Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/93

 Rh main there till they are throughly scalded or parboil'd; then take them out, and dry them in the shade where no Sun may come at them.

The same Person spoke of a Gum or Balsam, called China-Balsam, growing in the aforesaid Mosquitos Country, which is procured by applying Fire to one side of the Tree, and gashing the other, at which gashes a black Balsam sweats out, very proper for Wounds.

They make use of Plantain or Musa-Leaves for Table Cloths, and Napkins.

The Women live very much in awe and submission to their Husbands in this Country.

Towards the Havana, in Cuba, there are abundance of Spouts to be seen, more than in any other part of the West Indies. It is all plain, level, and very fertile Ground thereabouts. I was told that the English Prisoners taken, as Pirates or Traders, and kept by the Spaniards, by their several Artifices, and Skill in Mechanics, get a very good Subsistence.

In the Lake of Maracaybo, Sir Henry Morgan told me, afar off he once saw a thick Cloud, which when he came near, he found to be Mosquitos or Gnats. The Country thereabout is so marish and wet, as that the Inhabitants are forc'd to build their Houses on the Trees, as Ants do in many places for the same reason.

I perused here at Jamaica, a Journal of Sir William Phipps, which gave an account of the first finding of the great Plate Wreck to the North-East of Hispaniola. After Sir William Phipps had been at Samana, on the North side of Hispaniola, he went with one Rogers, Master of a small Ship to Porto Plata, and there discharging three Guns to get the Spaniards to Trade, they came down, and the English sold small Bables, and Searges for Hides, and jirked Hogs taken by the Hunters there. In the mean time Rogers had been on the Wreck, discover'd by means of a Sea-Feather, growing on the Planks of the Ship lying under water, and brought from thence the news of its being found. They went thither, found it grown over with Coral, and Lapis Astroites, and took up Silver as the Weather and their Divers held out, some days more, and some less. The small Ship went near, the great one rode afar off. At last they got in Bullion 22196l. in Coin 30326. of which were Sows, and great Bars 336. After they sail'd for Turks Islands for Salt, and going thither, after several hours sailing, had almost been a-ground and wreck'd on the Handkercher Shoal. They about the Wreck were sometimes in seven Fathom Water, and immediately almost out of reach of the bottom by sounding.