Commodities of the Island.
The Commodities of this Island are very many; and first for Vegetables, the Sugars are so good, that they now out-sell those of Barbado’s 5 s. per Cent.
Cocoa, of which there are many large Walks; and greater plenty by improvement may easily be produc’d.
Tobacco, so good, that the Merchants give Six pence a Pound for it, and buy it faster than the Planters can make it.
Indigo is producible in great abundance, if there were Hands sufficient employ’d about it.
The Cotton of this Place is accounted very firm and substantial, and preferr’d before any that grows in the neighboring Islands.
Of Tortoise-shell there is also good store, by reason that much of that sort of Tortoise is taken on this Coast.
Here are also great variety of Dye-woods, as Brasiletto, Fustwick, Red-wood, a kind of Log-wood, and several others, besides divers of those that are accounted the most curious and rich sorts of Woods, as Cedar, Mohogeney, Lignum-vitæ, Ebony, Granadilla, and others, which are frequently Exported.
Moreover, there are very probable testimonies, that there are Mines of Copper here, since both there have been those who affirm to have seen the Oar wrought out of one of them, and the Spaniards report the Bells that hang in the great Church, to have been Cast out of this Island Copper. As for Silver, the English are said to have been shew’d a Silver-Mine behind the Mountains, West of Cagway.
Ambergreece the Spaniards report to have been often found on this Coast.