Haemorrhoides either by its Acrimony, or because it breeds Melancholy Blood. Rond.

They are taken by the way (to the West-Indes) playing about the Ships, by Spears thrown at them. Oviedo Sum.

They (at Maldives) are taken with White-Line, where they Boil these with Dolphins and Bonetos in Sea- water, and dry them after by Fire on Hurdles, which makes them keep a long time for Traffick. LaVal, p. 138. Dolphins, Boneto's, and other Fishes loving very deep Water, are also found here. This Sea has so great a Surff, that there is no Landing at the Town of Funchal without taking the advantage of coming in with a Wave, and being pull'd on dry Land with it, from whence you are again to be lanch'd to go on Board. The Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea is not here considerable, if I remember right. There are some few Towns in it, the Principal of which is Funchal or Foncal in the South-East: part of the Island. The Town has about Ten thousand Inhabitants, whereof One hundred are for the Governors Guard, paid by the King. The Governor of this Island is a Portugeuse sent from Lisbon hither, and lives in the Castle of Funchal; he Commands on Shore, and cannot come off, having about Twelve hundred Crowns per ann. Salary from the King, befides what he can get by Trading. Here is a very fine Cathedral Church, and about Eight hundred Friars. They have here a large Hospital, and in it a private Corner for those who are *incognito* to be treated for the Pox, a Distemper very common in this Place. The Town of Funchal is well provided with good Water, and commanded by a Citadel, whither they retire in time of Danger. It has d Cistern hew'd out of the Rock, to receive Rain-water, which maintains many People, and is very good. They cannot Hang any here, but only Banish to the Cape de Verd Islands. Considering that this Island had not been very antiently Inhabited, being but discover'd in the Fourteenth Century, and that Common Fame relates all the Inhabitants hereof to be Criminals banish'd hither, I expected to have found a great deal of Barbarity and Rudeness here; and nothing almost else; but on going ashore I was very much disappointed, for I have not seen any where more accomplished Gentlemen than here, having all the Civility one could desire but most of them whether bred to Letters or not, are sent for their Breeding to Portugal. The Scholars, whether Physicians, Divines or Lawyers, are bred up at Salamanca, and thence return in some time for their own Island to live. I met with a very Ingenious Physician here, who spoke good Latin, and understood his Profession very well. Their Manners are much the same with those of the Portuguese, Their Women never stir abroad but to Mass, and appear not in their Houses to Company. They are very much serv'd by Negros, and their Women come out of Bed the first Week after lying In. They carry every thing on a Log drawn by Oxen, the Country being so steep and rocky, and the ways narrow, that no other Carriage can go. Every Tradesman wears his short Doublet, and for the most part black Cloak, under it a long big hilted Dagger, with a sharp Knife in his Pocket. No Man here dares go in the Street after 'tis dark, lest any who has a grudge at him should shoot him, or lest he should be taken in the dark for another man. I was told half a Piece of Eight to a Negro would purchase any Man's life. Their Bread is good, and they Eat much of it, as also Poor Jack. They are so biggotted to their own Customs, that the Soldiers before this Governor's time wore Cloaks, but neither himself wears them, nor will he suffer his Guards to put them on. The King has about the tenth part of all Merchants Goods Exported or Imported into this Island, besides something to be paid the Friars. They have here the Inquisition, and are very strict even on Merchants themselves: they compell'd the French Protestants to change their Religion. A few