The Winds which blow from the Hills, and especially those cool Blasts daily coming out of the East, so tempers the hot Climate, that it becomes very tolerable.
When any News arrives here of the French Conquests in Europe, they sound the Trumpets on the top of the Castle, and the Standards and Ensigns formerly taken by the Governor in the Field, are hung out of the Windows.
On one side of the Castle stands a Chappel, and somewhat farther on a rising Plain, a row of Houses, inhabited by certain Retainers to the Governor, and is call’d Angola. The Offices and Lodgings for the Governor’s Servants are built of Brick, about the Castle, which is fortifi’d with five Sconces, whereon are planted several Guns.
The Governor keeps nine hundred Slaves, and a hundred French-men, to work in his three Sugar-Mills, to till his Ground, and for his Houshold-Service.
Several French Gentlemen have also built many fair Houses here; amongst which the chiefest are those on which Poucy, Treval, Benevent, Girand, Auber, de la Roziere, de St. Andant, de l’ Esperance, and de la Loche spent great sums of Money.
The English also are not much inferior to them in their Counties.
The English Plantations in this Island.
Their Churches are five in all; first on the Point of the Palm-Tree stands a fair Church; a second near the great Road, below the English Governor’s House; a third at the Sandy Point; which are all well built, and large enough for a considerable Congregation; the other two at the Inlet Cayoune are short of the three first. The Ministers thereof receiv’d formerly their Benefices from the Bishop of Canterbury, in Cromwell’s time from the Tryers, as they were call’d; but of late, since the King’s Restauration, from the Bishop of Canterbury again.
The best Houses belonging to the English were built by Mr. Warner, Mr. Rich, Mr. Evrard, and Col. Geffreyson all successively Governors of the Place.
Their success at their first Landing.