A true & exact history of the island of Barbados

by Richard Ligon

There is nothing in this Iland so much wanting, as Springs and Rivers of water; there being but very few, and those very smal & inconsiderable. I know but only one River, and that may rather be term’d a Lake, then a River; The Springs that runne into it, are never able to fill it, they are so small; outfall to Sea it has none; but at spring tides, the Sea comes in and fills it; and at Nepe tides, it cannot runne out againe, the sea-banks being higher than it. But some of it issues out through the Sands, and leaves behind it a mixt water, of fresh and salt: at the time the tide comes in, it brings with it some fishes, which are content to remaine there; being better pleased to live in this mixt water, then in the Salt. Colonel Humphrey Walrond, who is owner of the land of both sides, and therefore of it; has told me, that he has taken fishes there, as bigge as Salmons, which have been overgrown with fat, as you have seen Porpisces; but extreamely sweet and firme.

But it has not been often, that such fish, or any other, have bin taken in that place, by reason the whole Lake is filled with trees and roots.

So that no Net can be drawn, nor any Hook laid; for they will wind the lines about the roots, and so get away; or the lines break in pulling up, being fastned to the roots.

This River, or Lake, reaches not within the Land above twelve score yards, or a flight shot at most; and there is no part of it so broad, but you may cast a Coyte over it.

The spring tides there, seldome rise above four or five foot upright: there come from the sea into these small bibling rivolets, little Lobsters, but wanting the great clawes afore, which are the sweetest and fullest of fish, that I have seen; Chicester Lobsters are not to be compared to them.

But the water which the people of this Iland most relye upon, is raine water; which they keep in ponds, that have descents of ground to them, so that what falls on other ground, may runne thither. And the place in which the Pond is set, must be low, and claye in the bottome: or if it be not naturally of Clay, it must be made so. For if it finde any Leake to the rocky part, it gets between those clifts, and sinks in an instant. About the end of December, these ponds are fill’d; and with the help it hath by the weekly showrs that fall, they continue so, yet sometimes they feele a want. This pond water, they use upon all occasions, and to all purposes; to boyle their meat, to make their drink, to wash their linnen, for it will beare soape. But one thing seem’d to me a little loathsome, and that was the Negroes washing themselves in the Ponds, in hot weather; whose bodies have none of the sweetest savours. But the planters are pleased to say, that the Sunne with his virtuall heat, drawes up all noysome vapours, and so the waters become rarified, and pure againe. But it was a great satisfaction to me, that a little Rivulet was neere us, from whence we fetcht dayly, as much as served us, both for meat, and drink.

In these ponds, I have never seen any small fish, fry, or any thing that lives or moves in it, except some flies that fall intoit; but the water is clear and well tasted. And because their Cattle shall not be in danger of miring or drowning, the best Husbands raile in a part of the Pond, where it is of a competent depth, for the water to stand, and pave that in the bottom with stone; and so the Cattle neither raise the mud, nor sink in with their feet; and so the water comes clear to them.

Water they save likewise from their houses, by gutters at the eves, which carrie it down to cisterns. And the water which is kept there, being within the limits of their houses, many of which are built in manner of Fortifications, and have Lines, Bulwarks, and Bastians to defend themselves, in case there should be any uproar or commotion in the Iland, either by the Christian servants, or Negre slaves; serves them for drink whilst they are besieged; as also, to throw down upon the naked bodies of the Negres, scalding hot; which is as good a defence against their underminings, as any other weapons.

If any tumult or disorder be in the Iland, the next neighbour to it, discharges a Musket, which gives the Alarum to the whole Iland; for, upon the report of that, the next shoots, and so the next, and next, till it go through the Iland: Upon which warning, they make ready.

Meat and Drink for supportation of life.