Guadalupe was first discover’d in the Year of our Lord 1635. by the French, under the Command of the Lords Du Plessis and De Olive, and after them one of the Captains of St. Christophers: Since which the Champain Ground being Till’d and Manur’d, brings forth in great plenty, Rice, Maiz, Manicock, and Potato’s.
Father Raymond Breton got possession of the fruitfullest part of the Island for the Reformed Jacobines, or White-Fryers, and since the present Governor Monsieur De Howell sent also for the Jesuits and Carmelites, to build Cloysters in a new City, which lies in Basse-Terre, and which is also built full of Store-houses and Dwelling-houses two Stories high.
The Castle, which lies near the City, hath four Bulwarks, with great Guns.
The next neighboring Mountain is also crown’d with a Garrison’d Fort.
The Moubane-Tree.
The Countrey hereabouts bears Moubane-Trees, which produce yellow oval Plumbs with great Stones, wherewith the Hogs are exceedingly fatned.
The Corbary.
The Corbary, which grows higher than the Moubane, hath a hard shelly Fruit, in which lies a douny Pulp of a Saffron colour: The Gum which drops out of the Tree is hardned by the Sun, and becomes very clear, wherefore the Caribbeeans make use of it for Arm-rings, and other Ornaments.
Sect. XVI.
Deseado.
Situation of Deseado.