ABSTRACT
THis Island was so named by Christopher Columbus, who finding it very pleasant gave it his own name, which the shape of the Mountains likewise inclined him to, for it hath on its upper part as it were upon one of its shoulders another lesser Mountain, as St. Christopher is painted like a Giant, carrying our Saviour / upon his as it were a little Child; It is scituated seventeen degrees and twenty five Minutes on this side the Line, & is about twenty five Leagues in compass, the soil being light and sandy is apt to produce all sorts of the Country Fruits, with many of the choicest growing in Europe; It lyes high in the midst by reason of some very high Mountains, out of which arise several Rivers, which do sometimes so suddenly overflow through the Rains falling from the Mountains, that the Inhabitants are thereby surprized; The whole Island is divided into four Cantons or Quarters, two where of are possessed by the English, and two by the French, but so separated that People cannot go from one quarter to the other, without passing over the Lands of one of the two Nations. The English have more little Rivers in their Division, the French more of the plain Country fit for Tillage; The English exceed the French in number, but the French have four Forts and the English only two, and to prevent differences between the two Nations, each of them have a Guard upon the Frontiers of their Division, which is renewed every day.
