This Island of Maragnan lies under a temperate Climate, being seldom troubled with excessive Colds, Droughts, pestilential Vapors, Wind, Hail, or Thunder, only it Lightens Morning and Evening in serene Weather. When the Sun returns from the Tropick of Capricorn to the North, then it Rains for six Weeks together; but when he declines from Cancer towards the Southern Solstice, the Trade-Wind, or Eastern Breezes rise at seven of the Clock in the Morning, but grow fainter towards Sun-setting.
Fruitful Soil and rich Coast of Maragnan.
The Soil of Maragnan is exceeding fruitful, producing abundance of Brasile Wood, Sugar, Cotton, the red Colour Roucou, Tobacco, Balsam not inferior to the Arabian, Pepper, and all manner of Fruits. On the Coast is often found excellent Amber-greece and Jasper Stones, which the Inhabitants wore in their Lips. In some places along the Sea-shore appear Rocks of red and white Stone Diaphanous, like Crystal, which (some say) are as hard as Diamonds, and call’d Allencon. The Woods produce Timber, and the Shore Stones and Shells, of which they make Mortar. There are also several pleasant Fields and Hills, whose Feet are wash’d by delightful Brooks, along which they pass in Canoos from one Village to another. The Woods consist most of Palm-Trees, amongst which breed all sorts of Fowls and Beasts.
Fruit-Trees.
The chiefest of the Fruit-Trees which grow here is the Accayou, which being much bigger than our Pomewaters, hath Leaves not unlike those of an Oak: and also a Nut resembling a Sheeps Kidney, cover’d with a hard Shell, which incloses an oylie Pith. Out of these the Islanders press a very wholsom and pleasant Liquor; as also out of the Pacoeira and Bannanas, both excellent Plants, which will grow in any Ground. This Plant they pluck up by the Roots wild as soon as it hath put forth three Leaves; which Leaves being rowl’d up hard together like a Twig, are again Set, and then sprout up each with ten green Leaves, which when mov’d by the Wind, rattle like Parchment, and tear very easily: the Stalk is an Inch thick, from which spread several lesser Branches; under the Leaves hang yellowish Flowers of a pleasant smell, at whose Stalks are lesser Leaves resembling little Scoups, full of Juice, in taste like Honey, and in colour like the White of an Egg: after the Flower follows the Fruit, very like a Cucumber, onely they are three square, and have a hardish Shell, which incloses a well tasted and wholsom Pulp, which commonly grows in Clusters. This Plant, when the Fruit is ripe, is pluck’d up, from whence another springs up immediately, which bears the like Fruit the next year; so that this Plant lives as it were by propagation continually.
The Bannanas bear Leaves of a Fathom long and two Foot broad; the Fruit is very like that of the Pacoeira.
The Mangaa is very like the Apricock both in taste and form.
The Tree Jaracaha hath a spread Crown, leaves like those of a Fig-Tree, yellow Flowers, and Pears with Shells, and full of Kernels.
The Ouaieroua is an exceeding sweet-smelling Tree, bears a Fruit much bigger than the greatest Melons.
The Junipap, which is much taller, hath Apples, which whilest they are green are best, yielding a Juice which Dyes Coal-black, and therefore is us’d by the Natives to paint their Bodies with: The Apples when ripe are yellow within and without, very well tasted, and melting in the Mouth.