The WEST-INDIES.
For a general Idea of the West-Indies, we may understand by that Term, all the Continent, Sea, and Islands, from Terra Firma to Florida, or from near the Equinoctial to 28°° of N. Latitude; and if you include Bermudas, to 32°°. The main Land in this Circuit divided into Spanish Provinces, is more peculiarly called the Spanish West-Indies, they possessing all, unless to the Southward in Guiana and Paria, where there are a few English, Dutch, and French, interspersed on the Rivers and Coast of Oronoko, Surinam, and Amazons.
They import hence to Europe, besides Rum and Sugars, great quantities of Cocoa, Indigo, Cotton, Logwood, Ginger, Lignum-vitæ, Cochineel, Snuff, Cassia, Aloes, Pimento, Tortoise-shell, Dyers, and other Wood, a Variety of Drugs, and above all, prodigious Quantities of Plate, and some Gold.
The Islands in this Sea are the Charibbees, Sotovento, Antilles, and Bahama.
Charibbees were the lesser Antilles, about 30 in number, whereof the French have Martinico, St. Lucia, Bartholomew, Deseada, Granada, Marigalant, Guadalupe, and Santa Cruz. To the Dutch belong in whole or part, Saba, Eustatia, St. Vincent, and Tobago, or Tobacco Island; so called, from the Plenty of that Weed there, or the Weed so called, as first transplanted thence. The rest are English, and of them Barbados is chief. Others next of Note are Antegoa, Nevis, St. Christopher’s, and Montserrat; which have a separate Governor, stiled General of the Leeward Islands, their principal Produce with us, is Rum and Sugars; but the French, besides these, cultivate Cocoa, and Indigo: and as the managing of more Lands naturally gives Plenty, and makes room for an Increase of People, the French Policy of late years has considerably increased their Colonies at Martinico and Hispaniola; some say 40000 settled there at the French King’s Expence, with the Addition of a year’s Maintenance, to countenance their Mississipi Settlements, and these further Views of drawing over Men’s Affections, by affording Europeans the West-India Commodities, at the cheapest rate, and strengthning themselves against the Resentment of any who dislike it.
In some are found large Caves that run half a Mile under ground, supposed the Dwelling-places of the old Natives, who quickly forsook them to the new Inmates; tho’ Dampier says, he met some of these Charibbees at St. Lucia, and St. Vincent, and others say the like of Curasao: The Name imports Cannibals, an Inhumanity charged on them at the Discovery, as a proper Accusation for Dispossessors.
Sotovento Isles lie E S E. and W N W. along the Terra Firma, called so because the Spaniards in their Voyages to Mexico, make them one after another sub vento (to Leeward.) Of these, the Dutch have Curasao, Oruba, and Berraire. The Spaniard the others, (La Trinidad, and Margarita, chief;) from whence, and the Antilles, they have of late years very much infested this Navigation, with their Guard le Costas, confiscating the English Effects in Reprisal, it is supposed, for the Loss of their Fleet near Messina, 1718.
The greater Antilles are, Cuba, Hispaniola, Portorico, and Jamaica; the three former, Spanish.
Cuba is principal; a very pleasant and flourishing Island, the Spaniard building and improving for Posterity, without dreaming, as the English Planters do, of any other Home. They make the best Sugars in the West-Indies. It was from this Island, (Velasquez Governor,) that Cortez in 1518, made his Expedition and Conquest of Mexico.
The Havana, its chief Port and Town, is esteemed the richest in America; for besides its own valuable Produce, the Spanish Fleets from all parts on the Main, make up here in their return to Europe.