ABSTRACT
THe Island of Dominica lyes in the Latitude of fifteen degrees and thirty Minutes, judged to be in length about thirteen Leagues or forty Mile and not much less in breadth where it is greatest. On the West side of the Isle is a very convenient Harbour for Ships. It is very Mountainous in the midst which incompasses an inaccessible bottom, where from the tops of certain Rocks may be seen an infinite number of Vipers, Dragons and other dreadful venemous Creatures, whom none dares approach unto. Yet there are many fruitful valleys producing several commodities, but especiably Tobacco which is planted by the English, but the Natives who are Cannibals and very barbarous do much hinder the coming of the English to settle there: For the Caribeans are very numerous in it, and have a long time entertained those who came to visit them with a story of a vast and monstrous Serpent which had its aboad in that bottom, affirming that there was on the head of it a very sparkling stone like a Carbuncle of inestimable price, and that it commonly covered this Rich Jewel with a thin moving Skin like that of a mans Eye-lid, but that when it went to drink or sported / it self within the midst of that deep bottom he fully discovered it, and that the Rocks & all about received a a wonderful lustre from the Fire issuing out of that precious Crown.
