The Bird Colibry, which is exceeding beautiful, makes his Nest under the Tobacco-Leaves.
A company of Townsmen of Walcheren, having a Grant from the States of the United Provinces, sent a Colony to Tabago; but they being scarce two hundred in all, were for the most part destroy’d by the Caribbeeans; the rest weak or sickly, fearing the same Entertainment, sought to save themselves; so that the Island has not formerly been frequented but by the French from Martinico, and Guadalupe, who for some time came over onely to catch Turtles and Lamantins there.
The Caribbeeans also either in their March against, or Return from the Arovages, Landed here for necessary Provisions; But of late the Lord Lampsen hath Setled a Plantation in this desolate Island.
Sect. XXVIII.
St. Christophers.
Situation of St. Christophers Island.
St. Christophers, a pretty distance from Tobago, receiv’d its Denomination from Christopher Columbus, invited thereto by the shape of a great Mountain, having as it were another lesser on one of its Shoulders, being fancy’d to represent the Figure of the suppos’d Giant Christopher, who is reported to have carry’d our Saviour in the appearance of a little Child on his Shoulders through a deep Sea.
This Island lying seventeen Degrees and twenty five Minutes Northward of the Equinoctial Line, hath twenty five Leagues in circumference.
The Soil light and sandy, refuses not the production of divers sorts of Fruits common amongst us.
In the middle of the Island rises a high Mountain, out of which run fresh Streams, that sometimes swell so high with sudden Rains, that they drown all the Countrey near them.
The Division of the Island into several Wards.