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24  say burnt seven Years; the Ashes giving a vast Fertility to their Sugar-Canes, at the first Planting; till a Worm getting into the Cane, spoiled the Increase, &c. so that it is now entirely planted with Vines brought originally from Candia, which yield the strongest Wines: That called Malmsey is a rich Cordial, the best made at the Jesuit's Garden in Fonchial. Their Vintage is in September and October, and make about 25000 Pipes.

Others say, one Mecham an Englishman, in a Voyage to Spain was drove on this Island before the Discovery above; That his Crew sailed without him and his Mistress; whom he buried here, left an Inscription on her Tomb, and then in a Canoo of his own building sailed to Barbary; the King presenting him as a Prodigy to the King of Castile: From whose Account, the Spaniard soon after made conquest of the neighbouring Canary Islands. The Island is rocky Mountains, with an Intermixture of little fruitful Plains. The highest Parts, Goat-herds and Woods; the Middle, Kitchen-Gardens; and the Bottom, Vineyards, The Roads bad, which makes them bring their Wines to town in Hog-skins upon Asses; a brownish and a red sort, the latter called Vino tinto, being according to common report stained with Tint, tho' they assure you it is the natural Grape. They are almost all limed, a Preservative against the excessive Heats of the