ABSTRACT
THe Island of St. Vincent lies in sixteen Degrees North from the Line, and is about twenty four Miles long, and eighteen broad, wherein are several high Mountains, between which are very fruitful Plains, yielding abundance of Sugar Canes, which grow naturally without Planting; It is well watred with Rivers, and hath several good Harbours and Bays for Shipping; The English have here some Plantations, but they are neither very considerable nor powerful herein, it being the most populous of Caribeans, of any possessed by them, who have here many Fair Villages, where they dwell pleasantly and without any disturbance, and though they are jealous of the Strangers that live about them, and stand on their Guard, when they come to their Roads, yet they do not deny Cassavy Bread, Water, Fruits, and other Provisions growing in their Country to them that want them, taking in Exchange, Wedges, Hooks, and other Implements of Iron, which they much esteem. Their simplicity is very remarkable in several things, as in admiring our Fire-Arms, but especially Fire-locks, to which they see no Fire put as to Muskets, and therefore believe Maboya or the Devil sets them on Fire; When the Moon is Eclipsed, they believe the Devil eats her, and dance all night making a noise with Gourds, wherein are many pebble Stones; When they smell any evil scent, they cry, Maboya or the Devil is here, let us be gone from him.
