Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/78

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ing it, six at a time for Cattle, &c. it was in the Cliffs of Barbados.

It is pretty strange that sometimes at great depths in the Bowels of the Earth, these Substances that have belong'd to real Shell-Fish should be found. They are common in most Counties of England. Mr. Middleton brought some of them dug up in Barbados. I have by me many Astroites, (a sort of Coral,) taken up in the in-land parts of England, in as great plenty near the Surface of the Earth, as I have seen them in the neighbouring Sea to Jamaica, their Native place. At Richmond in Surrey they find in digging the Clay-Pits for making Tiles, many back-Bones of Sharks, and Shells; and I have in my possession several of the ordinary real Nautili that are now only brought to us from the East-Indies, that have been dug up there.

At Sixteen-Mile-Walk, or St. Thomas in the Vale; the Fog, which is every morning, except in rainy Seasons, lasts till about eight or nine, and then is dispell'd by the Sun. This Fog is not counted unwholesome. The Road thither is by the Water-side, or along the Banks of the Rio Cobre, where there is a Stone under which one passes, as under an Arch. There is a Hill, or rather a Rock, on the left side going up, which is at least two hundred yards perpendicular heighth having Bushes here and there on it, down which a wild Boar being hunted precipitated himself, and was at the bottom reduced to Mash. The River is sometimes filled with great Stones, which come rowling down from the neighbouring Hills, and sometimes with Timber rotten and faln into it. The Wood here is Tall, and the Woodbines on them very long. The Rain at Sixteen-Mile-Walk is so furious as sometimes to wash out of the ground the Roots of all the Plants set in it.

I was here told by Eye-Witnesses, that one Dr. Foster, at Sixteen-Mile-Walk, had tam'd a great Snake or Serpent, and kept it about him within his Shire; it would wind it self fast about his Arm, and drink out of his Mouth, and leap at a Call on the Table, to eat Crums of Cassada Bread. It was killed by one Coffin, after sixteen months being tame: it was about the bigness of ones Wrist.

When the Potatos here, and at other Plantations in this Island are full grown, they hough up the Roots, cleanse them of their Fibres, keep them for use, and give the Stalks and Leaves to their Hogs for Food.

The next Town, in bigness to Port-Royal, on the Island, is St. Jago de la Vega, or St. James of the Plain, a Town improving