A true & exact history of the island of Barbados

by Richard Ligon

In this valley of pleasure, adorn’d as you have heard, we march’t with our Guard, faire and softly, near a quarter of a mile; before we came to the much praised fountaine; from whence we fetcht our water. The circle whereof, was about 60 foot, the Diameter about 20 from the ground to the top of the Well, (which was of freestone,) 3 foot and a halfe; from thence within, downe to the surface of the water, about 15 foot. The spring it selfe, not so much to be praised for the excellency of the taste, though cleare inough, as for the Nymphs that repaire thither. For whilst we stayed there seeing the Saylers fill their Casks; and withall Contemplating the glory of the place: there appeard to our view, many pretie young Negro Virgins, playing about the Well. But amongst those; two, that came downe with either of them a naturall Pitcher, a Calibash upon their arme, to fetch water from this fountaine. Creatures, of such shapes, as would have puzzelld Albert Durer, the great Mr of Proportion, but to have imitated; and Tition, or Andrea de Sarta, for softnes of muscles, and Curiositie of Colouring, though with a studied diligence; and a love both to the partie and the worke. To expresse all the perfections of Nature, and Parts, these Virgins were owners of, would aske a more skillfull pen, or pencill then mine; Sure I am, though all were excellent, their motions were the highest, and that is a beautie no painter can expresse, and therefore my pen may well be silent; yet a word or two, would not be amisse, to expresse the difference between these, and those of high Africa; as of Morcoco, Guinny, Binny, Cutchow, Angola, Æthiopia, and Mauritania, or those that dwell nere the River of Gambia, who are thick lipt, short nosd, and commonly low foreheads. But these, are compos’d of such features, as would marre the judgment of the best Paynters, to undertake to mend. Wanton, as the soyle that bred them, sweet as the fruites they fed on; for being come so neere, as their motions, and graces might perfectly be discern’d, I guest that Nature could not, without help of Art, frame such accomplisht beauties not onely of colours, and favour, but of motion too, which is the highest part of beautie. If dancing had bin in fashion in this Iland, I might have been perswaded, that they had bin taught those motions, by some who had studied that Art. But considering the Padre’s Musique to be the best the Iland afforded, I could not but cast away that thought, and attribute all to pure nature; Innocent, as youthfull, their ages about 15. Seing their beauties so fresh and youthfull, withall the perfections I have named, I thought good to trie, whether the uttering of their language, would be as sweet and harmonious, as their other partes were comely. And by the helpe of a Gentleman that spoke Portugall, I accosted them; and began to praise their beauties, shapes, and manner of dressings; which was extreamly prettie. Their haire not shorne as the Negroes in the places I have named, close to their heads; nor in quarters, and mases, as they use to weare it, which is ridiculous to all that see them, but themselves: But in a due proportion of length, so as having their shortenings by the naturall Curles, they appeared as wiers, and artificiall dressings to their faces. On the sides of their Cheeks, they plat little of it, of purpose to tie small Ribbon; or some small beads, of white Amber, or blew bugle, sometimes of the rare flowers that grow there; Their eares hung with Pendants, their necks and armes adorn’d with bracelets of Counterfeit pearles, and blew bugle; such as the Portugalls bestow on them, for these are free Negroes, and weare upon the small of one of their legs, the badge of their freedome; which is a small peece of silver, or tinne, as big as the stale of a spoone; which comes round about the leg; and by reason of the smoothnes, and lightnes, is no impediment to their going. Their cloathes, were petticoates of Strip’t silk, next to their linen, which reach to their midle leg: and upon that a mantle, of blew taffitie, tied with a Ribbon on the right shoulder: which coming under the left arme, hung downe carelesly somewhat lower then the petticoate, so as a great part of the naturall beautie, of their backes and necks before, lay open to the veiw, their breast round, firme, and beautifully shaped.

Upon my addresses to them, they appeard a little disturb’d; and whispered to one another, but had not the Confidence to speake aloud. I had in my hat, a piece of silver and silke Ribbon, which I perceiv’d their well shap’t eyes, often to dart at; but their modesties would not give them Confidence to aske. I tooke it out, and divided it between them, which they accepted with much alacritie; and in returne, dranke to one another my health in the liquor of the pure fountaine, which I perceiv’d by their wanton smiles, and jesticulations, and casting their eyes towards me: when they thought they had exprest enough they would take in their Countenances, and put themselves in the modestest postures that could be, but we having brought a Cas of bottles of English spirits, with us; I cald for some, and drunke a health to them, in a small dramme cup; and gave it to one of them, which they smelt to, and finding it too strong for their temper, pour’d some of it into one of their Calibashes: and put to it as much water, as would temper it to their palats; they dranke againe, but all this would not give them the Confidence to speake, but, in mute language, and extream prety motions, shewed, they wanted neither wit nor discretion, to make an answer. But it seem’d, it was not the fashion there, for young Maides to speak to strangers, in so publick a place.

I thought I had been sufficiently arm’d with the perfections I found in the Padre’s Mistresse, as to be free from the darts of any other Beauty of that place, and in so short a time: But I found the difference between young fresh Beauties, and those that are made up with the addition of State and Majesty: For though they counsell and perswade our Loves; yet, young Beauties force, and so commit rapes upon our affections. In summe, had not my heart been fixed fast in my breast, and dwelt there above sixty years, and therefore loath to leave his long kept habitation, I had undoubtedly left it between them for a Legacy. For, so equall were there Beauties, and my Love, as it was not, nor could be, particular to either.

I have heard it a question disputed, whether if a Horse, being plac’d at an equall distance, between two bottles of hey, equally good; and his appetite being equally fix’d upon either: Whether that Horse must not necessarily starve. For, if he feed on either, it must argue, that his appetite was more fixt on that; or else, that bottle was better than the other. Otherwise, what should move him to chose one before the other?

In this posture was I, with my two Mistresses; or rather, my two halves of one Mistresse: for, had they been conjoyned, and so made one, the poynt of my Love had met there; but, being divided, and my affection not forked, it was impossible to fix, but in one Centre.

In this doubtfull condition, I took my leave, with an assurance, that I should never finde two such parallel Paragons, in my whole search through the World: And the reason of their so great likenesse and lustre, was, they were Sisters and Twins; as I was after informed by a Hermite, that came often to visit us, when we came on land, as we often did, and not far off from his Cell.

But you will think it strange, that a man of my age and gravity, should have so much to do with Beauty and Love: But I have three arguments to protect me. The first is, I have in my younger dayes, been much inclined to Painting, in which Art, colour, favour, and shape is exercised; and these Beauties, being a proper subject of all these perfections, (being in themselves perfect) I could not but consider them with a studied diligence.

Next, I had been long at Sea, without setting foot on any Land; and that hath a property, to make all Land-objects beautifull; and these being in the highest degree paramount, could not but surprise my fancy. Besides, the place being extream beautifull and lovely, could not but secretly harbour in it the Spirit of Love, a passion not to be governed. And therefore I hope, you will pardon my wilde extravagancy.

But the main reason of this flying out, is, I had little else to say: for the Iland, being a place of very little or no traffick, could not afford much of discourse. Cattle they have very good, and large, which, they sell at very easy rates; and likewise Horses, of excellent shapes and mettle; but they are contrabanded goods, and whosoever deales in them, (without speciall license) forfeits both Ship and Goods, if, they have power to compell them.

But I believe, they have not, being partly informed by the Hermite, who came often to us, to hear newes, and beg somewhat of us; which being obtained, he would not stick to impart somewhat of the weaknesse of the Iland, that would have cost him dear, if it had been known to the Padre. And some of that which he enformed us, was, that the Forts, and Block houses, on either side the Prye, on which we saw the appearance of Ordnances, good store, and large; but we understood by him, that those Forts were neither regular, nor the Guns Brasse or Iron, but such as Henry the Eighth took Bulloyne with; and this we found by experience to be true: For, upon our first difference with Barnardo, and the Padre, we weyed Anchor, and removed ourselves out of the distance of the Castle, which stood in the bottom of the Prye; and expected to have been shot at from those Forts and Block houses, but saw no fire given; and if they had been furnish’d with such Artillery as would have reach’d us, we should certainly have heard from them.